Abstract: An automated sheet metal blanking apparatus includes a loading table having a conveyor horizontally moveable between a loading position wherein sheet metal pieces are loaded onto the conveyor and a destacking station wherein the conveyor transfers the sheet metal pieces onto the destacking station for subsequent processing. A qualifier receives and positions destacked sheet metal pieces. A steel rule die blanking press receives prepositioned sheet metal pieces from the qualifier. The lower die includes mechanical positioners for final positioning the sheet metal pieces. A feed manipulator including an elongated arm mounts a plurality of controllable vacuum pickups operable for transferring sheet metal pieces between the destacking station, qualifier and blanking press. The feed manipulator is moveable over the destacking station and qualifier and moveable in between the upper and lower dies.