Efficient material handling begins with consistent feeding. In many production environments—from aggregates to composting—irregular loading can lead to spillage, downtime and uneven material flow downstream. Feeding conveyors play a critical role in solving this challenge by acting as a buffer between incoming loads and the machines that rely on steady throughput.

This blog explores how feeding conveyors function, where they’re best applied and what features make them effective.

What is a Feeding Conveyor?

A feeding conveyor, sometimes referred to as a surge conveyor or feeder loader, is designed to manage the flow of bulk materials by controlling the rate at which they’re transferred to the next stage of processing. Unlike standard conveyors that assume a consistent infeed, feeder conveyors are built to handle surges—like those from an excavator or loader—without causing overflow or clogging.

At the core is a variable-speed feeder belt beneath a hopper. This setup helps absorb inconsistent loads and release material smoothly onto a main conveyor, screen or crusher. The result is reduced spillage and more consistent feed rates across the system.

 

Why Use a Feeding Conveyor?

Feeding conveyors offer benefits across a range of material-handling challenges:

  • Smoother material flow: by metering out material steadily, they minimise surging and overflow
  • Reduced equipment wear: maintaining consistent feed prevents damage to crushers and screens
  • Improved safety and efficiency: less spillage and fewer stoppages lead to safer, more efficient sites
  • Better material quality: features like agitators and scalping grids can help condition material before further processing

These conveyors are especially useful in scenarios where materials are sticky, bulky or delivered in uneven amounts.

 

Key Features That Improve Feeding Efficiency

The effectiveness of a feeding conveyor depends on several configurable features:

  • Variable-speed belts allow precise control over output
  • Optional bolt-on hopper flares increase capacity to accommodate larger or irregular loads
  • Optional tipping grids and vibrating decks can be added to remove oversize
  • Adjustable incline angles enable material to be directed into stockpiles, trucks, or downstream equipment with minimal drop height
  • An optional slow-speed augers help manage organic materials that tend to clump or bind, especially when wet

These components help adapt the feeder to different material types and handling conditions, making it a flexible tool across various industries.

 

When Should You Use One?

Feeding conveyors are especially beneficial when:

  • Material is being loaded from an excavator, loader or inconsistent source
  • Surge feeding is causing spillage or inconsistent flow
  • Downstream equipment (like crushers or screens) performs best under steady loading
  • Organic materials like compost, mulch or topsoil require agitation or decompaction before processing
  • There’s a need to reduce labor or equipment use on-site by automating parts of the material transfer process

They’re commonly seen in applications involving aggregate processing, recycling, organics and material blending operations.

 

A Closer Look: The Anaconda FTR Range

Anaconda offers a range of feeding conveyors designed to meet varied production needs:

  • FTR100: Compact, container-friendly and suited for smaller operations where space and shipping constraints matter.
  • FTR150: A versatile, mid-range model with optional scalping grids and augers. Its 15-meter (49 ft) conveyor and adaptable configuration make it widely used across North America and Australia.
  • FTR200: Built for high-volume stockpiling, this 20-meter (65 ft) conveyor features a discharge height of over 10.7 m (35 ft) and is ideal for large-scale operations requiring maximum storage.

All FTR models use a standard 4.27 m (14-foot) belt feeder and support a wide range of bolt-on options, including tipping grids, vibrating decks, overband magnets and augers. These allow operators to tailor the unit for use in either aggregate or organic applications. The FTRs are also designed with a shared set of components across models, simplifying maintenance and spare parts inventory.