Solids Feeders

Solids feeders are of great importance in bulk material handling systems since feeders control the solid flow rate.

Solids feeders are of great importance in bulk material handling systems since feeders control the solid flow rate.

Solids feeders deliver powder, granular, and other bulk solid materials along a process line, or to and from process units, storage bins, conveyors, and product packaging. Additionally, feeders may serve to break down clumps or arches to allow for more uniform distribution. There are two basic types of bulk feeders: volumetric feeders and gravimetric feeders.

  • Volumetric feeders: Volumetric feeders are dosing systems that supply the production system with a certain volume of material in a set timeframe, based on the displacement principle.
  • Gravimetric feeders: Gravimetric feeders are self-calibrating dosing systems that dose based on weight in speed.

The difference between a feeder and a conveyor is that a conveyor is only capable of transporting material, not controlling the flow rate. When feeders stop working, the solids flow rate will come to an end.

There are many types of bulk feeders available today. The most broadly used include vibratory tubes, vibratory trays, vibratory belts, screw feeders, and rotary feeders (also known as rotary airlocks or rotary valves).

Below are some common types of dry material feeders and the types of applications in which they are used:

Vibratory tube feeders: Vibratory tube feeders can utilize electromagnetic or brute force (offset weight vibrators) and feed dry materials in an enclosed tube to downstream equipment.

Vibratory tray feeders: Vibratory tray feeders can utilize electromagnetic or brute force (offset weight vibrators) to feed dry materials along a pan (or tray) into downstream equipment. These are particularly good with friable, sticky, or easily smeared materials.

Both vibratory tray feeders and vibratory tube feeders are a good option for materials that are friable. Also, when properly applied, these devices will empty completely.

Vibratory belt feeders: Vibratory belt feeders can be a good option when you have limited headroom. Even with its low profile, it can be capable of high rates. Vibratory belt feeders are best suited for materials that are not dusty and are well suited for friable types of materials.

Volumetric Screw Feeders: Volumetric screw feeders allow consistent feeding of dry materials into downstream processes. These can be tuned to feed rates ranging from just a few grams or ounces per minute to well over 100 pounds per minute by utilizing different screw diameters and pitches, as well as variable frequency drives and gearbox combinations.

Loss-In-Weight Screw Feeders: By mounting a feeder (screw, tube, tray, belt, etc.) to a scale platform, you can gravimetrically (Loss-in-Weight) feed material into a downstream process. This can be done as a “batch” or continuous process.

Rotary feeders (also known as rotary airlocks or rotary valves): Rotary feeders consist of a paddle wheel-shaped rotor that rotates at low rpm to dispense material into a hopper or process unit (mixer, crusher, screener). If the blades form a tight seal against the valve wall, then the valves can be applied in airlock applications.

While more commonly used as a refill device, rotary valves can be a desirable option as a feeder.

The type of feeder to be selected for a particular application is dependent upon several factors.

First, it is essential to clearly define the application parameters.

These include the feed rate range, accuracy requirements, temperature and/or pressure considerations, possible dimensional restraints, the type of system used to get the material to the feeder, and to what downstream equipment the feeder will discharge.

Then, it is essential to define the characteristics of the material to be fed. Establishing these parameters will reduce the available feeder types that are applicable to your specific application.

Once you have established all essential parameters and decided on the device (or devices) you believe will best suit your needs, it is always a good idea to have a potential manufacturer test your bulk product.

This Technology Zone offers an insight into the latest innovations in bulk solids feeders for material processing industries.

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Articles about Solids Feeders

