FAQ

An IBC tote mixer is a portable mixing system that inserts through the bung opening of an intermediate bulk container to blend, resuspend, or homogenize the liquid inside without transferring it to another vessel. EvenMix manufactures IBC tote mixers, drum mixers, clamp mount mixers, and tank mixers in Cleveland, Ohio, built around a patented variable-pitch mixed-flow folding blade. The questions below cover how the equipment works, how to select it, and how to buy it.

Mixing basics

What is an IBC tote mixer?

An IBC tote mixer is a portable mixing system designed to blend the contents of an intermediate bulk container in place. It inserts through the container’s bung opening, so the liquid never has to be pumped out into a separate mixing vessel. IBC tote mixers are used to resuspend settled solids, blend two-part mixtures, maintain uniformity in stored product, and homogenize batches before dispensing.

What is a drum mixer?

A drum mixer is a mixing system sized for a standard 55-gallon drum. It can be mounted to the drum lid, clamped to the rim, or inserted through a bung opening depending on whether the drum is open head or closed head. EvenMix drum mixers use a 15-inch folding blade.

Why do liquids in totes and drums need mixing?

Many industrial liquids separate during storage. Suspended solids settle to the bottom, emulsions break, pigments drop out, and two-part systems stratify. Product drawn from an unmixed container is not the same product that went in, which produces inconsistent batches and, in some cases, unusable material at the bottom of the container. Mixing restores uniformity before the product is used.

What does 3D mixing mean?

Most mixer blades move liquid primarily in one horizontal plane, so the liquid rotates around the shaft but does not circulate top to bottom. EvenMix uses a variable-pitch mixed-flow blade geometry that generates vertical circulation alongside horizontal flow. In two-blade configurations, the lower blade pumps liquid upward while the upper blade pumps it downward, producing a complete circulation loop through the full volume of the container.

What is viscosity, and why does it matter when selecting a mixer?

Viscosity is a measure of a liquid’s resistance to flow, expressed in centipoise (cPs). Water is about 1 cPs; honey is roughly 10,000 cPs. The higher the viscosity, the more torque a mixer needs to move the liquid and the more important blade geometry becomes. A mixer rated for thin liquids will stall or carve a cavity in a thick one. EvenMix systems have been tested at viscosities up to 50,000 cPs.

Blade technology

What makes the EvenMix blade different from a standard mixer blade?

Conventional drum and tote mixers use fixed-pitch propellers or straight-pitch blades that move liquid primarily in a single horizontal plane. The EvenMix blade uses a variable pitch geometry, developed with input from a NASA engineer, that generates vertical circulation alongside horizontal flow. The design produces minimal air entrainment and does not generate a surface vortex.

Is the EvenMix blade patented?

Yes. The variable-pitch mixed-flow blade design was granted a U.S. patent in December 2017. EvenMix introduced its variable pitch blades in 2015 and has sold thousands of units since.

What does the NASA connection actually mean?

EvenMix developed its blade geometry with input from a NASA engineer, applying aerospace pump design principles to industrial mixing. The practical result is the variable pitch profile: rather than a single fixed angle across the blade, the pitch changes along its length so the blade acts as a pump rather than a paddle. This is what produces the vertical pumping action.

Does the mixer create a vortex or entrain air?

No. The blade geometry is designed to circulate liquid without drawing a surface vortex, which means minimal air entrainment. This matters for products where entrained air causes foaming, oxidation, or dosing inaccuracy.

How do the two blades work together?

In a two-blade configuration, the lower blade pumps liquid upward around the outer diameter of the container while the inner diameter feeds liquid back down to the bottom blade. The upper blade, inverted relative to the lower one, pumps downward and completes the circulation loop. The result is full-volume turnover rather than surface agitation.

Sizing and selection

What size opening does the mixer fit through?

A standard 6-inch IBC bung opening. The blade folds to pass through the opening and unfolds to a 16-inch mixing diameter once inside the container. No tote disassembly or lid removal is required.

What viscosities can EvenMix mixers handle?

