A weighbelt feeder comprising a pair of metallic side rails along which moves a conveyor belt for transporting a material across the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a plurality of sheet metal frames spaced longitudinally apart on the pair of metallic side rails for supporting a mechanical load on the side rails. Each of the plurality of sheet metal frames comprises a support arm and a plurality of cross-arms cantilevered on the support arm and extending between the pair of metallic side rails. The support arm is fixed to a first side rail of the pair of metallic side rails and the free end of at least one of the cross-arms is fixed to a second side rail of the pair of metallic side trails. The apparatus also includes a metallic outer structure supporting the plurality of sheet metal frames and binding the frames into a unitary rigid construction.