Extrusion International USA 1-2022

26 Extrusion International 1/2022 INDUSTRY NEWS “Mixing Possible” – The CMQ Container Mixer Sets New Standards in Safety and Productivity „ Mixing of polymer powders, additives, pigments or flours in the plastics, chemical, masterbatch and food industries not only requires comprehensive know-how in process engineering, but also a fundamental under- standing of the material properties. The plant manufac- turer Zeppelin Systems has been a pioneer in this field for years and, with its CMQ container mixer, supplies a product that meets the requirements for mixing quality, dispersion, efficiency and, above all, safety. This is prov- en by the recently issued EU type examination certificate according to ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, according to which the CMQ container mixer is approved for mixing bulk materials that require a design in equipment cat- egory 1/3 D (zone 20 inside, zone 22 outside). Explosive substances do not always reveal their physical properties at first glance. For example, even everyday products such as plastics, additives or flour can lead to a dust explosion during mixing if they come into con- tact with an ignition source in a certain concentration as a dust-air mixture. This can be, for example, a static discharge or a hot surface that ignites the mixture. If such an event happens, it can cause a lot of damage to the plant. Therefore, it is important to avoid potential hazards in advance of the mixing process. The patent- ed CMQ container mixer from Zeppelin Systems proves through its EU type examination certificate that it can meet the requirements of dust explosive substances. Thus, it not only offers the operator a high degree of safety, but also makes inerting obsolete. This allows the user to concentrate on the most important thing: the optimum mixing results. In addition to meeting high safety standards, the CMQ container mixer guarantees very high dispersion thanks to its innovative design. The airfoil mixing tool in com- bination with the winglets ensures good formation of the mixing stream, fast material movement and keeps mixing resistance low. This protects the products and can reduce the temperature rise to a minimum, for ex- ample by a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius per minute for a powder-coatings premix. Furthermore, the airfoil shape causes a high suction ef- fect on the material. This results in a high lifting force and a faster mixing. Thus, the customer obtains the de- sired mixing result within three to four minutes. Another advantage of the mixing tool is the high dis- tance to the bottom and wall of the mixing container. This causes hardly any material pressure and thus reduc- es deposits to a minimum. Compared to conventional container mixers, Zeppelin Systems has optimized the critical components to sim- plify the cleaning process many times over and save valuable time during cleaning. The entire mixing head, the mixing tool and the mixing container are considered critical. If deposits accumulate here, cross-contamina- tion can occur in following mixes, making the mixture unusable for further use. Therefore, Zeppelin Systems has designed its mixing head significantly different from conventional mixing heads. By replacing the usually trough-shaped mixing head with a polished, flat plate cleaning is much easier and faster. This is supported by the very large distance between the mixing tool and the mixer bottom, which really facilitates the accessibility. In addition, almost no deposits on the tool and mixing plate contribute to a fast cleaning process. The shape and polished surface of the mixing tool of the CMQ container mixer also prevent deposits. In addition, the mixing tool is very light, weighing only 17 kilograms for a 1,000-liter mixer, so the user can disassemble and replace it very quick and easy. This saves valuable time when operating the mixer by reducing cleaning time by up to 80 percent. This not only increases productivity, but also machine availability, saving five-figure sums per year. Authors: Hendrik Schluckebier, Product Manager Mixing Technology Julia Meyn, Team Manager Marketing Zeppelin Systems GmbH www.zeppelin-systems.com Mixingwith theCMQcontainermixer takes place inalmost all applicationswithout inerting