Feeding Systems
Custom Step Feeders
Built for the parts a bowl feeder can't handle gently. Every step feeder starts as a SolidWorks model you review and approve — then it's custom-tooled, factory-tested at our Ohio facility, and shipped ready to run. Handles large, heavy, delicate, or cosmetic-finish parts with virtually no part-on-part contact and significantly quieter operation than a vibratory bowl feeder. If it can't be bowl fed, we can step feed it.
WHAT WE BUILD INTO EVERY SYSTEM
Engineered For Difficult Parts
GENTLE, VIBRATION-FREE HANDLING
Precision-machined steps and pneumatic motion move large, heavy, or cosmetic-finish parts with virtually no part-on-part contact — no scuffing, no chipped plating, no cosmetic rejects.
SIGNIFICANTLY QUIETER OPERATION
A step feeder produces a fraction of the noise of a vibratory bowl feeder. No shaker, no ringing steel — just controlled pneumatic steps.
TABLETOP & STANDALONE CONFIGURATIONS
Tabletop units for compact, lower-volume applications; standalone units with larger steps and their own leveling feet for bigger parts and higher capacity. Every hopper and step is sized to your part.
SIZED FOR YOUR PART
Step feeders handle parts from a quarter-inch up to 14" long, with step sizes ranging from 6" up to 20" depending on your part and production volume. If it fits the geometry, we can size a system around it.
PREMIUM COMPONENTS
Keyence sensors, SMC pneumatics, and Hiwin linear guides on every system — the same component brands used across our bowl and step feeder lines.
RESPONSIVE, HANDS-ON SUPPORT
Every system ships with an accurate SolidWorks model and a full bill of materials, so when something needs attention, we already know your machine inside and out. We're fast to respond, and we don't hesitate to send a technician when you need one — we stand behind every system we build.
The Bellco Advantage
WHY MANUFACTURERS CHOOSE BELLCO FOR STEP FEEDERS
DETAILED DESIGN REVIEW
Every custom step feeder starts as a SolidWorks model engineered to your exact part — reviewed and approved by you, down to bolt-hole and sensor placement, before a single piece of tooling is machined.
20–40% COST SAVINGS
You see and approve a full 3D model before we machine a single piece of tooling. No surprises on delivery.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHICH FEEDER YOU ACTUALLY NEED
Not sure whether your part belongs in a step feeder or a bowl feeder? Send it over — we evaluate the geometry, feed rate, and finish requirements and recommend the right system, not just the one we happen to sell.
SUPPORT AFTER THE SALE
Most feeding companies disappear after the system ships. We don't — call six months later and you'll still reach the same support team, with dedicated road technicians ready to install, tune, or troubleshoot on-site.
Real Systems, Shipped
Step Feeders In Production
15"
Step Width
Steel Manufacturing
Two Step Feeders, Back to Back, for Steel Flange Production
Two stand-alone units — one for 2-inch flanges, one for three-quarter-inch — elevating heavy steel from a waist-level load to a 40-inch outfeed, flat-side down, at 25 parts per minute each.
3 sizes
One feeder
Machine Integration
Vision-Guided Tabletop Step Feeder for Robotic Assembly
Three lengths of dual-pointed actuator pin, all the same diameter. A Keyence IV camera reads which end leads, a purge gate recirculates the rest, and a custom rotary escapement stands each pin upright for the robot.
33 PPM
Per system
Precision Machining
Paired Step Feeders with Bi-Directional Escapement
Two systems on one proposal for tapered tubes: a tabletop unit where either end could lead, and a stand-alone vision-guided unit where the nose end had to lead every cycle, escaping left or right on PLC command.
Built in Concord Township
Step Feeders Up Close
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Common Questions
Step Feeder FAQs
What is a step feeder, and how is it different from a bowl feeder?
A vibratory bowl feeder moves parts up a spiral track using vibration; a step feeder moves parts up a series of reciprocating plates (“steps”) using pneumatic or electric motion — no vibration at all. Step feeders are the better fit for large, heavy, delicate, or cosmetic-finish parts, and they run significantly quieter than a bowl feeder.
Step feeder or bowl feeder — which one do I need?
As a rule of thumb: parts over 7–8 inches, parts with a critical cosmetic or plated finish, parts that are heavy or oddly shaped, and applications where noise level matters (medical, electronics, staffed work cells) usually point to a step feeder. Small, uniform parts needing very precise orientation at high feed rates usually point to a bowl feeder. Send us your part and we’ll tell you which one is the right call.
Can a step feeder handle large or heavy parts?
Yes. Step feeders are built specifically for large, heavy, and awkwardly shaped parts that a vibratory bowl feeder can’t handle gently or at all — including castings, forgings, and long parts up to a foot or more in length.
Are step feeders quieter than vibratory bowl feeders?
A step feeder has no vibrating bowl or ringing steel — parts move on precision-machined plates driven by controlled pneumatic or electric motion. That makes it the go-to choice for cosmetic parts, medical components, and any application with a noise limit on the production floor.
What's the difference between a tabletop and standalone step feeder?
A tabletop step feeder is a compact unit built for lower-volume or space-constrained applications. A standalone step feeder has larger steps, its own leveling feet, and higher throughput and capacity. We size the hopper and step count to your part and your floor space either way.
How much does a custom step feeder cost?
Custom step feeders typically run 20–40% more affordable than comparable quotes from the larger feeder houses — without cutting a corner on build quality, componentry, or documentation.
What's included with every step feeder order?
Every step feeder ships with a SolidWorks 3D model built from your actual part CAD files, precision-machined steps and plates, an integrated hopper, linear track, escapement (where required), Keyence sensors, SMC pneumatics, Hiwin linear guides, a full 1-year warranty, and on-site installation support.
What's the lead time on a custom step feeder?
12–14 weeks standard from design approval to delivery, with an 8-week expedite option available.
Do you provide on-site support and installation?
Yes — 5 dedicated road technicians handle installation, line integration, tuning, and troubleshooting on-site anywhere in the U.S., backed by a full 1-year warranty.
Ready to Start?
Let's Engineer Your Step Feeder.
Send us your part, the outfeed height you need, and how fast the line runs. We'll have a quote back to you in 3 business days — complete with a SolidWorks model you can review before we cut metal.
Talk to an Engineer
- Quote Turnaround
- 3 business days
- Design Review
- SolidWorks model before build
- FAT Video
- Included on every system
- Documentation
- Full SolidWorks model included
- Location
- Concord Township, Ohio