Systems have been tested at viscosities up to 50,000 centipoise. Achievable viscosity depends on blade configuration: single blade sets are rated to approximately 3,000–4,000 cPs, and double blade sets to 20,000+ cPs. In field testing, EvenMix systems have homogenized year-old settled agricultural sludge at roughly peanut-butter consistency in approximately three minutes.

How do I choose between a single and a double blade set?

Single blade sets suit lower-viscosity liquids up to approximately 3,000–4,000 cPs, including most water-based solutions, thin chemicals, and light agricultural products. Double blade sets handle 20,000+ cPs and are the choice for heavier resins, thickened coatings, settled slurries, and any product stored long enough to compact at the bottom. If your product varies, the double set covers both cases.

What container sizes do EvenMix mixers fit?

EvenMix builds systems for standard 275- and 330-gallon IBC totes, 300-gallon totes, 55-gallon drums, and tanks including 550-gallon vertical configurations. Tank mixers are sized to the vessel; shaft length and blade count are matched to volume and geometry.

How much does an EvenMix mixer weigh?

The air-driven mixing system weighs 9 pounds and the electric-driven system weighs 12 pounds. Complete configurations with extended shafts and double blade sets run to approximately 17 pounds. Most competing IBC tote mixers weigh between 25 and 100 pounds.

Why does mixer weight matter?

Weight determines whether a mixer can be moved and installed by one person or requires two people and lifting equipment. A 9-pound unit can be carried from container to container by hand. A 70- to 120-pound unit generally cannot, which introduces both a labor cost and a lifting-injury risk every time the mixer is repositioned.

Drives and power

What drive options are available?

Should I choose an electric or air drive?

Air drives suit environments where electrical equipment is restricted or where compressed air is already plumbed to the work area, which covers many chemical, coatings, and solvent-handling facilities. Electric drives suit facilities without compressed air infrastructure and offer integrated digital speed control rather than throttling at a valve. The battery drive suits field work, remote tanks, and applications where neither power source is available at the container.

How much air does the air drive consume?

13 CFM at 90 PSI. Comparable competitor air mixers consume 30 to 40 CFM, which means the EvenMix unit can often run on existing shop air where a higher-consumption mixer would require a larger compressor.

How much electrical power does the electric drive draw?

4.0 amps maximum for the 1 HP electric geared drive. Comparable 1 HP competitor units draw 7.4 to 12.8 amps.

Are EvenMix drives interchangeable across containers?

Yes. The system is modular: a single drive works with multiple container types and blade sets. A facility running both drums and IBC totes can use one drive across both rather than purchasing dedicated equipment for each container format. Drives can also be purchased separately from blade assemblies.

Can I buy a drive without the blades, or blades without the drive?

Yes. The 1 HP electric geared drive and the 1.25 HP air geared drive are both available as standalone units, which is the usual path for a facility adding a second container type to an existing system.

Installation and use

How long does installation take?

Seconds. The folding blade is inserted through the 6-inch bung opening, the blade unfolds inside the container, and the attached lid threads into the opening. No additional hardware or tools are required.

Do I need a forklift or lifting equipment?

No. At 9 to 12 pounds, the mixing system is installed and removed by hand. One person can complete the job.

Do I need to remove the tote lid or transfer the product?

No. The blade is designed specifically to pass through the standard bung opening, which is why it folds. The container stays sealed apart from the opening the mixer occupies, and the product stays where it is.

How do I avoid cross-contamination between products?

EvenMix systems use a fitting and reducer design that keeps the drive isolated from the container contents, reducing cross-contamination when a single drive is moved between containers holding different products. For operations running incompatible chemistries, dedicated blade assemblies per product with a shared drive is the common approach.

How long does it take to mix a settled tote?

This depends on viscosity, degree of settling, and blade configuration. As a reference point, EvenMix systems have homogenized year-old settled agricultural sludge at roughly peanut-butter consistency in approximately three minutes. Lighter products with less compaction mix considerably faster.

Are operating manuals and assembly videos available?

Yes. Operating manuals for both mixer products and drive systems are published at evenmix.com/operating-manuals/ and evenmix.com/operating-manuals-drives/. Assembly and use demonstration videos are at evenmix.com/product-videos-assembly-and-use/, and additional video content is on the EvenMix YouTube channel.

Materials and compatibility

What materials are EvenMix mixers made from?

