Lab and Pilot Blenders
Development-Scale Blenders — CDM
Overview
The CDM Lab Blender is a compact tabletop tumble blender for laboratory and R&D environments. A roll-back safety canopy fully encloses the vessel during blending, protecting the operator while keeping the process visible. It handles blending capacity up to 1 cu-ft and accepts V-Shell, Offset Cone, Double Cone, and Bin vessels.
The CDM Pilot Blender is a portable pilot-scale tumble blender with blending capacity up to 10 cu-ft. A 304 SS frame on four non-marking wheels with a floor brake lets the unit be repositioned for small-batch production, process trials, and scale-up studies, then locked in place during operation.
Both units use the same Allen-Bradley control platform as CDM production blenders, including a 10.4″ PanelView Plus 7 touchscreen, a CompactLogix 5380 PLC, and PowerFlex 525 VFD drives. Programmable blend RPM and a consistent control approach carry development recipes through to production scale.
Optional batch recording and recipes, an optional UL 508A certified panel, and optional 21 CFR Part 11 compliance are available.
Lab Blender Specifications
| Category | Tabletop tumble blender |
| Blending capacity | Up to 1 cu-ft |
| Vessel types | V-Shell, Offset Cone, Double Cone, Bins |
| Blend RPM | Programmable |
| Controls | 10.4″ Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus 7, CompactLogix 5380 PLC, PowerFlex 525 VFD |
| Frame | 304 SS tabletop pedestal, brushed finish, passivated |
| Operator protection | Roll-back safety canopy |
Pilot Blender Specifications
| Category | Portable pilot-scale tumble blender |
| Blending capacity | Up to 10 cu-ft |
| Vessel types | V-Shell, Offset Cone, Double Cone, Bins |
| Blend RPM | Programmable |
| Controls | 10.4″ Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus 7, CompactLogix 5380 PLC, PowerFlex 525 VFD |
| Enclosures | NEMA 4X stainless |
| Mobility | 4 non-marking wheels with floor brake |
| Safety | Stack light with alarm, safety laser scanner (3 programmable zones) |
Key Features
Direct Drive Rotation
A TEFC gearmotor with fail-safe brake drives a precision-machined shaft on three industrial-duty bearings, with position encoders for repeatable motion.
Same Controls as Production
A 10.4″ Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus 7 touchscreen, CompactLogix 5380 PLC, and PowerFlex 525 VFD drives match the production platform for direct scale-up.
Interchangeable Vessels
A custom-fabricated 304 SS clamp with manual or automatic actuation accepts V-Shells, Double Cones, Offset Cones, and Bins on one machine.
Portable Pilot Footprint
The Pilot Blender rolls on four non-marking wheels with a floor brake, so it can be repositioned between trials and locked in place during operation.
Intensifier Bar Option
An optional 316 SS high-speed I-Bar agitator with sealed FDA PTFE bearings adds shear for deagglomeration and fine-component dispersion.
RFID Vessel Identification
An optional RFID system auto-populates RPM and I-Bar settings per vessel, and a trapped-key manway interlock is available for access control.
Applications
- R&D formulation development
- Small-batch and pre-pilot blending trials
- Pilot-scale batches and process characterization
- Scale-up studies between lab and production
- Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical laboratories
MHS Pharma — Northeast US Representative
MHS Pharma provides direct technical representation for CDM across the Northeast United States. Contact us to discuss lab and pilot blending for your development and scale-up work.
Get in Touch