Charles Ross & Son Company has introduced a new double planetary mixer aimed at laboratory and pilot-scale processing of high-viscosity and specialty materials.
The DPM-10, unveiled in April 2026, is designed to handle batch sizes from 2 to 12 gallons (7.6 to 45.5 litres), with a total vessel capacity of 15 gallons (56.8 litres). The system is positioned for applications requiring tight process control and repeatability, including battery materials, adhesives, sealants and other engineered formulations.
Designed for pilot-scale processing
At the core of the unit is a 5 hp explosion-proof inverter-duty motor driving two rectangular blades in a planetary motion. This configuration delivers intensive kneading and mixing action, enabling the processing of materials with widely varying rheological behaviour, from free-flowing powders to highly viscous pastes.
A stainless-steel sidewall scraper, fitted with replaceable PTFE blades, is integrated to improve heat transfer and maintain batch uniformity by continuously folding material from the vessel wall into the mix zone. The system can also operate under vacuum, a feature intended to eliminate entrained air and enhance dispersion quality—particularly relevant for applications such as electrode slurries, where voids and agglomerates can affect downstream performance.
The mixer is equipped with a vacuum hood incorporating sight and charge ports, allowing operators to monitor and adjust formulations during processing. Handling and safety are addressed through an air/oil hydraulic lift with two-hand controls, while explosion-proof limit switches prevent operation unless the vessel and mixing elements are correctly positioned.
The mixing vessel itself includes a heating/cooling jacket to support temperature-sensitive processes and is fitted with a 2-inch flush-bottom ball valve for controlled discharge. The unit is designed to integrate with Ross’s DS-10 discharge system, which uses a platen with a Viton sealing O-ring to maximise product recovery and minimise clean-up time.
Both the mixer and discharge system are mounted on a shared carbon-steel bench with stainless-steel V-groove tracks, allowing the vessel to be transferred between stations without manual handling. This layout is intended to streamline workflow in pilot environments, where frequent batch changes and material transfers are typical.
