PATTERSON-KELLEY
GUIDE
Federal Equipment Company has on-hand inventory of Patterson-Kelley mixers & blenders, dryers and filters
Patterson-Kelley Mixers & Blenders
Federal Equipment Company maintains one of the deepest inventories of used Patterson-Kelley mixers and blenders available from any dealer in North America, sourced primarily from pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotech plant decommissions. Current stock includes twin-shell V-blenders from 2 quart Blendmaster lab units through 50, 75, and 125 cu ft production vessels, cross-flow variants, double cone blenders, and intensifier bar configurations across multiple sizes. PK turns over regularly at Federal Equipment Company. If a specific model or size is not listed today, it is typically available within weeks.
About Patterson-Kelley(PK)
Patterson-Kelley has manufactured industrial blenders and dryers for over a century, building its reputation on the twin - shell V - blender: a design that remains the production standard for dry powder blending in pharmaceutical, chemical, and food manufacturing. PK operates from Tonawanda, NY as part of Carrier Process Equipment Group(CPEG), which in 2024 acquired Hebeler Corporation, the parent of PK’s process equipment IP.The acquisition expanded PK’s engineering and testing capabilities while keeping the core blender line intact.
The large installed base of PK equipment means that when you buy used, you are buying into a well-documented platform. IQ/OQ/PQ protocols are widely available, spare parts are stocked by specialty distributors, and most contract engineering firms have existing validation templates for PK designs. This reduces your total cost of ownership well beyond the initial purchase price.
View All Patterson-Kelley Equipment
PK Mixer & Blender Models
Patterson-Kelley’s blender portfolio spans multiple geometries and scales. Federal Equipment Company has sold Patterson-Kelley equipment across the full range, from benchtop Blendmaster units used for lab development through 200 cu ft production twin shells for high-volume manufacturing. Current and historic inventory at Federal Equipment Company has included the following model lines:
Twin-Shell V-Blender: Patterson-Kelley’s core design. Two opposed cylinders split and recombine the powder batch on each rotation, achieving blend uniformity with low shear and minimal heat input. Available from quart-scale Blendmaster lab units up to 125+ cu ft production vessels. The majority of Federal Equipment Company’s PK inventory is twin-shell. See our used twin-shell V-blender inventory.
Cross-Flow V-Blender: A twin-shell variant with additional axial flow elements that improve blend homogeneity in difficult formulations, particularly those with wide particle size distributions or large density differences between components. Federal Equipment Company has carried cross-flow units from 1 cu ft through 60 cu ft. See our used Cross-Flow V-blender inventory.
Double Cone / Slant Cone: Symmetric cone geometry for low-shear blending with minimal dead zones and straightforward cleanout. The Slant Cone offsets the shell axis to improve circulation and reduce blend time. Used primarily for fragile granules, high-density powders, and density-sensitive formulations. See our used double cone blender inventory.
Blendmaster (Lab Scale): Patterson-Kelley’s yoke-style benchtop design, available in plastic and stainless shells from 1 pint through 16 quart. The yoke design allows rapid shell swaps for multi-product development work. Federal Equipment Company frequently carries Blendmaster units with multiple shells and pin bar accessories. See our used Blendmaster inventory.
MVP (Multi-Vessel Processor): A single drive system that blends sequentially across multiple vessel sizes (4, 8, and 16 quart shells on a single unit). Useful for scale-up development and contract manufacturers running multiple small-batch products. Federal Equipment Company has carried MVP systems including HMI touchscreen configurations. See our used MVP inventory.
Zig-Zag Continuous Blender: An eccentric rotating drum design for continuous blending at high throughput, commonly used in pigment, starch, and cement applications. Federal Equipment Company occasionally carries used zig-zag units; contact us for current availability.
Conoform Dryers / Solids Processors: Patterson-Kelley’s vacuum drying line uses the same tumble blender geometry with added jacketing for thermal processing under full vacuum. Federal Equipment Company has an extensive history with PK vacuum dryers, including twin-shell solids processors and double cone vacuum dryers from 2 cu ft through 132 cu ft. Contact Federal Equipment Company’s team for current availability on these units.
Used PK Twin-Shell V-Blenders
The Patterson-Kelley twin-shell V-blender is the most widely used dry blending platform in pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing. The two-cylinder geometry creates a splitting and recombining flow pattern that achieves blend uniformity with low shear, typically reaching RSD values under 5% in 15 to 20 minutes at standard fill levels of 50 to 60% working volume.
