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FlexiBowl® Flexible Feeding Systems Australia | Comtec – Authorised Distributor
Authorised Australian Distributor · ARS Automation Italy

FlexiBowl®
Flexible Parts Feeding Systems
for Australian Industry

Vision-guided, robot-agnostic flexible feeding — replacing rigid bowl tooling with software-driven control. Handle any part geometry, material or surface. Change over in minutes. Demonstrated live at our Melbourne facility.

2,000+FlexiBowl® units worldwide
40+Countries with deployments
35+Years ARS experience
FlexiBowl® model family – FB 200 to 1200 – available in Australia through Comtec
Patented ARS Technology
All robot brands supported
ISO Class 5 Cleanroom certified
Free feasibility testing
Live Melbourne demo system
Local support & spare parts
Technology Partner
FlexiBowl by ARS Automation – official logo
Visit flexibowl.com →

Powered by ARS Automation — Inventors of FlexiBowl®

FlexiBowl® is patented and manufactured by ARS S.r.l., headquartered in Arezzo, Italy. Founded in 1987, ARS began designing automation for the pharmaceutical industry before developing FlexiBowl® in 2013 — the world's first truly flexible vision-guided parts feeder.

Comtec is ARS Automation's authorised distributor for Australia, providing local sales, application engineering, commissioning and ongoing technical support. When you invest in FlexiBowl® through Comtec, you have the full backing of both the manufacturer and an experienced local automation team.

1987ARS founded in Italy
2013FlexiBowl® launched
2,000+Units installed globally
40+Countries worldwide

Why Conventional Bowl Feeders Limit High-Mix Production

Australian manufacturers running short batches, multiple SKUs or frequent part changeovers face real costs from traditional vibratory feeding.

🔩

Dedicated tooling locks you in

Traditional bowl feeders require custom tracks and tooling for every part number. Each new SKU means a new bowl or expensive retrofit — months of lead time before production starts.

🔄

High-mix production kills throughput

Small variations in part geometry cause jams, misfeeds and constant operator intervention. Downtime for clearing and resetting can consume 20–30% of shift time in high-mix environments.

👷

Labour dependency keeps rising

When feeders can't adapt quickly, manual orientation becomes unavoidable. In today's tight Australian labour market, this is expensive and unsustainable for competitive production.

🌊

Vibration damages delicate parts

O-rings, silicone seals, electronics and surface-finished metals suffer cosmetic or functional damage in vibratory systems — leading to reject rates and rework costs that quietly erode margins.

📦

No path to automation flexibility

Fixed-tooling feeders tie your automation investment to one part. As product ranges evolve, the feeding system becomes a bottleneck — not an asset you can reuse.

🏥

Noise and cleanroom constraints

Vibratory systems are unsuitable for medical, cleanroom and food-adjacent environments where contamination control, quiet operation and wash-down capability are mandatory.

How FlexiBowl® Works

No vibration. No dedicated tooling. A servo-driven disc, an impulse generator and machine vision work together to separate, orient and present any part for robotic pick-up.

1

Bulk parts loaded into hopper

Parts are loaded into a vibratory or conveyor bulk feeder (1.5–60 litre options). The hopper delivers a controlled, consistent flow onto the FlexiBowl® disc.

2

Servo disc spreads and separates

The rotating disc uses bidirectional movement with programmable speed and acceleration to distribute parts — separating tangled, clustered or stacked components automatically.

3

Impulse generator flips and orients

Short, sharp impulses cause parts to briefly leave the surface and land in new orientations. Parameters are stored per part recipe — no mechanical adjustment needed.

4

Vision system locates every part

FlexiVision (Cognex/Halcon) or any third-party vision captures position and orientation in real time — even with reflective, dark or transparent parts.

5

Robot picks with full accuracy

Coordinates sent to the robot via Ethernet TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP or I/O. Cycle ~0.5 sec. Feed rate: >90 parts/min achievable. Dropping, separating and picking run simultaneously.

FlexiBowl® feeding cycle diagram showing simultaneous dropping, separating and picking
Dropping, Separating and Picking occur simultaneously — maximising feed rate with no idle time

FlexiBowl® Models — Select by Part Size

Six models from 200 mm to 1200 mm disc diameter. Click a model to see full specifications, sample photos and the datasheet download.

