01Dedicated orientation
Vibratory bowl feeders
Purpose-designed bowls and tooling that separate, orient and present a defined component family to an automated process.
Explore vibratory bowl feeders
Complete parts-feeding projects
Automated parts feeding.
Automated parts feeding.
Control every hand‑off.
Automated systems that store, separate, orient, inspect and present components reliably to your assembly, packaging or production process.
Discuss your application01844 617223Component-led selectionGeometry, finish and required presentation define the solution
Trialled where requiredRepresentative parts reveal real feeding behaviour
Complete machine interfaceTracks, sensing, escapement, controls and guarding in scope
More than a feeder
Build the complete path from bulk parts to one reliable machine input.
A feeder is only successful when the downstream process receives the right component, in the right orientation, at the right moment.
We bring the complete feed path together: bulk storage, metered replenishment, separation, orientation, inspection, buffering, one-part release and the mechanical and electrical connection to your equipment.
See how complete projects are engineered01LoadBulk hopper or ergonomic loading
02SeparateCreate controlled part flow
03OrientEstablish the usable presentation
04VerifySense or inspect critical conditions
05BufferBalance feeder and machine cycles
06ReleasePresent one part on demand
Feeding technologies
Choose the principle around the part—not a catalogue headline.
Different components demand different handling. We keep the technology choice open until geometry, behaviour, required output and changeover model are understood.
Compare every system
02High-speed rotary feeding
Centrifugal feeders
Rotary feeding platforms for suitable caps, closures and robust components where smooth, high-flow presentation matters.
Explore centrifugal feeders
03Quiet, gentle elevation
Step feeders
Low-vibration step lifting for components that benefit from quieter handling, reduced recirculation and a larger useful size range.
Explore step feeders
04Vision-guided flexibility
Flexible feeding systems
Programmable feeder platforms, controlled lighting, machine vision and robot picking for variant-rich production.
Explore flexible feeding systems
05Controlled machine hand-off
Linear feeders & escapements
Tracks, buffers, sensors and one-part release mechanisms that connect the feeder to the production cycle.
Explore linear feeders & escapements
06Controlled replenishment
Bulk hoppers & elevators
Bulk storage and metered replenishment that extend operating autonomy without overloading the orientation device.
Explore bulk hoppers & elevatorsA stronger project brief
Three facts reveal the right starting point.
Tell us what the component is, how it must leave the system and how your machine consumes it. From there we can identify the questions, trials and interface details that matter.
- 1The real componentMaterial, finish, dimensions, weight and production variation.
- 2The accepted orientationTop face, leading feature, rotational position and presentation datum.
- 3The downstream cycleSustained demand, peak rate, queue requirement and call-for-part logic.
Quick technology guide
What best describes your application?
Choose the closest description.
Final selection is confirmed from application data and representative samples.We will show a sensible technology to investigate first—not a final specification.
High-value automation routes
Feed difficult parts into robots, assembly machines and packaging lines.
Explore project routes for random-bin presentation, automatic fastener delivery and verified component batches.
Compare every feeding technology →Robotic bin picking
2D or 3D vision, robot handling and controlled replenishment for randomly presented parts.
Explore robotic bin picking →Automatic screw feeding
Present screws, nuts, washers and inserts to drivers, robots, presses or pick points.
Explore screw feeding →Counting & batching
Feed, detect and discharge defined quantities to bags, kits, cartons or assembly processes.
Explore counting systems →Built around your production
Component feeding across demanding industries.
From high-volume closures to precision terminals and assembly components, the same rule applies: prove the real part in the required condition.
Explore all applications01
Automotive components
Clips, connectors, seals, plugs, terminals, fasteners and precision mouldings for assembly and test stations.
View application →02Medical & pharmaceutical components
Controlled feeding of closures, diagnostic components, devices and moulded parts where handling and cleanability matter.
View application →03Electronics & electrical parts
Orientation and presentation of terminals, connectors, housings and small components to assembly, insertion and test equipment.
View application →04Fasteners, fixings & inserts
Screws, nuts, washers, rivets and threaded inserts presented to drivers, presses, assembly machines and robots.
View application →05Caps, closures & packaging components
High-flow feeding and orientation for screw caps, snap caps, pumps, lids, overcaps and other packaging components.
View application →06Plastic mouldings & metal components
Application-engineered feeding for moulded, pressed, machined and cast parts across general manufacturing.
View application →
One defined interfaceMechanical, electrical and performance boundaries agreed before manufacture.
