An Ecuadorian architectural paint producer mixes in a POLYC low-speed kettle fitted with a custom cup-type working head for strong circulation without air entrainment.
The challenge: circulation without pulling in air
Many mixing configurations generate flow at the cost of drawing air into the product, creating bubbles and density variation. For a non-vacuum, low-speed mixing kettle producing architectural paint, the customer needed vigorous circulation that would not aerate the batch.
How the cup-type head sets the material in motion
The custom-engineered cup-type working head is shaped like a cup and positioned horizontally within the vessel. As it rotates, its geometry creates a slight negative pressure inside the cup, continuously drawing material — along with settled powders — into the cup mouth. Because the cup mouth is larger than its intake, the material is accelerated within the chamber and then discharged radially at speed, generating a markedly stronger swirling circulation throughout the vessel.
The material is no longer merely pushed around — it is drawn in, accelerated, and ejected in a continuous cycle, again and again. The result is more thorough mixing and a more uniform batch.
An easily overlooked advantage: no air entrainment
The cup-type head's radial, horizontal discharge delivers powerful circulation without drawing air into the vessel — a critical benefit for high-viscosity and shear-sensitive formulations where bubbles and density variation are unacceptable.
Low speed is also a form of protection
Low-speed operation combined with the cup geometry delivers strong circulation while avoiding excessive shear. For delicate formulations, this is exactly what is needed — thoroughly mixed, without being damaged.
Configuration at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architectural paint |
| Region | Ecuador |
| Material | Water-based architectural paint, shear-sensitive formulations |
| Configuration | Low-speed mixing kettle with cup-type working head (non-vacuum) |
| Key benefit | Strong swirling circulation with no air entrainment and gentle shear |
Where this configuration fits
The same kettle family includes the mixing kettle and tinting kettle range and the multi-function dispersing kettle for lines that also need dispersion. POLYC has shipped cup-type blade mixing kettles to Ecuador, and a complete solvent and water-based paint production line for an Ecuadorian customer is documented separately, together with its project delivery note.
If air entrainment is limiting your batch quality, send us your inquiry and we will match the working head geometry to your formulation.
Recommended equipment
Mixing Kettle & Tinting Kettle is the relevant POLYC MACHINE configuration for this application.