If you are transitioning from a home grade to an industrial food mixer, you might find yourself lost with the multiple options available to you. Even if you already have one and are changing your product or service, you might want to consider adjusting your industrial food mixer option for better results or ease of use.
Those in the food business know that having the right tools for the job makes all the difference, both to the producer and the end consumer. Having an industrial food mixer will not just make your production process quicker, it most likely will make it safer, more sanitary, and yield a better result thanks to the heavy-duty grade that will be able to produce a smoother batter, more consistent powder, or more homogeneous liquid.
The following are the basic types of industrial food mixers and what they are used for:
Likwifier
A likwifier does what the name suggests: it liquifies. For the creation of certain food products like sauces, ice cream, candies, dressings, and more, a liquid consistency is needed regardless of the state of the ingredients before mixing. Apart from bringing solid or semi solids to a liquid state, likwifiers also deal well with large amounts and concentrations of starches, flours, emulsifiers, stabilizing gums, frozen products and more. Thanks to the industrial nature, there is a lot of power to handle large amounts and accomplish the task in a controlled matter within minutes.
Disperser
Dispersers set themselves apart from other industrial food mixers by being the best options for breaking apart lumps of powder like flour or mixes within liquids. It leaves a consistent and lump-free liquid, ensuring that all the soluble solids have been incorporated for a smooth batter or mixture.
Homogenizer
The technology behind a homogenizer forces a sample of the mix through a narrow space with high pressure, creating a very finely blended liquid, even to the cellular level. It can just as likely be found in a lab as in an industrial food set up, homogenizers are used to mix foods that need to bind together very closely, otherwise risking separation over time.
High Intensity
A high intensity industrial food mixer has many uses, and what sets it apart from other mixers is the controlled versatility. It can be used to break down solids into smaller pieces through granulation, to knead consistent mixtures, grind fine powders for consistency, and at the lowest speeds, to mix in delicate substances like foams.
Clamp-On
Clamp-on food mixers provide portability to your production process, as they can be affixed to appropriate containers without having to transfer them into a designated food mixer. It's a very versatile option for those needing industrial grade mixers for different roles. They conveniently come in a range of mixing technologies.
Top Entry
Top Entry industrial food mixers are designed for large scale operations, and as the name suggests, the mixer enters the chamber or tank from the top rather than the bottom or the side. It's a popular kind of mixer in a range of industries outside of food as well.
Side Entry
You might prefer a side entry mixer if your machinery or tanks are suited for it. Usually large storage tanks containing more viscous liquids like oils that don't benefit from having air incorporated into the mixture but require constant agitation to stay in a certain state are paired with such mixers.
Depending on the systems you have in place and your product, several these industrial food mixers may suit your needs, and that's normal. This is when it's a good idea to ask other veterans in the industry about their preferences, or get in touch with a salesperson who will be able to give you the pros and cons, not only of the general types, but also the specific models available.