To understand the changes the plastic disposable static mixer industry is experiencing today, it is helpful to know where it has been and how it got there. The classical helical static mixer, designed in the twisted helical pattern, has been around for almost 50 years. The original static mixer patent was filed on November 29, 1965, by the Arthur D. Little Co. This design, which had eight “bowties,” was made out of metal stock that was cut and twisted into the common 180° alternating pattern and placed in a metal tube.
Helical static mixers were commonly used in aqueous systems for mixing air into water and in the food industry for mixing disparate foods together. Manufacturing metal helical static mixers was a semi-custom process, with each static mixer being individually made. This method of manufacturing continued for many years with only minor design changes.