To develop and produce their high-quality coatings, paint and coatings manufacturers rely on lab and testing equipment to ensure that their products meet their customers’ standards. Leading equipment companies are responding to these needs with new products and services.

Erin Dillon, media and marketing coordinator, ROSS Mixers, notes that ROSS offers a broad product line of mixing and blending equipment, including dispersers, high shear mixers, kneaders, multi-shaft mixers, planetary mixers, ribbon/paddle blenders, static mixers, three roll mills, tumble blenders, vertical blenders, discharge systems, control systems, and tanks and vessels.

Dillon reports that regulatory requirements over the past few decades have prompted the coatings industry to shift its focus from conventional low-solid, solvent-based formulations to waterborne systems, high-solids coatings, energy-curable inks, and other low-VOC technologies. 

“This environmentally responsible shift coincided with exciting developments of new functionalities in response to changing customer needs,” Dillon observes. “Now faced with a growing demand for specialty and high value-added coatings, manufacturers are taking a closer look at their processing methods, particularly the mixing and milling steps, as coatings producers strive to improve performance and compliance while managing costs. In short, the market has been driven by regulatory pressure and growing demand for specialty coatings, pushing manufacturers to invest in better, more efficient mixing and processing equipment.”

Sara Fulford, VP sales and marketing for Hockmeyer Equipment, says that Hockmeyer Equipment offers benchtop lab-sized and pilot equipment versions of all its mixer, disperser and mill models, as well as single and multi-shaft mixers and dispersers, immersion mills, and Hockmeyer’s latest developments: NexGen Recirculation Vacuum Mill and Rotor-Stator for air-less processing. 

“Our equipment is tailored to meet the needs of research and development chemists and technicians, ensuring precision, consistency and linear scale-up,” Fulford notes.

Fulford observes that the lab equipment sector is a cornerstone of Hockmeyer’s business. 

“We partner with our customers to develop processes that start with the initial formulation and progress through the pilot phase, ultimately leading to full-scale production,” says Fulford. “Our clients understand the critical importance of rigorous testing, validation, and process optimization, all of which begin in the laboratory. This systematic approach is not just a part of our operations; it is essential to ensuring the highest quality and efficiency as we bring innovative solutions to market.”

Bühler primarily sells equipment, complete production lines and comprehensive solutions for food, feed, and advanced material manufacturing. Grinding & Dispersing sells equipment and solutions for wet-grinding applications. Patrik Maeder, senior sales director at Bühler Group, says that the lab and production equipment are designed with their customers in mind. 

“Bühler lab equipment is closely tied with our production size equipment, helping customer to proof concept of products and processes or upscale lab trials to full production concepts,” adds Maeder.

The WAB Group specializes in high-performance processing equipment for grinding, dispersion, and mixing, primarily featuring its DYNO^®-MILL agitator bead mills, TURBULA^® and dyna-MIX^® 3D shaker mixers, and WAB IMPA°CT REACTOR^® for flow chemistry. Their equipment is widely used for wet milling, nanometer-range particle size reduction, and dry mixing.

“The lab and testing equipment market for the coatings industry is experiencing a good growth phase, driven by technological maturation, stringent environmental regulations, and the need for higher quality standards,” says Daniel Grskovic, WAB US Corp. president. “Regarding compliance, stringent regulations regarding volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in North America are forcing manufacturers to invest in R&D and upgrade equipment to test new waterborne and powder coatings.”

Additional Services

Leading equipment manufacturers note that there’s more to their business than just developing high-quality equipment. For example, Maeder notes that Bühler offers a full range of customer services, including spare parts, field services (maintenance, repairs, inspections, trainings), remote support, equipment reconditioning services, technology upgrades and retrofits, process and test center optimization services, and rental equipment.

“At our North Carolina facility, we offer equipment trials designed to help clients select the best suited equipment to optimize their operations,” says Fulford. “Our team of seasoned process experts is available to guide them through every step, ensuring that they receive tailored process optimization consultations. We also provide flexible equipment loan and rental options, allowing clients to test our machinery before making a long-term commitment.

“To ensure a seamless setup of new equipment, our experienced technicians offer installation supervision and startup assistance, making the transition as smooth as possible,” Fulford adds. “Additionally, we prioritize developing the factory floor team through comprehensive operator training programs that equip them with the skills needed to operate equipment safely and efficiently. In the event of repairs, our dedicated service team is ready to assist, minimizing any potential disruptions. Plus, with our extensive inventory of OEM parts, we guarantee quick delivery to help clients achieve minimal downtime in
their operations.”

“Our Test & Development Center has just been renovated and offers a broad range of testing options. Customers can run mixing simulation tests using their own raw materials under conditions that closely mirror actual production, including proof-of-concept demonstrations such as high-shear emulsification, particle size reduction, dry blending, and high viscosity mixing,” Dillon reports.

Beyond manufacturing grinding and mixing equipment, Grskovic notes that the WAB Group offers comprehensive technical services, including application consulting, testing in their specialized Process Technology Center, and maintenance training. They also provide GMP-compliant qualification (DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ) for pharmaceutical equipment, rapid spare parts availability, and rental of laboratory and production machines.

New Products

Leading equipment manufacturers are always coming up with new and improved designs, and this year is no exception.

Fulford notes that the Hockmeyer Equipment NEXGEN™ Recirculation Vacuum Mill provides fast and scalable results with the ultimate in lab equipment for particle size reduction. The aggressive media field, multiple touch points, and the vacuum forces combine to create milling power. 

In October, 2025, Bühler introduced the Cenomic Horizon 3 bead mill. It is designed to help customers improve product quality, reduce energy consumption, and increase product throughput in wet grinding processes, and offers better temperature control, lower wear, and more flexibility. Bühler sees it a cost-efficient solution for industries that rely on fine grinding and dispersion of solids into liquids, such as paint and coatings manufacturers, printing ink specialists, and agrochemical producers.

“With Cenomic Horizon 3, we wanted to give customers more processing stability and greater confidence when working with temperature-sensitive materials,” says Patrick Schwager, product manager Grinding & Dispersing at Bühler, in introducing the mill. “Cenomic Horizon 3 is designed not only to increase flexibility in application, but also to ensure the reliability and efficiency of processes.”

Grskovic highlights the DYNO^®-MILL UBM 250, the latest and largest addition to the UBM (Universal Bead Mill) series from WAB-GROUP. It is designed for high-performance dispersion and ultra-fine grinding in large-scale production. It features a grinding chamber volume of approximately 250 liters, capable of handling high throughputs and highly viscous products.

Dillon notes that the ROSS CDA-200 Dual Shaft Mixer is a versatile and cost-effective solution for processing formulations that require both thorough agitation and high-speed dispersive mixing. Used in applications such as coatings, adhesives, and sealants, the CDA-200 can handle dispersions, suspensions, and emulsions with viscosities reaching up to around 500,000 centipoise.

“Two independently driven agitators work together to achieve uniform mixing and dispersion in viscous, dense, and demanding applications,” Dillon adds. “A two-wing anchor agitator, powered by a 10 HP explosion-proof motor, provides continuous movement of high-viscosity materials, while a 12” diameter high-speed disperser, driven by a 20 HP explosion-proof motor, induces vigorous turbulent flow at a speed range of 160–1,600 rpm. Capable of processing up to 200 gallons per batch, this dual shaft mixer supports efficient, high-volume production.” CW