Container free-fall mixer

Container free-fall mixers are mixing systems in which a closed bulk container (IBC, drum, or special container) is fixed in a holding device and moved around one or more axes, while there are no active mixing tools inside. Mixing occurs through the repeated tumbling and sliding of the bulk material within the container's cross-section, which is why it is referred to as "free-fall mixing." The materials to be mixed must be free-flowing. They must have largely similar properties in terms of bulk density, flowability, particle size, and shape.

Typical designs are tumble blenders or cage blenders, in which the container is tilted and rotated simultaneously, creating a three-dimensional rolling motion. Container free-fall mixers are considered very gentle on the product, as no shear tools engage with the product. In addition, they offer advantages in terms of flexibility and cross-contamination protection, as the container serves as both a storage and a mixing vessel.