FlexiBowl® 200
FlexiBowl® 200

Sample parts handled on the FB 200:

micro parts on FlexiBowl 200
small pins on FlexiBowl 200
tiny components on FlexiBowl 200

FlexiBowl® 200

Precision micro-part feeding for the smallest components

Recommended part size1 – 10 mm
Max part weight< 20 g
Max surface payload1 kg
Backlight area90 cm² (180 × 90.5 mm)
Footprint235 × 218 mm
Pick height172 mm
Recommended hopper1.5 L vibratory
Disc surface optionsRound-edged, multiple colours/textures
Cleanroom optionAvailable
Best for: Micro screws, pins, electronic components, tiny injection moulded parts, seals <10 mm. Replaces multiple micro-vibrators with one software-driven unit.
⬇ Download FB 200 Datasheet (PDF)
FlexiBowl® 350
FlexiBowl® 350

Sample parts handled on the FB 350:

small clips on FlexiBowl 350
precision parts on FlexiBowl 350

FlexiBowl® 350

Compact flexible feeding for small-to-medium components

Recommended part size1 – 20 mm
Max part weight< 40 g
Max surface payload3 kg
Backlight area166 cm² (111 × 230 mm)
Footprint447 mm
Pick height270 mm
Recommended hopper5 L / 10 L vibratory or conveyor
Options availableDiverter, FlexiTrack, IP40, Remote Box
Cleanroom optionAvailable
Best for: O-rings 10–20 mm, small clips, caps, fasteners and medical device components. Popular in pharmaceutical, electronics and personal care assembly.
⬇ Download FB 350 Datasheet (PDF)
FlexiBowl® 500
FlexiBowl® 500 — Most Popular

Sample parts handled on the FB 500:

caps on FlexiBowl 500
connectors on FlexiBowl 500
moulded parts on FlexiBowl 500

FlexiBowl® 500

The most versatile model — handles the widest range of mainstream applications

Recommended part size5 – 50 mm
Max part weight< 100 g
Max surface payload7 kg
Backlight area513 cm² (334 × 167 mm)
Footprint629 mm
Pick height270 mm
Recommended hopper10 L / 20 L vibratory or conveyor
Multiple parts feedingUp to 6 part types simultaneously
FlexiTrackAvailable
Quick emptyingAvailable
Cleanroom optionISO Class 5 available
Best for: Caps, closures, connectors, moulded housings, medium springs, clips and general industrial parts. The FB 500 covers the broadest range of applications and is our most-requested model.
⬇ Download FB 500 Datasheet (PDF)
FlexiBowl® 650
FlexiBowl® 650

Sample parts handled on the FB 650:

automotive clips on FlexiBowl 650
large seals on FlexiBowl 650
medium components on FlexiBowl 650

FlexiBowl® 650

High-capacity feeding for medium-to-large industrial components

Recommended part size20 – 110 mm
Max part weight< 170 g
Max surface payload7 kg
Backlight area922 cm² (404 × 250 mm)
Footprint788 mm
Pick height270 mm
Recommended hopper20 L / 40 L vibratory or conveyor
Multiple parts feedingUp to 6 part types simultaneously
FlexiTrackAvailable
Quick emptyingAvailable
Cleanroom optionISO Class 5 available
Best for: Automotive clips, larger medical housings, O-rings 50–100 mm, packaging inserts and injection moulded components up to 110 mm. High throughput at larger part sizes.
⬇ Download FB 650 Datasheet (PDF)
FlexiBowl® 800
FlexiBowl® 800

Sample parts handled on the FB 800:

large parts on FlexiBowl 800
heavy components on FlexiBowl 800
bulky parts on FlexiBowl 800

FlexiBowl® 800

Maximum standard size — for bulky components and peak throughput

Recommended part size60 – 250 mm
Max part weight< 250 g
Max surface payload7 kg
Backlight area1,125 cm² (404 × 325 mm)
Footprint941 mm
Pick height270 mm
Recommended hopper20 L / 40 L vibratory or conveyor
FlexiTrackAvailable
Quick emptyingAvailable
Cleanroom optionISO Class 5 available
Best for: Large moulded parts, automotive body components, packaging containers and assemblies up to 250 mm. The increased gripping area enables automation of processes previously unsuitable for flexible feeders.
⬇ Download FB 800 Datasheet (PDF)
FlexiBowl® 1200 — largest flexible feeder on market
FlexiBowl® 1200 — Largest on Market

NEW — largest flexible feeding surface available:

FlexiBowl 1200 new product

FlexiBowl® 1200

The largest flexible feeder on the market — for oversized components

Recommended part size50 – 300 mm
Max part weight< 300 g
Max surface payload7 kg
Backlight area4,120 cm² (917 × 525 mm)
Footprint1,346 mm
Pick height270 mm
Recommended hopper40 L / 60 L conveyor hoppers
FlexiTrackAvailable
Cleanroom optionISO Class 5 available
Best for: The FB 1200 has the largest feeding surface ever produced — enabling flexible automation in completely new processes. Large packaging components, automotive panels, oversized assemblies. Contact Comtec for project-specific assessment.
⬇ Download FB 1200 Datasheet (PDF)

Three Operating Modes

FlexiBowl® offers three distinct feeding modes to match your application's throughput, accuracy and layout requirements.

