Silverson High Shear Laboratory Mixers for R&D and Scale-Up

Silverson offers a comprehensive range of high shear laboratory mixers for applications ranging from straightforward liquid blending and emulsification to particle size reduction and more complex mixing processes.

Designed for research and development, laboratory testing and pilot-scale production, Silverson’s laboratory mixers use high shear rotor/stator technology to provide intensive mixing and dispersion in a compact format.

The equipment can be configured for different processing requirements using a wide range of interchangeable workheads, screens and assemblies. This flexibility allows a single laboratory mixer to perform multiple mixing duties that might otherwise require several different pieces of processing equipment.

High shear laboratory mixing with rotor/stator technology

The standard L5M-A is Silverson’s latest development in high shear laboratory mixing.

Unlike simple agitators and stirrers, the Silverson system uses a specially designed rotor/stator workhead to create high shear conditions within the mixing zone.

During operation, the high-speed rotor draws material into the workhead where it is subjected to intensive mixing. The processed material is then projected back into the surrounding mix at high velocity.

This combination of high-speed rotation, controlled flow and intensive mixing helps incorporate ingredients throughout the batch while breaking down agglomerates.

The approach can be used for a range of laboratory-scale processes, including:

• Liquid/liquid blending
• Emulsification
• Particle size reduction
• Dispersion
• Incorporation of powders and other ingredients
• More complex high shear mixing applications

The ability to carry out different processes on the same laboratory mixer makes the equipment suitable for product development and process evaluation across a range of industries.

More than 40 interchangeable workheads and assemblies

A key feature of Silverson laboratory mixers is the choice of interchangeable workheads, screens and assemblies.

More than 40 options are available, allowing the same basic machine to be configured for different mixing applications. Workheads can be changed to suit the process requirement, giving laboratories greater flexibility when working with different formulations or developing new products.

This modular approach can also reduce the need for multiple dedicated pieces of laboratory processing equipment.

For applications requiring continuous processing, Silverson offers an In-Line mixing assembly for the L5 Series. This converts the L5 mixer into an in-line mixer/homogeniser with a throughput of approximately 20 litres per minute.

The in-line configuration can be used to investigate continuous mixing processes at laboratory scale and provide additional flexibility when evaluating how a formulation or process behaves under different operating conditions.

Verso bench-top in-line mixer for pilot-scale development

Where a higher throughput is required or a dedicated in-line laboratory mixer is preferred, Silverson’s Verso provides a bench-top in-line mixing solution.

The Verso can be supplied with a vessel package designed to replicate a recirculation process at pilot scale. This provides a way for process engineers and product development teams to investigate in-line mixing under conditions intended to represent larger-scale production.

The system offers a means of forecasting the performance of larger in-line mixers under full-scale working conditions.

This type of laboratory and pilot-scale testing can be particularly valuable during process development because it allows manufacturers to assess mixing performance before committing to full-scale equipment.

Laboratory mixer scale-up to production

One of the key considerations when selecting laboratory mixing equipment is how effectively the results can be transferred from R&D work to commercial production.

Silverson’s laboratory mixer range is designed to support this transition, allowing users to progress from laboratory testing to larger-scale Silverson mixing equipment.

The ability to use related high shear mixing technology across laboratory, pilot and production equipment can help manufacturers establish and refine a process before moving to full-scale manufacturing.

For R&D teams, this provides a route from initial formulation development and laboratory testing through to pilot-scale evaluation and production scale-up.

High shear mixing for product development

High shear laboratory mixers can play an important role in developing formulations where conventional stirring is insufficient to achieve the required level of dispersion, emulsification or particle size reduction.

The rotor/stator workhead provides a defined high shear mixing zone while the range of available configurations allows the equipment to be adapted to different processing requirements.

For manufacturers developing new products or optimising existing processes, having a flexible laboratory mixer that can be configured for different duties can also simplify equipment requirements within the laboratory.

Silverson’s laboratory range is therefore designed not only for individual laboratory mixing tasks but also as part of a broader process development and scale-up strategy.

For more information about Silverson laboratory mixers and the company’s wider range of high shear mixing equipment, visit www.silverson.co.uk or contact sales@silverson.co.uk.