Future-Proofing Bulk Logistics: 22nd Belt Conveyor Conference 2026
Join industry leaders in Essen this May to explore the next generation of conveyor technology. From AI-driven maintenance to sustainable quarrying, we bridge the gap between technical safety and economic efficiency.
If bulk materials are to be conveyed reliably and energy-efficiently, belt conveyors are indispensable in many plants. This is exactly where our conference comes in. In five selected program highlights, the conference addresses key future topics related to the operation, safety, and design of belt conveyor systems:
Enhancing Safety: Biomass Fire Prevention and Monitoring
Yevhen Redka (Artur Küpper GmbH & Co. KG) explains why conveying biomass is particularly challenging due to fluctuating moisture levels and a heterogeneous material structure, and how this can increase the risk of fire—placing special emphasis on idler rollers as a potential heat source and on thermal monitoring systems (IR/sensor technology) that can detect critical temperature rises at an early stage.
Smart Maintenance: Vibration-Based Diagnostic Systems
Jan Wilke (REMA TIP TOP AG) focuses on maintenance and presents a vibration-based diagnostic system for idler roller wear detection, which identifies abnormalities significantly earlier than conventional inspection methods—either as a mobile solution for flexible inspections or as a permanently installed system for continuous condition monitoring.
Global Standards and the Future of Competitiveness
Volker Krings (German Rubber Industry Association, Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie e. V.) provides a strategic market perspective: he outlines the growing international importance of standardization and, using ISO 15236 as an example, illustrates how crucial active participation in standards work is for technical requirements, German interests, and the international competitiveness of the industry.
Sustainable Economics: Belt Conveyors vs. Dump Trucks
Steffen Grewe (VHV Anlagenbau GmbH) shows how bulk material transport in quarries can be rethought from an economic perspective: advanced steep-angle conveying technology can provide access to hard-to-reach crusher locations, positioning belt conveyors as a sustainable alternative to cost-intensive dump-truck operations—supported by relevant arguments regarding TCO, CO₂, and operational organization.
Digital Engineering: Open-Source Design for Industry 4.0
Finally, Marco Dorigo (Voith Group) turns to digital design: with “Eytelwein” he presents an open-source software library (including Python) for the design of belt conveyors, enabling transparent, reproducible calculations and intended to be further developed as a shared platform for quality assurance and collaboration between industry, research, and education.
Who should attend?
According to the organizer, the conference is aimed at engineers, technicians, operations and maintenance managers, planners/design engineers, manufacturers/suppliers, as well as user industries such as mining, cement, steel, power generation, recycling, and bulk logistics (ports/rail).
Date & registration
22nd Conference “Belt Conveyors and Their Elements”
Essen (Haus der Technik) | May 19–20, 2026