FlexiBowl Standard Mode — circular feeding cycle
1

Standard Mode

The core FlexiBowl® cycle — a circular sequence of feeding, rotation, jogging and pick-up running in parallel. Dropping, separating and picking occur simultaneously. Best for maximum pick accuracy and gentlest part handling. Perfect for complex geometries requiring precise orientation.

FlexiTrack continuous mode with dual camera
2

FlexiTrack™ (Continuous)

The motor and flip mechanism work continuously. The disc rotates constantly and smoothly while a second camera balances parts dropping. Greater productivity — one FlexiTrack replaces two standard-mode feeders. Ideal for high-speed synchronous applications with simpler part geometries.

Multiple Parts Feeding — FlexiBowl with multiple hoppers
3

Multiple Parts Feeding

Up to 6 different component types fed simultaneously from one FlexiBowl® disc, each from its own bulk feeder. Each disc sector carries a different surface material. Minimises floor space and capital investment. Used in kitting, assembly and tray-loading cells.

Complete Feeding System Components

FlexiBowl® is supplied as a complete, integrated system. Comtec configures and delivers the full solution.

FlexiBowl disc and drive unit

FlexiBowl® Disc & Drive Unit

The core feeding platform: servo motor, impulse generator, interchangeable disc surface and integrated lighting interface. IP40 standard; cleanroom and wash-down variants available.

Servo-drivenImpulse techIP40 stdISO 5 option
FlexiVision vision system

FlexiVision™ Vision System

PC-based vision software built on Cognex / Halcon libraries. Camera calibration, template definition, part acquisition and robot pick-and-place sequencing — all in one interface. Compatible with Comtec's Stäubli robots and all major brands.

Cognex/HalconAll robot brandsReal-time
Bulk feeders and hoppers

Bulk Feeders & Hoppers

Vibratory hoppers (1.5–20 litre) and conveyor hoppers (20–60 litre) matched to part type and cycle time. Quick-emptying box available for FB 500/650/800. Front and rear photocell level control.

1.5–60 ltVibratory / conveyorQuick-empty

Available Options & Accessories

FlexiBowl® has a comprehensive range of options to customise the system for your specific part, environment and production requirements.

FlexiBowl backlight option

Backlight

IR, red or white — for high-contrast part silhouette imaging

FlexiBowl toplight option

Toplight

IR, red or white — for surface detail and colour differentiation

Air Blow option

Air Blow

Moves the tiniest components away from the disc edge

Standard diverter

Standard Diverter

Redirects components from the disc edge back into feed zone

Brush diverter

Brush Diverter

Gentle edge redirection for delicate or surface-sensitive parts

Wedge diverter

Wedge Diverter

Wedge between steel surface and disc for smooth component deviation

Quick emptying box

Quick Emptying Box

Fast product changeover — no manual scooping needed (FB 500/650/800)

Rotary disc options

Rotary Disc Options

Multiple colours, textures and adhesion levels for FB 500/650/800

Round edged disc

Round-Edged Disc

Various colours, textures and adhesion for FB 200/350/500E

Multiple parts feeding

Multiple Parts Feeding

Up to 6 different component types simultaneously on one disc

Cleanroom version ISO 5

Cleanroom Version

Pre-installed bundle for ISO Class 5 cleanroom (FB 500/650/800)

Calibration plate

Calibration Plate

Vision-area-specific calibration for maximum pick accuracy and repeatability

FlexiTrack continuous mode

FlexiTrack

Enables continuous circular conveyor tracking for higher throughput

Remote control box

Remote Control Box

Separate electrical cabinet for use in harsh or dirty environments

Custom grooved disc

Custom Grooved Disc

Bespoke disc design for unique part geometries — available on request

IP40 upgrade kit

IP40 Upgrade Kit

Pre-installed kit increasing protection rating to IP40 for dusty environments

FlexiBowl® Applications Across Australian Industry

From medical device manufacturing in Sydney to automotive supply in Melbourne, FlexiBowl® solves feeding challenges across every sector.

