Multi-product reactors with enhanced heat-transfer requirements are often equipped with simple radially working mixing systems with various types of impellers. To improve the performance of such reactors, this company has developed the Varioblade (photo), which is a flexible, modular impeller with an optimized split between axial and radial flow components by different shapes of the upper and lower impeller parts. Compared to standard frame- or blade-type impellers, the blend times — especially in the mid-viscous range — can be improved by up to 50%, says the company. The Varioblade is not a close-wall-clearance system, but operates in the center of reactors, typically with coils, where radial flow components are required. The positioning of the three elements — outer blade, inner blade and bottom anchor — can be varied. Therefore, this impeller can handle different mixing-task combinations with varying viscosities up to 50,000 cP. — Ekato Group, Schopfheim, Germany