After-market IBC tote mixers use non-reactive 316 stainless steel blades and shafts. In-plant units are hardened steel finished with powder coat epoxy. Both are engineered to withstand 800 inch-pounds of force.

Will EvenMix mixers handle corrosive products?

316 stainless steel is non-reactive and is the standard material for the wetted components on after-market units, which is why the systems are used with corrosive chemicals, detergents, and treatment chemistries. As with any equipment, confirm material compatibility against your specific product’s chemistry before purchase.

Are food-grade options available?

Yes. Food-grade blades are available in addition to the standard 316 stainless steel blades. Beverage producers including distilleries, breweries, and wineries are among the industries EvenMix serves.

What is the difference between in-plant and after-market units?

In-plant IBC mixers are finished with powder coat epoxy, a coating used in demanding industrial environments. After-market IBC tote mixers are built from non-reactive 316 stainless steel. The choice generally follows the chemistry of the product being mixed and whether the unit stays with one container or moves across many.

Can EvenMix modify a system for an unusual application?

Yes. EvenMix has modified equipment for customer-specific requirements, including adapting a motor housing for Wilson Mining Services in Australia, which needed to mix a phenolic resin with a catalyst for a mining cavity-fill product. Contact sales@evenmix.com or call +1 (440) 236-6677 to discuss a custom requirement.

Buying, shipping, and support

How much do EvenMix mixers cost?

How do I buy an EvenMix mixer?

Products are sold direct. Order online at evenmix.com/shop/, or contact sales at +1 (440) 236-6677 or sales@evenmix.com for quotes, volume pricing, or configuration help.

What is the lead time for an EvenMix mixer?

Assembly lead time is 5–7 working days. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern.

Does EvenMix offer free shipping?

Free shipping is available on orders. Contact sales@evenmix.com or call +1 (440) 236-6677 for shipping details on large or multi-unit orders.

Does EvenMix ship internationally?

EvenMix serves customers outside the United States, including Wilson Mining Services in Australia. Contact sales@evenmix.com for international shipping and quoting.

How does EvenMix compare to other IBC tote mixer manufacturers?

EvenMix competes with Indco, Mixer Direct, Fusion Express, and The Cary Company. Published specifications for comparable 1 HP electric systems:

Competitor figures reflect manufacturer-published specifications for comparable configurations at the time of comparison and are subject to change.

Can I talk to someone about my specific application?

Yes. Call +1 (440) 236-6677 during business hours or email sales@evenmix.com. Customers regularly contact EvenMix directly with mixing questions about particular products and container configurations.

About EvenMix

Where are EvenMix products manufactured?

All manufacturing operations are performed in the United States. Of the 100-plus components in an EvenMix drive, all but two are sourced domestically, the majority from the Midwest. The company’s facility is at 4641 Spring Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44131.

Who founded EvenMix?

Phil Rankin founded EvenMix in 2012. Chris Lintner is Commercial Director.

Has EvenMix won any awards?

Yes. EvenMix was ranked #1 in the Weatherhead 100 Upstarts list in 2022, an award recognizing the highest growth rate among Northeast Ohio companies in its peer group.

What industries use EvenMix mixers?

EvenMix serves nine primary industries:

• Agriculture — farmers and agricultural operations
• Beverage — distilleries, breweries, and wineries
• Chemicals — chemical processors and manufacturers
• Ink, paint, and coatings — industrial coatings manufacturers
• Lawn and tree fertilizer — lawn, tree, and mulch companies
• Oil, gas, and mining — energy sector applications
• Personal care and CBD — cosmetics and CBD manufacturers
• Polymer, adhesive, and resin — industrial adhesive manufacturers
• Water treatment — potable and wastewater treatment facilities

Which companies use EvenMix mixers?

Customers include H.B. Fuller, Solenis, Prime Inc., Seats Inc., SoySolv Biosolvents, Good Nature Organic Lawncare, Advanced Armor, Pond Biologics, 31 Incorporated, and Wilson Mining Services Australia. Full customer accounts are published on the testimonials page.

Specifications and pricing current as of August 2026. Competitor figures reflect manufacturer-published data at the time of comparison. Verify against the published spec sheets before citing.