🌀

Springs, Clips and Metal Stampings

Tangled, reflective and irregular metal components handled reliably using disc impulse energy — without part-on-part damage or constant jams.

→ Automotive · Fastener · HVAC

O-Rings, Seals and Elastomers

Soft, deformable parts including silicone seals, gaskets and rubber O-rings handled gently on FDA-grade or textured surfaces. No vibration. No sticking.

→ Medical · Hydraulics · Food Processing

🧩

Injection Moulded Components

Caps, closures, connectors, housings and technical mouldings fed directly to downstream assembly or inspection. Recipe-based changeover matches the moulding schedule.

→ Packaging · Consumer Goods · Electronics

🧪

Medical and Cleanroom Parts

Diagnostic consumables, inhaler components and disposable medical devices. ISO Class 5 cleanroom configuration with antistatic disc surfaces and stainless contact parts.

→ Medical Devices · Pharmaceutical · IVD

⚙️

Electronics and Precision Parts

Small, delicate components for electronics assembly and PCB pick-and-place. Antistatic disc options prevent ESD damage during handling.

→ Electronics · Sensors · Defence

📦

Packaging and High-Mix Consumer Goods

FMCG packaging elements and consumer product assemblies with frequent SKU rotation — without tooling investment for every product change.

→ FMCG · Cosmetics · Retail

🚗

Automotive Components

Bushings, grommets, small stampings, cable clips and sensor housings for Tier 1/2 automotive assembly with tight orientation tolerances.

→ Automotive OEM · Tier 1 & 2 · EV

🌾

Food-Grade and AgriFood Parts

Components for food processing equipment where hygiene, washdown capability and stainless surfaces are required by regulation.

→ Food Equipment · AgriFood · Beverage

🔬

Machine Tending and Assembly

Feeding raw material to CNC centres, presses, screwdriving stations and inspection cells — anywhere consistent, oriented part supply is the bottleneck.

→ General Manufacturing · CNC · Quality

FlexiBowl® vs. Traditional Feeding Technologies

Capability FlexiBowl® Vibratory Bowl Step Feeder Manual Loading
Part changeover timeMinutes — software recipe Hours – days HoursInstant but ongoing
Part-specific tooling None required Per part Per part None
Handles sticky / tangled parts Yes Very poor Limited Yes
Gentle on delicate surfaces No vibration damage Surface wearModerate Yes
Cleanroom compatible ISO Class 5 No LimitedProtocol dependent
High-mix, multi-SKU capable Up to 6 simultaneous 1 part per bowl 1 part Yes
Noise level Low High High Low
Robot / vision agnostic All brandsLimitedLimitedN/A
Maintenance requirement Very low Regular Moderate High — labour
Max feed rate>90 parts/minHigh (single part)ModerateLow

Works with Every Major Robot Brand

Licence-free plug-ins and open communication protocols mean FlexiBowl® integrates with your existing or planned robot — including Comtec's own Stäubli range.

ABB
FANUC
KUKA
Universal Robots (UR+ Certified)
Yaskawa / Motoman
Kawasaki
Mitsubishi Electric
Epson
Omron
Denso
Doosan
JAKA
Kassow Robots
TM Robot
Mecademic
Hyundai Robotics
Ethernet TCP/IP
EtherNet/IP
UDP/IP
Digital I/O
UR+ Certified URCap
Licence-free plug-ins

★ Comtec is the authorised Australian distributor for Stäubli industrial robots. The Stäubli + FlexiBowl® combination is a tested, locally-supported and locally-maintained solution.

Local Sales, Support and Stock Across Australia

Comtec is the exclusive Australian distributor for FlexiBowl®. We provide local application engineering, commissioning and ongoing technical support from Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

Melbourne, VIC — Demo Facility

Factory 4, 2 Indian Drive, Keysborough VIC 3173. Our primary FlexiBowl® demonstration system. Book a time to bring your parts and see live feeding.

Sydney, NSW

Suite 20, 20–28 Maddox Street, Alexandria NSW 2015. Local sales and application engineering. Warehouse in Braemar NSW 2575.

Brisbane, QLD

Sales and support coverage for manufacturers across South East Queensland.

Adelaide, SA

22 Greenhill Road, Wayville SA 5043. Local sales serving South Australian industrial and defence manufacturing.

Perth, WA

Sales and technical support for WA manufacturers in mining, resources, food processing and general industry.

Free — No Obligation

Test Your Parts at Our Melbourne Demo System

Unsure which FlexiBowl® model suits your parts? Send us samples or visit our Keysborough facility — we'll run your parts and provide a full feasibility report at no cost.

