Bulk Material Handling Equipment for Conveying, Feeding, Elevating, and Flow Control

Improve Material Flow | Increase Reliability | Reduce Downtime

We help identify and implement the right KWS Manufacturing solution for bulk material conveying, screw feeding, bucket elevating, drag conveying, slide gates, live bottoms, hoppers, bins, and custom engineered material handling systems. From food ingredients and chemicals to cement, aggregates, agriculture, mining, wastewater, recycling, and other dry bulk materials, KWS equipment helps manufacturers improve material flow, increase production efficiency, and maximize process reliability.

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Screw Conveyors • Screw Feeders • Bucket Elevators • Vertical Screw Conveyors • Live Bottom Feeders • Slide Gates • Hoppers • Bins • Silos

KWS Screw Feeders & Live Bottoms

Control withdrawal and feed rate from a hopper, bin, or silo.

Discuss My Application Feeder Design Worksheet PDF Product Details

Control withdrawal and feed rate from a hopper, bin, or silo.

Do you need to meter material rather than simply move it?

KWS screw feeders operate beneath flood-loaded storage outlets to control bulk-material discharge. Live-bottom arrangements use multiple screws where the storage outlet and material behaviour require a broader extraction area.

Typical application
Meter material from a surge hopper onto a downstream conveyor.

Also known as: Metering screws, volumetric screw feeders, live-bottom feeders.

Materials & industries

Powders, granules and difficult-flowing materials discharged from storage. Applications include food ingredients, minerals and recycled plastics; geometry and drive selection depend on head load and material behaviour.

Screw conveyor or screw feeder?

KWS explains controlled transfer versus withdrawal from a flood-loaded hopper. See why inlet conditions and screw design matter when selecting equipment.

Watch on YouTube · KWS video and transcript

KWS application example

Metering lightweight recycled plastic

For a plastic recycling process, KWS combined a storage hopper with a three-screw live bottom. The design addresses the flow challenges of lightweight plastic fluff before downstream processing.

Separate screw drives on the plastic fluff feeder.

Progressive screw geometry used in the plastic fluff application.

Application photos: KWS Manufacturing. Read the full KWS case study >>

What this equipment can help you do

Feed-rate control

Define the minimum, normal, and maximum delivery rates.

Storage integration

Review the screw inlet together with the hopper outlet.

Withdrawal pattern

Assess single or multiple screws against material flow requirements.

How the process works

Fill the inlet

Stored material covers the feeder inlet.

Control extraction

The selected screw geometry and speed govern withdrawal.

Supply the process

Deliver material at the required volumetric rate.

Configuration & selection

Feed requirement: Minimum, normal, and maximum rates and required accuracy.
Storage interface: Outlet dimensions, material head, and refill conditions.
Flow behaviour: Bulk-density variation, compaction, bridging, and moisture.

Options to discuss

Single, twin, or multiple screws
Variable-pitch and inlet arrangements
Variable-speed drive
Hopper integration and seals

Share your material, density range, feed-rate range, accuracy target, and hopper or silo outlet drawing. Include a drawing or photos when available.

Plan your application review

Does a screw feeder automatically provide accurate weight dosing?

Screw speed controls volumetric delivery. If you need mass-based dosing, tell RTS the accuracy target so weighing and controls can be assessed as part of the system.

What should I send for an initial recommendation?

Start with the material, operating conditions, capacity, installation dimensions, and the problem you want to solve. RTS will review the requirements with KWS and identify missing information before a final selection.

Can you review an existing installation?

Send the equipment model or serial number, photos, drawings, and a description of the issue. We can discuss replacement equipment, parts, or an application review.