High-value system integration
The last 300 mm can matter more than the first three metres.
A fast feeder is not useful if the host machine cannot receive its output reliably.
We define discharge height, orientation datum, track pressure, buffer capacity, sensor logic, escapement timing, I/O, fault recovery and safeguarding as part of the project—not as an afterthought.
- Downstream machine and robot interface
- Control philosophy and signal schedule
- Safe access, guarding and recovery
- Documented acceptance criteria
Plan a credible project
Practical resources for production and engineering teams.
Use these guides to compare technologies, prepare representative samples and define an acceptance test before committing to a design.
Selection guide
Which parts feeder should you investigate?
Compare bowl, centrifugal, step and flexible feeding against the behaviour of your component.
Read guide →Specification checklistBuild an application brief engineers can use.
Capture orientation, sustained rate, loading, inspection, interface and acceptance requirements.
Use checklist →Engineering guideDiagnose unstable feeding systematically.
Trace faults from bulk level through orientation, buffer and final machine hand-off.
Read guide →Straight answers
Questions engineers ask before specifying a feeder
Useful starting points. Final recommendations are based on your component, presentation requirement and machine cycle.
What is an automated parts feeding system?
An automated parts feeding system stores bulk components, separates them, establishes the orientation required by the process and presents accepted parts at a controlled rate. A complete system may include a hopper, bowl or flexible feeder, linear track, sensors, vision, buffering, an escapement, controls, guarding and the final machine interface.
Which type of parts feeder is best?
There is no universal best feeder. Vibratory bowls suit many dedicated component families; centrifugal feeders can suit high-speed stable parts; step feeders are useful for quieter or larger-component handling; and flexible vision-guided systems can suit frequent variants. Selection begins with the real component, required presentation and sustained machine demand.
How much does a parts feeding system cost?
Cost depends on component behaviour, orientation complexity, target rate, number of variants, bulk autonomy, inspection, controls, guarding and the downstream interface. A credible budget is prepared after a component and application review; a catalogue feeder price alone rarely represents a complete production system.
How fast can an automatic parts feeder run?
The achievable sustained rate is application-specific. Part geometry, stability, recirculation, inspection, buffer length and the release mechanism all affect accepted output. The correct figure is demonstrated under agreed test conditions with representative production components.
Do you need sample components to design a feeder?
Representative production samples are strongly recommended and may be essential. Drawings establish dimensions and tolerances, but physical trials reveal friction, bounce, nesting, tangling, surface marking and behaviour at the required speed.
Can one feeder handle several component variants?
Sometimes. Closely related variants may share adjustable or change-part tooling. A flexible feeder may be more appropriate for wider variation. The solution depends on geometric differences, required changeover time, production mix and whether the same discharge presentation is possible.
Start with the real part
Turn a loose component into a controlled machine input.
Send a photograph or drawing, target rate and required orientation. We will help identify the most credible feeding route.
How should feeder buffers be sized around machine demand?
A buffer holds usable, correctly oriented components between feeding and consumption. Begin with the receiving machine’s demand pattern and the interruption the buffer is intended to bridge. Count parts that can actually be released to the machine, not every loose component visible upstream.
For a constant demand, a simple planning quantity is demand in parts per minute multiplied by interruption time in seconds, divided by 60. As an illustrative calculation, 60 accepted parts per minute for a 20-second interruption needs 20 available parts before any application-specific allowance. This is a planning example, not a feeder performance or guaranteed buffer specification.
Then check whether that quantity can be held without losing orientation, damaging surfaces or creating excessive pressure at the escapement. A long queue is not automatically a better solution. Include how parts enter the buffer, how occupancy is detected and how upstream feeding responds when the receiving machine stops.
Recovery matters as much as initial capacity. The feeder must replenish the used buffer while the host resumes consuming parts, under the agreed conditions. Challenge empty and full states, a stopped host, an interrupted release and restart after replenishment. Record accepted deliveries and the recovery sequence during representative trials.
- Demand: Use the sustained and peak requirements of the receiving process.
- Usable storage: Count oriented parts available at the release mechanism and assess their condition in the queue.
- Recovery: Test how supply, occupancy signals and machine demand interact after an interruption.
Linear feeders and escapements · Plan representative component trials
Compare feeders across the production schedule
A feeder that handles the largest production run may still be a poor match for the weekly mix. Compare the complete operating schedule, including changeovers and small batches, alongside the sustained accepted output.
Explore complete parts feeding systems — read the detailed guide