Solid blending equipment are broadly classified in the following categories, depending on the mechanism of blending:

• Convective blenders
• Fluidization mixers
• Tumbler blenders

Plough Share mixers operate on the concept of a fluid bed with three-dimensional product movement that is mechanically generated.The mixing elements are designed to lift and separate the product within the vessel. Plough Share mixer provides intense mixing within short mixing times.

Consisting of a combination of inner and outer helical ribbons, the ribbon agitator is referred to as the "double" helical ribbon agitator. The external ribbon flights move the material from the ends to the center during the blending operation, while the inner ribbon flights move the material from the center to the ends.

The paddle agitator, which can handle brittle materials, is an alternative design to the ribbon agitator. In lieu of the ribbon flights, the paddle agitator contains both forward and reverse paddles, for movement of the material in opposing lateral directions as well as in the radial direction.

The Ribbon-Paddle Blender is designed for the blending of solid materials and pastes. The concept of the ribbon-paddle is derived from the double helical ribbon blender by replacing the outer ribbons with paddles. Pinching with outer ribbons can result in particle shear, with certain materials being crushed. The paddles minimize the mixing vessel's pinch points along the walls.

Live blending silos consists of a vertical or horizontal stationary shell, cylindrical, conical, u-shaped trough within which rotation agitator(s) operate. The mixing elements are either in the form of helical ribbons or paddles or their combination, along with a screw that facilitates product discharge at a constant rate.

The vessel and the agitator unit are mounted vertically in a vertical ribbon blender. These blenders have the flexibility to operate at capacities ranging from low volumes, up to 90 percent of total volumetric capacity, due to the vertical configuration. In the vertical ribbon blender, practically 100 percent material discharge can be achieved.

V-Blenders function mainly by diffusion mixing. The solid material to be blended is loaded into the V-shaped vessel which is rotated about a horizontal axis. Mixing homogeneity of upto 98 percent and higher can be achieved using tumbler blenders. Blending efficiency is affected by the volume of the material loaded into the blender and the speed of blender rotation.

Tumbler blenders, such as the Double Cone Blender rely upon the action of gravity to cause the powder to cascade within the rotating vessel.Blender movements increase the mobility of the individual particles and in the absence of segregating effects, result in high degree of homogeneity

Bin blenders consists of a storage container which holds the materials, and also doubles upas blending vessel. Materials to be blended are loaded in the container and the container isattached to an independent blender drive system. After blending is completed the container is moved to the storage area and another similar container is mounted on the drive system.

The twin shaft paddle mixer consists of paddles mounted on separate shafts in a 'w' shaped mixing vessel.