Contract powder blending: your formula, mixed to spec and ready to fill.
We blend dry ingredients to your formula in a 10 cu ft V-blender, by weight, against a written batch record. Low-dose ingredients get premixed first, so the 0.5% ingredient ends up in every pack, not just some of them.
Quick answer: North Lakes Copacking blends dry powder formulas in a 10 cu ft V-blender for $0.50–$1.50 per lb, depending on the number of ingredients, particle size and mix time. Low-dose ingredients are premixed with a carrier first. For supplements, we test blend uniformity on the first batch and after any change.
How does contract powder blending work?
- Formula in writing. You give us the formula by percentage. For supplements, it goes into a master manufacturing record you approve.
- Weigh-up. Each ingredient is weighed and recorded against the batch record on calibrated scales.
- Premix. Ingredients under about 2% of the batch are premixed with 5–10× their weight of carrier.
- Blend. The V-blender is loaded to 50–60% of its volume, the sweet spot for mixing, and run for a set time.
- Release to filling. The blend goes to the filler, usually the same day.
Why does premixing matter?
A tiny ingredient dumped straight into a big batch clumps and doesn't spread evenly. Vitamins, minerals, high-intensity sweeteners and actives used at fractions of a percent are where uneven blends show up. Premixing spreads them through a carrier first, so the main blend can finish the job.
How do you prove a supplement blend is uniform?
On the first batch and after any formula or process change, we pull 6–10 samples from across the blend and test them for the marker ingredient, usually the lowest-dose one. If they agree, the process is proven. Testing is passed through at lab cost with no markup.
What does blending cost?
$0.50–$1.50 per lb, added to any run or billed on its own for blend-only jobs. Simple 2–3 ingredient blends sit at the low end; many-ingredient formulas with premixes sit at the high end. Supplement blends also need identity testing on each dietary ingredient lot, at the lab’s price (about $80–$700 per lot). See pricing.
Should I pre-blend or have you blend?
If you already have a blender you trust, ship us finished blend and we'll fill it. If not, blending here saves freight and handling. The trade-offs are in pre-blended vs. bulk ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Do you formulate products?
No. You own the formula. We blend and pack to your spec.
Can you blend without packaging?
Yes. Blend-only jobs are billed per pound.
Do you mill or granulate?
No. We blend dry ingredients as received. Particle size up to 1/8 inch.
Do you test blends?
For supplements, blend uniformity on the first batch and after changes, plus finished batch testing per your MMR. For food, testing per your spec or our food safety plan. Lab work is passed through at cost.
Related reading
- Pre-Blended vs. Bulk Ingredients — Which Is Cheaper for Your Supplement Run?
- Ingredient Sourcing for Supplement Brands — What to Know Before Your First Run
- Supplement Ingredient Identity Testing — What Actually Needs to Be Tested
- What Is a Certificate of Analysis?
Tell us about your run.
Pricing from $2,750 flat. FDA registered. You talk to the owner.
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