📦

Send a sample batch — post 50–200 representative parts. We'll test and send you a video report with model recommendation.

🎥

Get a video report — a written feasibility assessment with recommended model, configuration and estimated cycle time.

🏭

Visit Keysborough — schedule a live demonstration at our Melbourne facility. Bring your engineering and procurement team.

📋

Receive a proposal — configured system proposal with pricing, lead time and integration support plan.

Book Your Demo →

Trusted Across Every Australian Manufacturing Sector

🏥

Medical Devices

💊

Pharmaceutical

🚗

Automotive

✈️

Aerospace & Defence

📱

Electronics

🥫

Food & Beverage

🧴

Cosmetics & FMCG

🏗️

General Manufacturing

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from Australian manufacturers evaluating FlexiBowl® for the first time.

A vibratory bowl feeder uses resonant vibration through a custom-tooled track to orient one specific part — requiring dedicated tooling for every part number. FlexiBowl® uses a servo-driven disc and impulse generator: no vibration, no dedicated tooling, changeovers in minutes via software. One FlexiBowl® replaces an entire family of vibratory bowls for a product range.
Model selection is based on part size (1–300 mm), part weight (up to 300 g), required feed rate and environment. Send Comtec a sample of your parts (50–200 pieces) and we'll run them on our Melbourne demonstration system — providing a video report and written recommendation, free of charge and with no obligation.
Yes — this is one of FlexiBowl®'s strongest advantages. Deformable, sticky and soft parts that cause constant problems in vibratory systems are handled reliably using the right disc surface. Rough or textured disc options provide adhesion to separate sticky rubber and silicone parts. FDA-grade disc surfaces are available for food and medical applications.
FlexiBowl® provides free plug-ins for all major industrial robot and cobot brands: Stäubli, ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Universal Robots (UR+ certified), Yaskawa, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Epson, Omron, Denso, Doosan, JAKA, Kassow, TM Robot, Mecademic and others. Communication via Ethernet TCP/IP, UDP/IP, EtherNet/IP or digital I/O.
Software recipe changeovers take seconds — select the saved recipe and motion parameters update automatically. No physical retooling is required. If you're also changing the disc surface, the swap takes approximately 5–10 minutes. Multiple product changeovers within the same work shift are standard practice.
Yes. The FlexiBowl® 500, 650 and 800 are available with a pre-installed cleanroom bundle certified to ISO Class 5. The cleanroom configuration includes enclosed materials, filtered exhaust, antistatic disc surfaces and stainless contact parts. Comtec has experience supporting medical device manufacturers in Melbourne and Sydney with cleanroom automation.
Yes. Comtec provides full commissioning, operator training and ongoing technical support from our Australian offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. We handle import, logistics, system configuration, on-site installation and remote support during the operational phase. Spare parts are stocked locally.
Feed rate depends on part geometry, robot cycle time and the FlexiBowl® model and mode selected. In standard mode the cycle is approximately 0.5 seconds. In FlexiTrack continuous mode, throughput is significantly higher as picking and part introduction run simultaneously. ARS specification states >90 parts/min achievable for suitable applications. Our feasibility test on your actual parts will give a realistic cycle time estimate.

Ready to See FlexiBowl® Feed Your Parts?

Our Melbourne demonstration facility is available to Australian manufacturers at no cost. Send us sample parts — or visit us in Keysborough and see it live.

📦
Send Sample Parts

Post 50–200 representative parts. We'll test and send a video report.

🏭
Visit Melbourne Demo

Bring your team to Keysborough VIC and see FlexiBowl® running live.

📞
Speak to Engineering

Call 1300 768 826 for a rapid application feasibility discussion.

Get in Touch — Book Your Demo →

Start Your FlexiBowl® Enquiry

Tell us about your parts, production volumes and changeover requirements. Our FlexiBowl® specialists will respond within one business day.

📞 Phone

1300 768 826

✉ Email

info@comtec.com.au

🏭 Melbourne — Demo Facility

Factory 4, 2 Indian Drive, Keysborough VIC 3173

🏢 Sydney

Suite 20, 20–28 Maddox Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

🏢 Adelaide

22 Greenhill Road, Wayville SA 5043

Manufactured by our technology partner:

FlexiBowl ARS Automation logo

For technical documentation, ARS application notes and global case studies, visit flexibowl.com →

Book a FlexiBowl® Demo or Feasibility Test

All testing is free and non-binding. We'll respond within one business day.

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