American Phoenix Inc. (API) built its production fleet for volume — masterbatch on large Banbury mixers, final mix across a bank of 232-liter machines, one of them dedicated entirely to butyl. The company is now proud to introduce its new Specialty Mixing line.
Its new 80-liter Banbury tilt-body line was built for a different kind of work, focusing on Specialty Mixing.
Installed at the company’s Eau Claire, Wisconsin, facility, the self-contained line is designed for specialty and lower-volume compounds where process control, changeover discipline, and finishing flexibility matter more than maximum throughput, particularly in the context of Specialty Mixing.
A Production-Ready Batch Size
The Kobelco/KSBI 80-liter mixer produces approximately 125- to 150-pound batches, depending on the compound’s specific gravity. A 250-horsepower drive and rotor speeds up to 50 RPM give the line enough torque for demanding polymers, not only easy-processing formulations.
The line is well suited for:
- specialty and lower-volume compounds
- color-sensitive materials
- NBR, HNBR, and other technical elastomers
- higher-value compounds that benefit from tighter process control
- programs requiring frequent or deliberate changeovers
- production trials at a meaningful batch size
This gives manufacturers another production option for work that does not fit neatly on a high-volume line.
Both Mixing Stages in One Machine
Unlike larger production lines that separate masterbatch and productive mixing across different equipment, the 80-liter line can handle both stages in the same mixer.
Keeping the work in one machine reduces transfers and keeps the batch under one controlled process from polymer charge through curative addition. That can be especially valuable when timing between passes affects viscosity or when fewer transfers support tighter process and carryover control.
Control Built Around the Compound
Different polymers, fillers, oils, and cure systems require different charging sequences and temperature limits. Ingredient timing can influence filler dispersion, oil incorporation, final viscosity, and scorch risk.
Flexible ingredient charging, recipe control, and adjustable temperature settings allow American Phoenix to build the cycle around the compound rather than force every formulation through one fixed process.
The tilt-body design also opens for direct access to the rotors and chamber, supporting more thorough cleanout between batches. That matters for color-sensitive compounds, tightly controlled specialty formulations, and programs with frequent changeovers.
Finishing for What Comes Next
The installation is a complete line, handling mixing, milling, marking, cooling, and final material preparation.
API also added an overhead conveyor that bypasses the standard slab-dip anti-tack process and moves compound directly onto poly film.
Partners can specify:
- standard slab-dip finishing
- dip-free, poly-interleaved material
That added flexibility helps ensure the compound arrives in a form that works for the next production step.
See Whether the Line Fits Your Program
For manufacturers managing specialty compounds, frequent changeovers, tighter temperature limits, or downstream restrictions on dip residue, the 80-liter line creates another production path.
Global Polymer Summit attendees can discuss fit and processing requirements with the American Phoenix team at Booth #704. Visit RubberMadeRight.com or contact the sales team at (715) 831-0966.