Are you looking for fast, accurate, repeatable blending or mixing?

Humans are fallible, inaccurate and slow. In production processes which demand repeatability, accuracy and speed, that makes them a liability.

The solution is an automated batch or in-line blending or mixing system, for fast, accurate dosing, time after time. All at a speed that significantly accelerates productivity.

From a single production line upwards, ERIKS Flow Control can design, install and maintain a cost-effective system for your application. And because ERIKS is a major purchaser of high-quality brand-name system components, it will be built-to-order, but at a close to off-the-shelf price.

A whole batch of problems

Moving from a batch production process to an in-line system delivers a wide range of benefits. That's because manually-operated batch blending and mixing systems have an inherent set of problems.

ERIKS is currently undertaking design and installation of a new in-line system for a manufacturer of flavoured and infused oils. A number of issues with their current batch system should be resolved as a result.

The customer produces small runs of speciality oils, currently hand-blended to the required ratios and specifications, in 1000kg batches stored in intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). Product demand is high, and there is a large number of flavour variants, so the customer processes approximately 2,500 IBCs annaually - each one taking around an hour to blend.

Once an IBC has been blended, it has to be moved manually from the bulk oils dispatch point to the filler point on the production line. This involves manual handling on a trolley, over a distance of around 150m.

Moving IBCs is a tipping and manual handling safety risk, and in the confined space around the production line poses the additional risk of machinery damage. The operation also takes the depalletiser operator away from his machine for at least 10 minutes at every IBC change. Since one of the lines involved can process a full IBC every 90 minutes, this is a significant amount of the operator's time which could be better used.

One final inefficiency is the 12 litres of oil lost from production at every oil change.

Quality ingredients

It doesn't matter how unusual or complex your mixing or blending requirement is, ERIKS can make it more efficient, accurate and cost-effective.

The specialist knowledge to design and build an effective in-line or batch system is only the start. To ensure reliability, the system will be engineered with quality components from well-known manufacturers. These include Xylem for pumps and Prominent for dosing systems, WEG for electric motors, Econ for valves and proportional valves, and Fenner for control systems.