Federal Equipment Company currently stocks Patterson-Kelley twin-shell V-blenders from 2 quart Blendmaster lab units up to 125 cu ft production vessels, with intermediate sizes at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 50, 60, and 75 cu ft. Many units include intensifier bar assemblies for liquid addition or light deagglomeration. Cross-flow variants are also available, rated for higher-density materials and difficult-to-blend formulations. Construction is predominantly 316L or 304 stainless steel; some smaller lab units are available in plastic for non-GMP development work.
Standard production-unit features include 316L stainless product contact surfaces, dust-tight butterfly discharge valves, hinged access covers with gaskets, and PLC-based controls with revolution counters. Most large-frame units include Tubar or drum lift/blender charger systems for loading.
What to check when buying used: Inspect access cover gaskets and discharge valve seats for wear. On units with intensifier bars, check the bar bearings and shaft seals. Confirm working volume against your target batch size at your material’s bulk density. Request any available batch records or validation documentation: inherited documentation can significantly reduce your requalification cost.
Used PK Double Cone Blenders
Patterson-Kelley double cone blenders use symmetric cone geometry to create gentle, low-shear tumble blending that circulates material from the vessel walls toward the center. The design is preferred for fragile granules, high-density powders, and materials sensitive to attrition, and it offers simpler cleanout than twin-shell designs due to the smooth interior geometry.
Federal Equipment Company’s historic Patterson-Kelley double cone inventory has ranged from 3 cu ft through 150 cu ft, including 316L stainless pharmaceutical-grade units and carbon steel industrial configurations. Current live inventory is limited but turns over regularly. Double cone vacuum dryers (Patterson-Kelley’s Conoform line) have also been a recurring part of Federal Equipment Company’s PK inventory, including units up to 132 cu ft with full vacuum jacketing.
What to check when buying used: Match working volume to bulk density rather than stated capacity. Verify internal finish and discharge valve style for your sanitary requirements. Inspect the trunnion seals and drive bearings, which are the primary wear items on double cone units.
Industries Served
Used Patterson-Kelley blenders serve a broad range of industries where repeatable dry powder blending is a core manufacturing step. Federal Equipment Company sources and sells Patterson-Kelley equipment into all of the following sectors:
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are the largest buyers of used PK equipment. Twin-shell V-blenders and double cones are core equipment in solid dosage production, handling final blend steps for tablets and capsules where content uniformity is a regulatory requirement. PK’s large installed base means validated SOPs and qualification templates are widely available, making requalification of used equipment straightforward compared to less common platforms.
Chemical processors use PK blenders across a broad range of bulk densities and particle sizes. The dust-tight construction and stainless contact surfaces suit pigments, specialty chemicals, catalysts, and agricultural chemical premixes. PK’s production-scale twin shells and double cones rated at 60 to 150 lb/cu ft are common in this sector, and Federal Equipment Company has consistently carried large-frame units in the 50 to 125 cu ft range that serve these applications.
Plastics compounders use PK blenders for dry blending resin pellets, color concentrates, and additive masterbatches prior to extrusion or molding. The low-shear tumble design protects pellet integrity. Units for plastics applications are often in 304 SS or carbon steel rather than pharmaceutical-grade 316L, which can present a cost advantage.
Food and beverage manufacturers use PK blenders for dry seasoning blends, protein powder production, nutritional supplement manufacturing, and baking premixes. Cleanout efficiency and dust-tight construction are primary concerns. PK’s butterfly discharge valves and accessible interior support CIP and manual washdown requirements common in food-grade environments.
Biotechnology operations use PK blenders in downstream processing for excipient blending, lyophilized powder handling, and API combination steps. Requirements typically mirror pharmaceutical standards: 316L construction, documented surface finish, and full equipment history.
Extraction and growing technology operators use PK blenders for botanical extract blending, plant-based powder formulation, and processing intermediates. As GMP expectations have increased in this sector, PK’s well-documented design has become a preferred choice over purpose-built alternatives.
