The Alfa Laval ALTB hygienic top-mounted agitator is designed for process engineers who need consistent, low-shear mixing in sterile and aseptic tanks without the energy penalty of conventional impellers. Its fully configurable architecture — drive, seal, shaft, impeller, and bottom steady bearing — allows precise matching to tank geometry, product properties, and duty.

How the ALTB top-mounted agitator works

An electrical drive motor transmits power either directly or through a gearbox to the agitator shaft. The shaft, stabilised by a bottom steady bearing inside the tank, rotates the EnSaFoil impellers and creates a strong axial pumping effect. The result is high flow with low shear — efficient blending of the entire tank contents while protecting product integrity.

EnSaFoil impeller design for energy-efficient mixing

The EnSaFoil impeller is engineered for minimum energy consumption. Available with two or three blades and in diameters from Ø125 mm to Ø1900 mm, it can be sized to match flow requirements for each tank. The wide range of high-efficiency propellers makes it possible to design specifically for low-shear operation and lower operational costs over the agitator's service life.

Hygienic design for CIP/SIP and aseptic tanks

Hygiene is built into every wetted surface. Propellers can be welded onto the shaft to eliminate connection points and risk zones inside the tank. Internal parts have no plane surfaces or grooves, no interior shadow sides between blades, and smooth surfaces that drip off cleanly. The unit handles operating temperatures up to 90 °C, CIP up to 95 °C, and SIP up to 150 °C — ready for sterile and aseptic duty.

Materials and seal arrangements for sterile duty

Steel parts are supplied in AISI 316L as standard, with other materials available on request. Wear bushings on the shaft and in the bottom steady bearing are made of PEEK. Elastomer seal options include EPDM, FPM, and FPM/FEP (for stationary O-rings), while mechanical seal faces are available in Carbon (FDA) and Silicon carbide. Four seal arrangements cover the full duty range: a radial seal for atmospheric tanks, a single mechanical dry-running seal for high/low pressure applications, and a double mechanical seal for high-pressure and aseptic use.

Low-maintenance bottom steady bearing

The bottom steady bearing extends agitator service life and supports the shaft for long, slender installations. Wear bushings can be replaced without dismantling the agitator drive — a significant uptime advantage for plants running tight production schedules. Lower maintenance effort translates into higher yields and reduced total cost of ownership.

Standards compliance and Q-doc documentation

The ALTB meets EU and US hygienic standards, including EHEDG, USDA, FDA, and 3-A Sanitary Standards. Surface finishes are available as hygienic polished (Ra < 0.8 µm) or industrial shot peened (Ra < 3.2 µm). 3.1 material certificates and FDA conformity statements according to 21 CFR177 are available as an option on steel and elastomer parts in contact with media. Alfa Laval Q-doc documentation is available depending on the individual configuration, supporting validation in regulated environments.

Request a configured ALTB quote from Euroflow — share your tank geometry, product properties and duty for expert sizing and Alfa Laval Q-doc support.