Formed in 1998 by a group of engineers, Maelstrom provides high performance fluid mixing and related equipment to process industries worldwide.

Fluid mixing is at the core of many industrial processes in involved in the production of intermediate or final fluid products.  It has been estimated that 25% of the world's GDP relates to the production of fluids, making mixing a critical process for the world economy. 

The level of understanding of fluid mixing in general industry and even in academia is not high.  This is largely because the processes involved in mixing are complex and, to some extent, chaotic.  Models of mixing are largely empirical and only the simplest cases are normally considered.  Consequently there tends to be a significant gap between academic research and industrial needs, which leaves industry in a difficult position.  In the USA alone, it has been estimated that an "inadequate understanding of mixing" costs process industries between $1 billion and $10 billion per year (source: AIChemE).

Maelstrom's mission is to provide class-leading mixing equipment to process industries that incorporate the latest technologies and that are characterised and scalable across a wide range of applications.  A significant proportion of the company's resources are devoted to R&D resulting in many patents for new and improved types of mixer.  These patents are then licensed to large mixer manufacturer's around the world.  Maelstrom also supplies machines and systems directly itself in countries not yet covered by licensees and often supports licensees where one-off customised or complex machines are required.

Operating from its base near Manchester, England, Maelstrom has laboratory facilities to perform mixing demonstrations and trials on customer materials.  Trials for non-hazardous materials can usually be arranged at short notice.