Sharpe Mixers at the 2014 Expo Pack Mexico!

Sharpe Mixers exhibits at Expo Pack Mexico, the largest industrial exhibit in Mexico, with our sales Representatives from Inventec.

 

 

 

 

Comparing Pumps and Agitators for Tank Mixing

Pumps are defined as a device that moves fluids by mechanical action.  They operate by some mechanism, typically rotary or reciprocating, and consume energy to perform mechanical work.

Industrial mixers are used to mix a wide range of materials.  They are mainly used to mix different materials to make a good quality homogenous mixture.

Recently, Gregory T. Benz of Technology International wrote an excellent paper comparing the two mechanical methods for Biofuels Digest that is definitely worth a read.  In it, he compares capital and operating costs, as well as relative performance, of both systems, based on real-world installations.

Sharpe Mixers has been manufacturing industrial mixers since 1970, and is recognized as a world-wide leader in the mixing industry.  Visit  our web site to learn more.

Sharpe Mixers at Interphex 2014

Interphex in New York has always been a successful show for Sharpe Mixers, and Interphex 2014 was no exception!  We hope you got a chance to come out and see us and learn about some of our exciting new products and solutions for sanitary mixing applications.

"Interest was very high for our line of all stainless steel mixers and lift stands," Fred DeCicco reported.

Sharpe Mixers Featured in Chemical Engineering

Check out Joy LePree's article on mixing efficiency in Chemical Engineering magazine.  It features the Sharpe Mixers folding HYF-218 hydrofoil style impeller.  This impeller features a four-blade design that folds for easy installation through small openings, eliminating the need for personnel to enter the tank.  The blades open with centrifugal force and lock in place when fully open.

Our Hyflo impellers are among the most energy efficient in the industry, and when combined with premium efficient motors and higher efficiency gearboxes, can offer a sizeable cost savings - often saving thousands of dollars in operation costs and improving the payback period of the new capital equipment.

Contact us today to learn more, and see how we can save you money!

Need a Large Mixer Fast? Let Us Help!

One of the downsides of custom build equipment can be the lead time.  Traditionally, the equipment has to be sized specifically for the application, engineering has to be completed and reviewed, raw materials and components have to be procured, and then, finally, production can begin.  It can be a daunting schedule when you are in a hurry to be up and running.

That's about to change.

Introducing the Sharpe Mixers Quick N program.  We now stock parts on the shelf for 2 hp or 3 hp N-Series plate mounted mixers!  These include 2.38" dia. x 20' long shafts, which can be cut to length, and both 40" and 46" split-hub HYF-218 impellers.

These mixers can work in 5,000 and up to 20,000 gallon mixer applications (process dependent).

Best of all?  These mixers can be shipped from our facility in as little as 2-3 weeks.

Contact us for details.  Let's get your project up and running!

Sharpe Mixers Offers Custom Mixing Equipment

Sharpe Mixers designs and manufactures liquid agitation equipment.  Many of the designs for the equipment are based on a customer’s specific requirements.  A product that is designed to solve one customer’s problem can develop into a complete product line.  The PB-Series of mixers offered by Sharpe Mixers is an excellent example.  This mixer is manufactured using current ASME-BPE standards for materials and finishes.  White Epoxy and Stainless Steel drives are standard offerings.  Wetted parts are SS316L or higher alloys and can be polished and electro-polished with surface finishes 0f 20, 15 or even 10 Ra.  BPE compliant single dry-running mechanical shaft seals are standard and are rated for 200 psig and 350 degrees F.

A customer in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has applications for mixing liquids in vessels ranging from 25 L to 250 L.  These small vessels are portable, meant for easy handling and mobility.  The only top entry industrial quality agitators available are much too large and heavy for installation on these small portable vessels.  They create a top-heavy assembly that is unstable and difficult to handle.  The equipment weight makes them difficult to remove and service.  The customer’s answer was to use laboratory scale mixers, since they were lightweight and compact.  The problem with laboratory scale equipment in a manufacturing environment is durability and maintenance.  The “lab stirrer” is easily damaged ad not repairable.  They can only be replaced when they experience wear or failure.

The frustrated customer comes to Sharpe Mixers.  “I need a lightweight compact top entry mixer that can hold up to the rigors of a manufacturing environment, be easy to install and remove and be serviceable.”

Sharpe Mixers finds the components that are compact and lightweight, like right angle drives that reduce instability and improve mobility and IEC frame motors that are 80% lighter than NEMA motors.

Some of these small portable vessels have hinged covers for accessing the vessel interior.  The agitator is usually mounted on the hinged cover making it very difficult to open due to the agitator shaft-impeller assembly extended down into the vessel impinging on the vessel side wall.  Sharpe Mixers has worked with customers that have vessels of this type and developed a retractable shaft that can be raised up through the top of the drive so the in-tank shaft-impeller assembly does not impinge on the side wall and preventing the hinged cover from being fully opened.  This design incorporates a mechanical seal shaft sleeve to prevent galling and scratching with the mixer shaft when sliding and a hollow quill gear reducer shaft that allows shaft retraction from outside the vessel.   Now, the hinged cover can be fully opened allowing full vessel access.  The shaft sleeve is fabricated from a specially engineered plastic, like PEEK (Arlon™).  The Sliding Shaft PB-Series Mixer price range is $10,000 - $12,000.

 

Washington Wine Grape Grower's Association Trade Show

David Bowlin of Engineered Products and Services.

Sharpe Mixers will be represented by Engineered Products & Services once again at this year's 2014 Washington Wine Grape Grower's Association trade show in Kennewick, WA.  The event takes place in the Toyota Center on February 5th thru the 7th.

The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers cultivates a positive business environment to grow the Washington wine industry. The vision of the Association is that by 2020 the Washington State wine industry triples its economic impact through improved profitability and sustainability for growers and wineries in the production of world-class wines.

Sponsors includes Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, The Hogue Cellars, Port of Kennewick, The Washington State Wine Commission, and more.  If you are in the area, come check out our booth!