From Ingredient Selection to Mixer Charging in One Integrated Process

Food mixer performance depends on more than the mixer itself. The correct ingredients must be selected, weighed, collected and delivered to the mixer in the sequence defined by the recipe. When multiple powders and granules are involved, this upstream preparation stage becomes a critical part of product consistency, hygiene and production efficiency. VOLDE develops automated recipe preparation and mixer-feeding systems that combine ingredient storage, vacuum conveying, weighed collection and controlled mixer charging within a single process architecture. Each system is configured according to the number of ingredients, batch size, material characteristics and mixer capacity.

| Weighed Vacuum Conveying

Powdered and granular ingredients supplied from silos, bins, bags or big bags are transferred through enclosed vacuum conveying lines to a central receiving point positioned above the mixer.

The materials are collected in a weighed vacuum receiver, where each ingredient is received according to the active recipe. The PLC determines which raw material is required, selects the relevant conveying route and monitors the transferred quantity before moving to the next ingredient.

This approach combines conveying and weighing within the same process step, reducing intermediate handling and keeping the ingredient path enclosed from storage to the mixer area.

Depending on the application, the system can incorporate:

• Multi-ingredient vacuum conveying
• Automatic line and source selection
• Weighed vacuum cyclone
• Load-cell based batch collection
• Filtered air separation
• Magnetic separation where required
• Automatic refill and conveying sequences

Once the required ingredients have been collected, the prepared batch is ready for transfer to the mixer.

| Recipe Based Mixer Charging

The weighed batch is discharged from the vacuum cyclone directly to the mixer according to the production sequence. Discharge valves and feeder equipment are selected according to the flow characteristics of the ingredients and the mixer arrangement.

Major ingredients can be prepared automatically, while minor or manually added components can be incorporated through dedicated addition points where required. The PLC coordinates material selection, weighing, collection and mixer discharge so that each batch follows the active formulation.

This architecture allows different recipes and batch sizes to be produced through the same mixer-feeding system while reducing manual material handling around the production area.

For food manufacturers running frequent recipe changes, centralised ingredient preparation also creates a clear separation between raw material handling and the actual mixing process.

With VOLDE separation systems, dust is retained in the process, and only the actual product you want to sell gets packaged. Let's plan the right system for your gelatin line together.

| Process Automation & Batch Traceability

Food production requires the complete material path to support cleanability, ingredient verification and production traceability.

VOLDE designs product-contact equipment with suitable stainless-steel construction and hygienic geometries, while enclosed vacuum conveying helps reduce dust release and product exposure during transfer. Dust extraction, food-grade seals and material-specific cleaning concepts can be incorporated according to the application.

PLC/SCADA automation manages the complete recipe preparation sequence, including.

• Ingredient selection
• Target and actual weights
• Vacuum conveying cycles
• Batch identification
• Mixer requests and discharge sequences
• Material consumption
• Alarm and operator records

Barcode or material-identification systems can also be integrated to verify raw materials before they enter the recipe.

VOLDE combines vacuum conveying, weighed cyclone collection and automated mixer feeding to create an integrated recipe-preparation system developed for hygienic, traceable and repeatable food production.