A scientific and industrial firm (SIF) MIXING was established in 1994 on the basis of one of the leading subdivision of the Leningrad Scientific and Research Institute of Chemical Machine-Building, specializing in development of units with mechanical mixing devices.
     Multiyear studies of various mixing processes, develop- ment of numerous catalogues and guidelines for design and selection of stirred vessels, well established contacts with machine-building factories, supervision of equipment manufacturing, participation in quality control - over 25 years of experience was conducive in forming our professional team of dynamic, communicative and highly qualified experts.
      At present SIF MIXING employs 20 people - experienced engineers, field engineers, researchers, designers and managers.
     Since 1995 SIF MIXING makes up the license for the works with boiler control and chemical control equipment. The company's staff have developed a new catalogue of small-size apparatuses with mixing devices registered in the List of Catalogues to be Applied in Russia.
     The major production base of SIF MIXING is TechMachZavod Ltd. in whose authorized capital SIF MIXING owns 60% of stocks. It allows us not only to control the production process but also to determine the staff politics and production management. In addition to TechMachZavod Ltd., SIF MIXING has established cooperation links with chemical machine-building plants. For example, casings for units with a capacity over 5 m3, which are afterwards outfitted with effective mixing devices manufactured by SIF MIXING, are produced by StarorussChemMach factory.
      The changes on the equipment market determined by the demand for products and paying capacity of companies have shifted the focus from chemical production to so called "clean productions" (food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical etc.). This caused the staff of the company to review the existing research and experimental materials in order to develop new units with mixing devices to meet the requirements of technological processes of "clean productions" at minimal energy and financial costs.
    Thus, to obtain highly homogeneous emulsions and dispersions (household chemical and food products, shampoos, creams, tooth pastes, etc.) the company has developed an effective dispersing block (Fig. 1, item 1) which stepped up formation of a disperse system with preset properties practically without consumption of additional energy.
      This construction of a dispersing block allowed the introduction of a new model of a double-drive apparatus with mixing devices in Russia, which not only provides for homogeneous distribution of volumes of agitated phases but also for preparation of emulsions and dispersions. (Fig 1). Such units have been produced by SIF MIXING for 6 years, and their application in the paints, creams and tooth pastes production has demonstrated their high reliability and effectiveness.

Fig. 1. Double-drive apparatus:
1 - dispersing block; 2 - anchor agitator with scrapers.

       When increased dispersion of products is required, SIF MIXING supplies units (Fig. 2) with a single- or double-drive apparatus and a flow-type dispersing machine PRG whose operation is based on a multiple passage of the working fluid across the zone between the rotor and the stator, which is characterized by high local energy values. Similar installations designed for various output were supplied to Rhone Poulenc (France) for production of high homogeneous compositions as well as to a number of Russian companies manufacturing paints, cosmetics, and medical compositions.
       Over the recent years new models of the equipment with electrical heating provided by Russian flexible belt heaters have become widely used. Such equipment proved to be more reliable and less expensive compared with traditional construction in which the heaters are designed in the form of coil pipes and welded jackets.

Fig. 2. Installation for preparation of dispersions:
1 - stirred vessel; 2 - gear pump; 3 - flow-type dispersing machine PRG-100; 4 - valve.

     Taking into account specific processes taking place in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other industries, all equipment by produced SIF MIXING is outfitted with gear motors manufactured by Getriebebau NORD (Germany) and valves manufactured by Larssen (Sweden). This equipment is characterized by enhanced reliability, environmental friendliness and excellent technical and economic factors.
       Since 1995 SIF MIXING has been an official dealer of Getriebebau NORD (Germany) and has the right to sell geared motors and frequency inverters offering good discounts in Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine and Latvia. The equipment is secured with a Russian certificate of compliance with the Safety Code; customs and delivery is carried out by MIXING.
     Some of SIF MIXING's fundamental and traditional areas of work are rendering consulting services, carrying out research and development of new engineering rating methods for designing mixing equipment. Every year the company's staff publishes articles in leading technical journals, takes part in international conferences and congresses and in conjunction with the Russian Academy of Science and major universities organizes conferences on theoretical and practical issues of liquid media mixing.
       A well established position on the market and our multiyear experience in studying, designing and manufacturing capacity and mixing equipment allows us to set forth our company logo: "Partnership with Us is Your Way to Success".