Pin or Paddle Mixer?

Experts in process design and material processing for over 60 years.

Choosing an Industrial Mixer:

When looking to process materials in an industrial mixer, the choice often comes down to whether a pin or paddle mixer would best suit the job.  

While both pieces of equipment offer a reliable mixing solution, they each offer their own advantages and capabilities. Most often, the material itself will aid in determining which piece of equipment will best suit the job at hand.

 

While both pieces of equipment offer a reliable mixing solution, they each offer their own advantages and capabilities. Most often, the material itself will aid in determining which piece of equipment will best suit the job at hand.

The following information outlines the basics of each mixer’s capabilities.

 

Paddle Mixers

FEECO Paddle Mixer

UsesPaddle mixers can be used for:• Mixing• Agglomerating• Conditioning

UsesPaddle mixers can be used for:• Mixing• Agglomerating• Conditioning

How Paddle Mixers WorkPaddle mixers utilize a tumbling, kneading, and medium shear action to provide a thorough mixture of both liquid and solid feed materials.

Paddle Mixer ApplicationsThe kneading motion employed by a paddle mixer makes them particularly adept at processing heavy-duty materials. Typical paddle mixer applications include:

Paddle Mixer ApplicationsThe kneading motion employed by a paddle mixer makes them particularly adept at processing heavy-duty materials. Typical paddle mixer applications include:

• FGD Scrubber Sludge

Paddle Mixer ApplicationsThe kneading motion employed by a paddle mixer makes them particularly adept at processing heavy-duty materials. Typical paddle mixer applications include:

• FGD Scrubber Sludge• Fly Ash and Lime for SO2

Neutralization

Paddle Mixer ApplicationsThe kneading motion employed by a paddle mixer makes them particularly adept at processing heavy-duty materials. Typical paddle mixer applications include:

• FGD Scrubber Sludge• Fly Ash and Lime for SO2

Neutralization• Municipal Sludge

Paddle Mixer ApplicationsThe kneading motion employed by a paddle mixer makes them particularly adept at processing heavy-duty materials. Typical paddle mixer applications include:

• FGD Scrubber Sludge• Fly Ash and Lime for SO2

Neutralization• Municipal Sludge• Cement or Lime Kiln Dust

Paddle Mixer ApplicationsThe kneading motion employed by a paddle mixer makes them particularly adept at processing heavy-duty materials. Typical paddle mixer applications include:

• FGD Scrubber Sludge• Fly Ash and Lime for SO2

Neutralization• Municipal Sludge• Cement or Lime Kiln Dust• Foundry Dust

• Agricultural Chemicals

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides• Coke Fines

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides• Coke Fines• Chemical Consumer Products

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides• Coke Fines• Chemical Consumer Products• Carbon Powders

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides• Coke Fines• Chemical Consumer Products• Carbon Powders• Cement Kiln Dust

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides• Coke Fines• Chemical Consumer Products• Carbon Powders• Cement Kiln Dust• Flue Dust from Dust Collection

• Agricultural Chemicals• Fertilizers• Pesticides• Coke Fines• Chemical Consumer Products• Carbon Powders• Cement Kiln Dust• Flue Dust from Dust Collection• Pigments & Dyes

Pin Mixers

FEECO Pin MIxer

UsesPin mixers can be used for:• Mixing• Agglomerating• Conditioning• Micro-Pelletizing• De-Dusting

How Pin Mixers WorkPin Mixers utilize an intense spinning action to densify materials and create small micro-pellets.

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride• Mine Fines (such as Zinc Sulfate)

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride• Mine Fines (such as Zinc Sulfate)• Coal Dust

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride• Mine Fines (such as Zinc Sulfate)• Coal Dust• Pigment

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride• Mine Fines (such as Zinc Sulfate)• Coal Dust• Pigment• Gypsum

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride• Mine Fines (such as Zinc Sulfate)• Coal Dust• Pigment• Gypsum• Limestone

Pin Mixer ApplicationsPin mixers are particularly adept at processing ultra-fine materials such as powders. Typical pin mixer applications include:

• Calcium Chloride• Sodium Aluminum Chloride• Mine Fines (such as Zinc Sulfate)• Coal Dust• Pigment• Gypsum• Limestone• Other fine particle materials

Comparisons

Both pin mixers and paddle mixers can be used as a stand-alone agglomeration device, or as the pre-conditioner in a two-stage agglomeration process utilizing a disc pelletizer or agglomeration drum.

Choosing between these two industrial mixers can seem overwhelming, but often, the material will aid in the process. For example, the slower speed of the paddle mixer lends itself well to sticky and/or abrasive materials. 

Choosing between these two industrial mixers can seem overwhelming, but often, the material will aid in the process. For example, the slower speed of the paddle mixer lends itself well to sticky and/or abrasive materials. A sticky material would likely ‘bog down’ a pin mixer, and its high speeds do not tolerate abrasive materials well.

Paddle mixers also offer a higher throughput than pin mixers, so they are an attractive option for high capacity settings.  

Paddle mixers also offer a higher throughput than pin mixers, so they are an attractive option for high capacity settings.  Paddle mixers are also more forgiving than a pin mixer, an ideal characteristic when dealing with heavy-duty materials, or when tramp material could possibly enter the system.

Pin mixers, however, are the equipment of choice when looking to densify a material.

Pin mixers, however, are the equipment of choice when looking to densify a material.

The high-speed spinning action employed by a pin mixer offers better results in densification than does a paddle mixer. Pin mixers are also ideal when working with ultra-fine materials, such as pigments and dyestuffs.

ConclusionBoth pin mixers and paddle mixers offer an effective mixing solution. Both machines are capable of agglomeration, conditioning, and mixing, with paddle mixers better suited to heavy-duty materials, and pin mixers more suited to fine materials. 

has been a leader in the agglomeration industry since the 1950s, helping customers solve material problems through process & product development, feasibility testing, and high-quality, custom pin and paddle mixers.

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