Comparison
Loss-in-Weight vs Weigh Belt Feeder
Answer in brief
Both are gravimetric, and the difference is what they weigh.
A loss-in-weight feeder weighs its own hopper and infers rate from the falling weight. A weigh belt weighs the material on a moving belt and multiplies by speed.
- Low rates and high accuracy, especially powders: loss-in-weight.
- High rates, coarse or free-flowing material, continuous duty: weigh belt.
- Refill behavior and vibration decide more installations than the data sheet accuracy does.
By Editorial Team · Published October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
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What actually differs
A loss-in-weight feeder is a weighing vessel with a discharge device, and it controls rate by holding the rate of weight loss constant.
During refill it cannot weigh, so it runs volumetrically on the last known setting for a short period.
A weigh belt measures a load on a span of belt and a belt speed, and it continues measuring indefinitely because nothing has to be refilled.
Decision criteria
| Criterion | Loss-in-weight | Weigh belt |
|---|---|---|
| Rate range | Grams per hour to tonnes per hour | Higher rates, bulk duty |
| Accuracy at low rate | High | Limited by belt loading |
| Blind time | During refill | None |
| Vibration sensitivity | High | Moderate |
| Material suitability | Powders, granules, fibres with the right discharge device | Free flowing, coarse, less dusty |
| Installation | Isolated support, flexible connections | Space for the belt span |
Where loss-in-weight is the better choice
- Minor ingredients dosed at low percentages in compounding and food lines.
- Powders that aerate, flood or bridge, where the discharge device can be matched to the behavior.
- Processes needing fast response to a rate change.
The installation decides whether the stated accuracy is achieved: structural vibration, rigid pipe connections and air pressure fluctuations in the refill line all show up directly in the weight signal.
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Where the weigh belt is the better choice
- Continuous bulk feeding of minerals, grain or aggregates.
- Duties with no acceptable blind time.
- Materials that would be difficult to discharge reliably from a weighing hopper.
Belt loading matters: a belt running far below its design load loses accuracy, which is why a weigh belt sized for a future expansion often performs poorly today.
Where neither fits
Neither solves a material that will not discharge. A bridging powder above a feeder is a hopper problem, and no weighing principle compensates for it.
Where the process needs only an approximate rate, a volumetric device is simpler and cheaper, and the gravimetric investment buys nothing.
What to measure before deciding
- Required rate range and the accuracy that the product specification actually needs.
- Material flow properties, including aeration and bridging behavior.
- Vibration at the proposed location.
- Refill source and how quickly it can deliver.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the blind time during refill?
Typically a few seconds to under a minute, depending on refill rate and hopper size. During that time the feeder runs on the last calculated setting, so a material whose density changes quickly introduces an error.
Does vibration really affect a loss-in-weight feeder?
Yes, strongly. Load cells measure very small weight changes, and structural vibration from nearby equipment appears as noise in the rate signal. Isolated supports and flexible connections are part of the specification, not an option.
Can a weigh belt handle fine powders?
It can, but dust release, material carryover on the belt and belt cleaning become the limiting factors. For dusty powders an enclosed loss-in-weight arrangement is usually preferred.
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