Friction vs Suction Feeders: Which One Does Your Product Need?
Friction and vacuum feeding solve different problems. Here is how to decide between them for cards, booklets, films, and delicate items.
How friction feeders work
A friction feeder uses a rotating belt or wheel to singulate the top sheet by differential friction. It is fast, simple and cost-effective for porous, stable cards and paper up to 3 mm.
How suction (vacuum) feeders work
Vacuum feeders pick product with suction cups — side-suction, top-suction, planetary or vice-grip. They handle non-porous, delicate or scratch-sensitive items: premium cards, booklets, films, foil, and thin sheets that friction would mark or fail to grip.
Decision checklist
- Porous, rigid card or paper up to 3 mm → friction
- Scratch-sensitive, laminated, foil, film → suction
- Very high speed, single material → friction
- Mixed, delicate or thin stock → suction or hybrid
When to combine
Many lines use a friction card feeder for the main card and a top-suction sheet feeder for the manual insert. CHANFER supplies both and integrates them on one frame.
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