Shampoo should clean the hair thoroughly, be well tolerated and provide care. It should also foam and be insensitive to hard water. We design and supply plants that enable you to manufacture shampoo in batches or continuously. More on this under Cosmetics.
Properties and ingredients
Shampoo is usually creamy or liquid and generally perfumed. This hair cleanser comes as both conventional products and natural cosmetics. The pH value is usually slightly acidic to neutral, i.e. around 5 to 7. Water and surfactants are almost always included. Depending on the recipe, the following are added:
Incorporating surfactants without lumps
Modern agitators bring water and surfactants such as ether sulphate together in the hot-cold process at room temperature directly in the shear gap of the homogeniser. As a result, the ether sulphate does not come into contact with water beforehand in undissolved form. Otherwise, gel lumps form that are difficult to dissolve again.
Requirements for the plant
- Bringing water and surfactants together directly in the shear gap
- Control of the pH value during production
- Pressure- and vacuum-resistant design so that no foam forms
- Integrated CIP system for short cleaning times
- Batch operation or continuous production with pumps and inline homogenisers, see homogenising
Similar plants are also suitable for hair conditioner and shower gels. We will be happy to advise you, including on used mixers.
FAQ: Manufacturing shampoo
What is shampoo made of?
Mainly water and surfactants (e.g. sodium laureth sulphate), supplemented by mild co-surfactants, thickeners, care and conditioning agents, perfume oil, preservatives and buffers. The pH value is usually approx. 5 to 7.
Why does ether sulphate form lumps during mixing?
Highly concentrated surfactant forms a viscous gel phase on contact with a small amount of water. If water and surfactant are brought together directly in the shear gap of the homogeniser, this gel phase is reliably avoided.
How can foam be prevented during manufacturing?
By working under vacuum, adding below the liquid level and using adapted speeds.
Batch or continuous?
Both are possible. For large quantities, continuous plants with dosing pumps and inline homogenisers are often more economical, while the batch mixer remains more flexible for many formulations.
Does SEEFRIED supply plants for shampoo?
Yes, we design shampoo plants using batch or inline processes and offer inspected used homogenising mixers.