Why Buy Used PK Equipment from Federal Equipment Company
Federal Equipment Company has been sourcing and selling used industrial and pharmaceutical equipment since 1957. Patterson-Kelley blenders specifically have been a core part of Federal Equipment Company’s inventory for decades, and the depth of that history matters when you’re buying used equipment:
Inventory depth and turnover: Federal Equipment Company’s historic records include over 200 PK twin-shell blenders transacted across every size from quart-scale to 200 cu ft, plus double cones, vacuum dryers, and accessories. Current live inventory typically runs 50 to 60+ active PK listings. If the exact size or configuration you need is not listed, contact us.
Pharma-sector sourcing: A significant portion of Federal Equipment Company’s PK inventory comes directly from pharmaceutical and biotech decommissions. Equipment from regulated environments typically has stronger maintenance histories and better-preserved surface finishes than units pulled from general industrial service.
Documentation transfer: When available, Federal Equipment Company passes along batch records, maintenance logs, and existing validation protocols with equipment. Inherited documentation can materially reduce your requalification cost and timeline.
Honest condition reporting: Federal Equipment Company sells used and surplus equipment with straightforward condition assessments. We do not remarket cleaned equipment as refurbished to support inflated pricing.
Fast quotes: Federal Equipment Company’s sales team has direct technical knowledge of PK equipment and can answer application-specific questions about individual units. Request a quote on any listed item and expect a fast turnaround.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes of used Patterson-Kelley twin-shell blenders does Federal Equipment Company currently carry?
Federal Equipment Company’s current PK inventory runs from 2 quart Blendmaster lab units through 125 cu ft production twin shells, with units at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 50, 60, and 75 cu ft also in stock. Double cone units are available periodically. If you need a specific size that is not currently listed, contact us directly: our sourcing pipeline regularly turns up PK units across the full size range.
What is the working volume of a PK twin-shell blender?
PK twin-shell V-blenders are rated by total shell volume but are operated at 50 to 60% fill for optimal blend performance. A 10 cu ft unit runs a working batch of roughly 5 to 6 cu ft. Actual batch weight depends on bulk density: a low-density excipient blend at 0.4 g/cc fills the same volume at a fraction of the mass of a high-density API blend at 0.8+ g/cc. Material density ratings on Federal Equipment Company’s listings (expressed in lb/cu ft) represent the maximum rated density for safe operation, not the recommended working fill.
Can used PK blenders be validated for GMP pharmaceutical use?
Yes. PK blenders are among the most commonly validated pieces of blending equipment in pharmaceutical manufacturing globally. IQ/OQ/PQ protocols are widely available, and the installed base is large enough that most contract validation firms carry existing templates. Federal Equipment Company recommends requesting any available documentation from the equipment’s prior facility, as inherited documentation can significantly reduce requalification effort and cost.
What is the difference between a twin-shell V-blender and a double cone blender?
Both are tumble blenders that mix through rotation rather than mechanical agitation, but the flow patterns differ. The V-blender’s two-cylinder geometry creates a splitting and recombining flow that is particularly effective for free-flowing powders and dry granules. It reaches blend uniformity quickly and works well with intensifier bars for liquid addition. The double cone’s symmetric geometry produces slower, more symmetric circulation better suited to fragile granules and density-sensitive formulations, with the added benefit of simpler cleanout due to the smooth interior profile.
What is a PK Cross-Flow blender and when is it preferred?
The Cross-Flow is a modified twin-shell design with additional axial flow elements inside the shell. It is used when standard V-blender geometry produces insufficient mixing for formulations with wide particle size distributions, large density differences between components, or materials prone to segregation. Federal Equipment Company carries cross-flow units periodically in sizes from 1 cu ft through 60 cu ft.
Does Federal Equipment Company carry Patterson-Kelley intensifier bars and spare parts?
Federal Equipment Company occasionally lists Patterson-Kelley intensifier bar assemblies as standalone items. For a broader selection of Patterson-Kelley spare parts including discharge valve assemblies, seals, and bar components, Federal Equipment Company’s PharmParts division stocks PK replacement parts.
Patterson-Kelley Training & Parts
Federal Equipment Company’s divisions support Patterson-Kelley equipment owners beyond the initial sale.
Techceuticals offers PK equipment training, including hands-on operator training and qualification support for blending operations in regulated manufacturing environments.
For replacement components, PharmParts stocks PK spare parts, including discharge valve assemblies, intensifier bar seals, gaskets, and drive components.
