What is a organic fertilizer horizontal mixer (ribbon mixer)?

 A horizontal fertilizer  mixer(ribbon mixer)is a commonly used equipment for mixing organic fertilizer and blended fertilizer ingredients. The cylinder is horizontally arranged with double-layered ribbons rotating in opposite directions inside. The materials are uniformly mixed by the pushing and tumbling action of the ribbons. It is often used for fermenting and composting manure, NPK powder, and the blending of microbial agents. The cylinder is usually made of carbon steel or 304 stainless steel, with bearing seats and a drive motor at both ends. A discharge port is provided at the bottom, ensuring good sealing and minimizing dust generation.

 

During operation, the inner and outer ribbons run in opposite directions. The inner ribbon pushes the material towards the center, while the outer ribbon feeds it to both ends. The material tumbles and circulates repeatedly within the cylinder, completing the mixing of an entire batch in three to five minutes. The material mixing uniformity can reach over 95%, and trace amounts of microorganisms and humic acid can be effectively mixed. The standard single-fill volume is about 60% of the cylinder; overfilling will reduce mixing efficiency.

 

This equipment is compatible with both dry and wet raw materials. It can mix well-rotted wet manure and dry powder fertilizer. The moisture content of wet materials should be controlled between 20% and 50% to prevent sticking to the walls. Its daily advantages include a compact footprint, convenient feeding, and the ability to connect to crushers and granulators for continuous production. Vulnerable parts are concentrated at both ends of the shaft seals, bearings, and the screw ribbon. For high-salt fertilizer production, a stainless steel cylinder is preferred to slow corrosion.

 

Daily maintenance focuses on regularly adding grease to the bearings at both ends to prevent powder from entering and seizing them. After production, empty the cylinder of any remaining material, as residual salt fertilizer can cause moisture to corrode the screw ribbon and cylinder walls. The disadvantage is that excessive amounts of coarse fiber straw can easily entangle the screw ribbon; it is recommended to crush such materials beforehand. Compared to vertical mixers, horizontal mixers have a larger single-feed capacity, making them more suitable for continuous use in bio-organic fertilizer production lines.