Mixing Tank with Agitator
Before you buy a tank, check whether the one you need is already on your floor.
You may not need a mixing tank at all
If your product arrives or is stored in an IBC tote, you already own a 275 or 330 gallon vessel that is rated for your product, sitting on a pallet base and ready to move by forklift. Adding a clamp-on agitator turns it into a mixing tank in about a minute, and turns it back into a shipping container when you are done.
That is the idea behind US Mixers IBC tote mixers. The E-400 folding impeller passes through the tote’s standard 6" screw cap, opens inside, and blends or re-suspends the contents without transferring anything to a separate tank.
What that saves you
- No tank purchase, no platform, no install contractor
- No permanent floor space committed to a vessel
- No pumping product in and back out again
- No tank washout between products — the mixer lifts off and moves to the next tote
- No residue left behind in a tank, pump and lines
Dedicated mixing tank vs. agitator on a tote
Both approaches give you a mixing tank with an agitator. They differ in cost, flexibility and what happens between batches.
| Dedicated tank + agitator | IBC tote + US Mixers agitator | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital outlay | Tank, agitator, mounting platform, installation | Mixer only — the tote is already on site |
| Floor space | Permanent footprint | None; the mixer moves between totes |
| Product transfer | Pump in, pump out | None — mix in the delivery container |
| Changeover | Full tank washout between products | Lift the mixer off and clamp it on the next tote |
| Product loss | Residue in tank, pump and lines | Minimal |
| Batch size | Built to spec, any size | 275 / 330 gallons per tote |
| Installation | Fixed; often needs a contractor | Toggle clamps, no tools, minutes |
| Best suited to | Continuous production of one recipe | Batch work, multiple products, goods received in totes |
When a dedicated tank is still the right answer
A tote-mounted agitator is not the answer to every mixing problem. Specify a purpose-built tank when you need:
- Batch volumes consistently larger than a tote, in continuous production
- A heating or cooling jacket, vacuum, or operation under pressure
- High-shear dispersion, emulsification or milling rather than blending and suspension
- Products much above ~15,000 cP
- Clean-in-place to a validated procedure
If any of those apply, tell us anyway — we would rather point you in the right direction than sell you the wrong machine.
What you get with a tote-mounted agitator
Electric — LBC-100 and LBC-200
1 HP or 2 HP gear-driven mixers, supplied prewired with a DOL starter, overload protection, safety interlock and appliance plug. 120 V and 240 V single phase, 208/230/460 V three phase, 60 Hz. Fixed speed as standard; integral variable speed optional.
Pneumatic — LBC-100A and LBC-200A
1 HP or 2 HP air-motor mixers with speed adjustment on a flow-control valve — no electrical supply or VFD. Lighter than the electric equivalents and the usual choice where compressed air is the plant standard.
Every unit includes a 316 stainless steel bridge with quick-action toggle clamps, forklift pockets, a lifting strap and eyebolt, a safety interlock that prevents the mixer running off a tote, and the E-400 folding impeller on a 3/4" 316 stainless shaft. Powder hoppers, liquid inlets, dual impellers, and PP or PVDF wetted parts are available.
Frequently asked questions
Can an IBC tote really be used as a mixing tank?
Yes, for blending and re-suspension. The tote is already rated for the product it holds, and the mixer bridge clamps to the tote’s metal frame rather than the plastic bottle. What you cannot do in a tote is heat, cool, pressurise or work under vacuum — those need a purpose-built vessel.
How does the agitator fit through the opening?
The E-400 impeller folds to pass through the tote’s standard 6" screw cap, then opens under rotation to 12" or 13" inside the container. No cutting or modification to the tote.
What size tote does it fit?
Industry-standard 275 and 330 gallon totes with a metal outer frame of 40" span and a 6" screw cap. A 48" span frame is available on request.
How long does it take to set up?
Minutes. The bridge locates on the tote frame and is secured with quick-action toggle clamps — no tools. Electric models are prewired and plug in.
Which model for my product?
As a guide, LBC-100 or LBC-100A up to about 5,000 cP and LBC-200 or LBC-200A from 5,000 to 15,000 cP. Send us the product, viscosity and specific gravity and we will confirm the model and impeller arrangement.
