Used Agitators

Agitators are mechanical mixing devices that induce flow and shear within tanks and vessels. They consist of three primary components: a drive (motor and gearbox), a shaft, and one or more impellers. The drive transmits rotational torque through the shaft to the impeller, which creates fluid motion patterns that blend, suspend, or homogenize materials.

Industrial agitators serve several functions in process manufacturing. They blend miscible liquids to achieve a uniform composition. They suspend solids within liquids to prevent settling. They promote heat transfer between vessel contents and jacket or coil surfaces. They also enhance mass transfer rates in chemical reactions by maintaining contact between reactants.

Federal Equipment Company stocks used agitators from established manufacturers, including Lightnin, Chemineer, Pfaudler, and Philadelphia. Our current inventory includes top-entry agitators, side-entry units, clamp-on portable mixers, and high-shear rotor-stator designs. Drive configurations range from fractional-horsepower lab units to 30 HP process-scale equipment.

Each agitator undergoes inspection before listing. We document motor specifications, gearbox ratios, shaft dimensions, and impeller configurations. Our technical staff can help match equipment to your vessel geometry, viscosity requirements, and process objectives.

Applications & Industries

Used agitators support mixing operations across multiple sectors:

• Chemical processing: Reaction vessels, blending tanks, dissolution, and neutralization
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: API synthesis, buffer preparation, and formulation tanks
• Water and wastewater treatment: Flocculation, chemical dosing, and equalization basins
• Paints and coatings: Pigment dispersion, resin blending, and batch tanks
• Food and beverage: Ingredient mixing, slurry preparation, and holding tanks
• Plastics and polymers: Catalyst mixing, additive blending, and monomer preparation

Specifications & Configurations

Drive Power Ranges:

• Fractional HP (0.25–0.75 HP): Lab-scale and small batch applications
• Low HP (1–5 HP): Pilot plant and mid-size process vessels
• Medium HP (10–30 HP): Full-scale production reactors and large tanks

Mounting Configurations:

• Top-entry (vertical): Most common; suitable for baffled vessels with 1:1 aspect ratios
• Side-entry (horizontal): Large storage tanks where headroom is limited
• Clamp-on (portable): Drums, totes, and open vessels under 6 ft diameter

Materials of Construction:

• 316 stainless steel shafts and impellers (standard for corrosion resistance)
• 304 stainless steel (general-purpose applications)
• Carbon steel (non-corrosive, cost-sensitive applications)
• Glass-lined drives available from Pfaudler for highly corrosive service

Impeller Types:

• Pitched blade turbine: General-purpose axial flow for blending and solids suspension
• Propeller: High-flow, low-shear applications
• Rushton turbine: Radial flow for gas dispersion
• Anchor/scraper: High-viscosity and heat-transfer applications
• High-shear rotor-stator: Emulsification, dispersion, and particle size reduction

Seal Options:

• Mechanical seals (single and double configurations)
• Packing glands
• Dry-running seals for glass-lined equipment

Why Buy Used

Purchasing used agitators offers practical advantages for many projects:

Cost Reduction: Used agitators typically sell for 40–60% less than comparable new equipment. For standard drive sizes and common impeller configurations, used units deliver equivalent performance at significantly lower capital cost.

Faster Lead Times: New agitators often require 8–16 weeks for manufacturing and delivery. Used equipment from Federal Equipment Company ships in days, not months. This matters when replacing failed equipment or commissioning new capacity on compressed schedules.

Proven Performance: Many used agitators come from decommissioned facilities where they operated reliably for years. Equipment from Lightnin, Chemineer, and Pfaudler is built for long service life and often has decades of useful operation remaining.

Our Support:

• Inspection reports documenting motor condition, gearbox function, and seal status
• Refurbishment services, including seal replacement, motor testing, and shaft straightening
• Sourcing assistance if you need a specific model, size, or configuration not currently in stock

Related Equipment

• Tanks & Kettles: Mixing tanks, reactors, and storage vessels that pair with agitator installations
• Reactors: Glass-lined and stainless steel reactors with integrated agitation systems
• Homogenizers & Emulsifiers: High-pressure and rotor-stator units for emulsification and particle reduction
• Pumps: Transfer pumps for moving mixed batches between process stages
• Heat Exchangers: Shell-and-tube and plate units for heating or cooling agitated batches