EPM-LAB
Laboratory Mixer
A laboratory mixer developed by Erk engineers for formulation trials and R&D in raw-material production, combining different configurations in one machine to suit your work.
Highlights
What is a laboratory mixer used for?
A new stabiliser, a different filler level, resin from a new supplier — in any plant that processes PVC or powders, recipes change all the time. Trying those changes directly in a production mixer means hundreds of kilos of raw material, hours of line downtime and the risk of unusable product.
A laboratory mixer for PVC lets you run those trials at small scale. The Erk laboratory mixer was developed by our engineers specifically for trying different formulations and for R&D in raw-material production. You test the recipe with a small quantity of material, evaluate the result and only move an approved formula into production.
Who uses it?
- PVC profile, pipe and cable producers: testing new additive packages and filler levels for cost optimisation.
- Compounders and additive suppliers: developing customer-specific recipes and preparing samples.
- Powder coating producers: new product work such as metallic and pearlescent effect trials.
- Quality control labs: checking how incoming raw materials behave in mixing before they reach production.
- Universities and R&D centres: academic and industrial work on polymer and powder blending.
Why run trials in the lab?
- Less raw material: each trial uses only a small batch, so a failed recipe does not mean hundreds of kilos of scrap.
- Uninterrupted production: the production mixer and extrusion line keep running normally while you experiment.
- Fast comparison: several recipe variations can be tested in a single day and compared side by side.
- Supplier qualification: a new stabiliser or filler supplier can be tested before the material reaches the main line.
- Customer samples: compounders and additive suppliers can offer samples prepared on the same principle as production.
Flexible configuration
The defining feature of our laboratory mixer is that different configurations can be combined. Which elements are included is agreed during the project, based on the process you want to test, your materials and your goals. A lab running PVC dry blend trials has different needs from an R&D team working on powder coatings, and the machine is configured accordingly.
When planning the configuration we usually start with a few questions: which materials will be tested, whether the trials need heating and cooling stages, which production mixer the results will be transferred to, and what space and utilities are available in the lab.
Scaling up from lab to production
A lab trial is only as valuable as its transfer to production. The main points to watch are:
- Same principle: using the same mixing principle in the lab as in the production mixer keeps results comparable.
- Temperature targets: in PVC recipes, the target temperatures found in the lab serve as the main reference in production.
- Time and energy differences: larger vessels heat and cool differently, so cycle times must be re-verified at production scale.
- Pilot batch: a recipe approved in the lab should first be confirmed with a controlled trial batch in production.
Because Erk PVC Makine also builds the production-scale EPM-H horizontal turbo mixer and EPM-V vertical high speed mixer, you deal with one supplier from lab to line.
Applications
- PVC dry blend: stabiliser, lubricant, filler and pigment trials for rigid and plasticised PVC.
- Powder coatings: new effect and pigment trials before production. For production scale, see our metallic bonding mixer.
- Additive premixes: homogeneity trials for powder and granule additive packages.
Trial blending with your raw materials
We can run trial blends with your own raw materials, so you can see how your recipe behaves in the mixer, and how the blend looks and flows, before you make an investment decision. Send us your recipe and raw materials and we will plan the trial with you.
Installation, training and support
Our laboratory mixers are built and tested at our factory in Ergene, Tekirdağ. After delivery we provide installation and user training, followed by remote technical support and spare parts. The process experience gained in more than 500 projects since 2015 also helps you design meaningful trials.
To choose the right configuration for your lab and receive a price, request a quote.
Applications
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a laboratory mixer used for?
A laboratory mixer is used to test new recipes and raw materials at small scale without occupying a production line. R&D work, quality control and preparing customer samples are the main uses.
How do lab results translate to a production mixer?
The recipe and target temperatures established in the lab serve as the reference for production. Because larger vessels heat and cool differently, the recipe should first be confirmed in production with a controlled trial batch.
Which configurations are available?
Different configurations can be combined to suit your needs. Which elements are included is agreed during the project, based on the process you want to test, your materials and your goals.
Can it be used for powder coating trials?
The laboratory mixer was developed for trying different formulations and can be configured for powder coating R&D. We will assess its suitability with you based on the process and materials you want to test.
What affects the price of a laboratory mixer?
Price depends on the chosen configuration, materials and any additional equipment. Tell us your intended use and the materials you plan to test in the quote form and we will prepare an offer.
EPM-LAB
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