Double Cone Tumble Blender Provides Homogeneity in Heavy-Duty Applications

In late December 2025, Charles Ross & Son promoted its five-cubic-foot double cone tumbler blender for small- to mid-scale powder processing. The Ross Double Cone Tumble Blender Model DCB-5 is designed to work for high-precision processes using high-density materials.

What makes this model provide repeatable homogeneity?

The blender features a large, hinged vessel cover for proper sealing and access for additions and cleaning and a stainless-steel type 305 jacket rated for 50 pounds per square inch gauge to heat or cool batches (1). At full speed, the blender is capable of 24 rpm and is powered by a direct-drive hollow-bore reducer and a 3 horsepower (HP) totally enclosed, fan-cooled brake motor suitable for variable frequency drive (VFD) operation. Effective deagglomeration is achieved via a 2 HP intensifier bar with dual six-inch chopper blades that turn up to 1520 rpm, and the double cone vessel is rated for vacuum up to 29.5 Hg.

A wide, stable base with carbon steel support frame, pad plates for mounting, and integrated guardrails create safe distribution of forces, according to the company. There is 40 inches of clearance, provided by the removable legs, below the discharge point, which is has a six-inch butterfly valve with a tri-camp outlet.

Vacuum blending and drying are provided via an oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pump that is mounted inside the support frame and plumbed to the blender by a rotary union (1). A seven-inch color touch screen user interface, internally mounted VFDs for the blender and intensifier bar, and a dedicated motor starter provide controls management.

How important is equipment maintenance and/or replacement in pharma?

Blenders and mixers are extensively used in small-molecule drug manufacturing. Switching out older equipment for new and upgraded models, like the Ross Double Cone Tumble Blender, can be part of a pharmaceutical company's equipment maintenance plan. But how can a company determine if new equipment is necessary?

Because most pharmaceutical manufacturing occurs under good manufacturing practices (GMPs) aligned with regulatory guidelines, the equipment used in these facilities must be regularly evaluated, maintained, and replaced when necessary (2, 3). A review of equipment and facilities should be part of a company’s quality management system, and a risk-based approach to prevent equipment problems and control contamination can be key to meeting GMP requirements (4).

Routine inspections, equipment calibration, and equipment cleaning should be performed and documented. “Beyond regulatory expectations, proactive maintenance also drives operational efficiency and strengthens credibility with regulators. This enables companies to stay competitive while protecting patient safety,” Pranav Vengsarkar, PhD, director, process R&D and site head at Avantor, said in an interview with PharmTech (4).

AI and digital monitoring can assist in the prediction of needed updates and incorrect calibration, Dr. Vengsarkar asserted. “This approach supports GMP compliance and minimizes downtime. It also reflects smart manufacturing—leveraging data to maintain equipment performance, improve efficiency, and scale to new modalities without compromising product quality or patient safety.”

Companies should perform internal audits and risk assessment so ensure their operations are up to current GMP standards, according to Dr. Vengsarkar (4).“Drivers include new technologies, scaling across modalities, or updated compliance requirements,” Dr. Vengsarkar notes. “These upgrades safeguard product quality and patient safety while also improving efficiency, flexibility, and adoption of innovative processes. A periodic review of a GMP facility is a critical process to ensure it remains in a validated state and compliant with current regulations.”

References

1. Charles Ross & Son. ROSS DCB-5 Double Cone Tumble Blender Achieves Superior Homogeneity in Heavy-Duty Applications. Press Release. December 2025.
2. FDA. Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Regulations. FDA.gov. Jan. 21, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/current-good-manufacturing-practice-cgmp-regulations (accessed Oct. 27, 2025).
3. EMA. Good Manufacturing Practice. ema.europa.eu. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/research-development/compliance-research-development/good-manufacturing-practice (accessed Oct. 27, 2025).
4. Haigney, S. How a “Plan, Prevent, Prove” Approach Helps Avoid Facility and Equipment Problems. Pharmaceutical Technology 2025 49 (9). https://www.pharmtech.com/view/how-a-plan-prevent-prove-approach-helps-avoid-facility-and-equipment-problems