SmartConnex feeder control

Food ingredient feeder control

Optimize loss-in-weight & volumetric feeders

SmartConnex™ system from Coperion K-Tron brings intelligent, integrated control to every feeder on your line. With modular components and advanced connectivity, it simplifies setup, enhances accuracy, and gives operators full visibility over single units or complete multi-feeder operations.

Whether you’re managing loss-in-weight, volumetric, weigh belt, or batch systems, SmartConnex delivers reliable performance with streamlined architecture and modern interfaces.

Benefits:

Smarter control directly at each feeder
Less wiring, lower installation cost
Easy to set up with minimal programming
Works with conveyors and agitators automatically
More accurate feeding in the short term
Remote monitoring for quick troubleshooting
Connects easily to plant and host systems

More about Coperion K-tron

This system is compatible with plastics, chemicals, and mineral processing applications. For more details, please visit the SmartConnex™ system page on Coperion performance material website.

See SmartConnex feeder in action

Discover the Coperion K-Tron KCM-III feeder control module in action. Equipped with a powerful new CPU and advanced control algorithms, it delivers faster communication with feeder drives, weighing systems, and peripherals.

Alternatively, watch this video on Youtube

Overview
Features
Gallery

SmartConnex™ is Coperion K-Tron’s integrated control environment designed to simplify, streamline, and enhance feeder operation. With intelligent architecture that places the control “brain” directly at each feeder, SmartConnex delivers precise performance, easy setup, and reliable connectivity for single feeders or complete multi-feeder systems.

Designed for flexibility and simple operation
Each feeder is equipped with its own KCM control module, minimizing wiring and reducing installation effort. Operators can choose between the KSU-II interface for individual units or the K-Vision controller for managing multiple lines. The system’s modular design allows fast configuration, smooth integration into new or existing setups, and easy access for diagnostics or adjustments.

Reliable performance for a wide range of feeding applications

SmartConnex supports up to 24 devices, including loss-in-weight feeders, volumetric feeders, weigh-belt feeders, batchers, flow meters, and pneumatic refill systems. With features like screw speed modulation, vibration-immune weighing, and optimized refill control, it ensures stable feeding accuracy even at very low rates. Built-in Ethernet and optional Wi-Fi enable remote monitoring, service access, and connectivity to higher-level plant networks.

KCM-III: features of the feeder control module (LCD, Ethernet/Wi-Fi, Industry 4.0 readiness, combined motor/feeder control).
KSU-II: features of the single-unit user interface (portable, economical, can view one feeder at a time).
K-Vision: features of the multi-feeder line controller (touchscreen, recipe management, monitoring, charting, multi-line control).

Screw speed modulation

Improves short-term accuracy by up to 2× (2-sigma at 10-second sampling).
Minimizes mass flow pulsation in single-screw feeders, especially at low feed rates (<1 screw rotation/sec).
Records and compensates for output fluctuations to ensure smoother, more consistent discharge.

Optimized feeder refill (smart refill technology)

Maintains accurate feed rates during hopper refills by memorizing recent gravimetric performance.
Adjusts screw speed to compensate for material density changes, ensuring a smooth transition to full control.
Reduces errors typically caused by freezing screw motion during refill.

Vibration-immune weighing

Dynamic digital filtering identifies and removes spurious inertial effects caused by vibration or shocks.
Ensures high-accuracy gravimetric performance even in challenging process environments.
Provides reliable, stable measurement for precise feeding in all conditions.