Experts for Solids Feeders

With over twenty years’ experience in magnetic separation and metal detection, Peter Buckley has the knowledge to solve metal contamination problems in any bulk handling project. Peter specialises in visiting sites to assess the process and issue before recommending the optimum cost-effective solution. Recent projects include a magnetic separator and metal detector combination to clean plastic regrind, and pneumatic inline magnets for an animal feed producer.
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John has been with Cablevey Conveyors for over 7 years and is currently in the position of Director of Engineering. In this role he oversees all engineering at Cablevey from R&D of New Product Design to reviewing of all system layouts designed by the applications engineering team. He also works closely with manufacturing/production and Quality Control at Cablevey to ensure that all product leaving our assembly plant meets the high standards Cablevey has become known for. With this knowledge of Cablevey equipment from conception to final production design, John brings an invaluable service to the Cablevey and AHS team.
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Tim Porco is the the President of Erie Technical Systems Inc. He oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, ensuring top-notch solutions for customer needs. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University and is an active member of the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Filling Association (FIBCA). With an extensive background in technical sales, product management, and sales management within the powder solids handling industry, Tim applies his diverse skills to develop economical solutions for clients. Tim is committed to listening carefully to customer requirements and translating them into effective applications of Erie Technical Systems equipment.
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Gerard van Schoten is Managing Director at HETHON, a globally active specialist in powder dosing systems. With a strong technical background and hands-on experience throughout the company, Gerard combines strategic leadership with deep process knowledge in dry bulk handling. He is widely regarded for his expertise in handling and dosing poorly flowing powders, particularly in industries requiring high precision and reliability under challenging conditions such as ATEX environments. Gerard works closely with international customers, engineers, and agents to translate complex process challenges into custom-engineered, long-term solutions. Having grown within the company from a technical role into leadership, Gerard brings a unique combination of technical credibility and commercial insight. He remains actively involved in advising on system configurations, control integration, and customer-specific adaptations—ensuring that every solution HETHON delivers is both technically sound and practically applicable. Gerard regularly supports agents and customers worldwide and is a trusted point of contact for clients seeking high-performance dosing technology for demanding industrial applications.
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Tim Llewellyn is the Global Projects & Applications Engineering Manager at Flexicon Corporation, a world leader in the design and manufacture of bulk handling equipment and custom-engineered systems. He has over 20 years of experience managing and delivering complex global projects within the bulk material handling industry, including expertise across multiple sectors, including food, chemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and plastics. Tim has a proven track record of building and managing teams focused on helping clients solve their powder handling challenges. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University.
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Süleyman is General Manager of Polimak with more than 20 years of experience in design, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of bulk solids handling systems. He leads the organization to provide problem-free solutions from single equipment to complete turnkey systems for a wide range of industries. Pneumatic conveying systems, dust collectors, rotary valves, big bag dischargers, batching & dosing systems, storage silos are some of the components designed and produced by a highly qualified engineering team in the organization. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Süleyman’s background includes software development, industrial automation, and IoT technologies. This facilitates Polimak’s vision of providing data-driven smart process technologies for the bulk solids handling industry in the new digital age.
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Carrie Hartford is the Director of Business Development and Senior Project Engineer in Jenike & Johanson’s office in California. For nearly 2 decades, she has been solving challenging bulk material flow related problems around the world. Typical projects include the analysis and design of bins, hoppers, feeders, and transfer chutes. Previously, she opened and established an engineering office and laboratory facilities in Perth, Western Australia. Internationally she publishes and presents technical papers, participates in conferences, and presents numerous short courses in the field of bulk solids flow. Carrie has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MBA from Azusa Pacific University in California. She is a licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer in the State of California.
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Sylvain Bellamy is currently the Commercial Director for Powder Process and Technology at Tetra Pak, based in France. With over 25 years of specialized experience in powder processing, handling, and packing, Sylvain has held various roles across the Americas and Europe, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the global market. Sylvain’s robust background in the food processing industry has sharpened his powder expertise during his years at Tetra Pak, where he contributed to developing innovative powder processing solutions. He leverages his extensive experience to drive strategic growth and operational excellence, always ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge technology and solutions that bring innovations to the market. Contact: Sylvain.Bellamy@tetrapak.com
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Gareth Meese works as Regional Sales Director – EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, India, and Northern Africa) for Eriez-Europe, a global leader in several key technology areas, including magnetic separation, metal detection, and material handling equipment. With nearly 20 years of experience in continuously-evolving positions, Gareth is well versed in bulk material handling applications. When Gareth joined Eriez as an Export Sales Engineer, he led several Eriez teams tasked with expanding business throughout Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and the Czech Republic. Later, as Export Sales Manager, he concentrated on growing Eriez-Europe in Russia, Europe and Northern Africa. His recent promotion expands his geographic responsibilities further with the addition of the Middle East and India. Gareth has been instrumental in pursuing Eriez’ vision and holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Cardiff University. Gareth is more than prepared to discuss and recommend a tailored solution for any unique bulk material handling application.
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Rob van Zetten is Senior Account Manager Benelux, Scandinavia, and the Baltic states at DMN-WESTINGHOUSE. With over 30 years of work experience in bulk solids, he knows all the ins and outs of the industry: from complete processes to working with components. His broad market and industry knowledge is second to none. Due to his experience with numerous system integrators in various technical and commercial roles, he is perfectly capable of calculating a clear ROI and TCO. In his current position at DMN-WESTINGHOUSE this experience comes in very handy. He advises which rotary valve or diverter valve to place in which situation and takes both the sustainable and the financial side of the solution into account. His knowledge of the process ‘up- and downstream’ is of great added value. Rob is a specialist in the field of Aquaculture and also has demonstrable knowledge in the field of Food, Pharma, Petfood, Chemicals, Plastics, non-woven materials, and minerals.
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