What is Conveyor Dynamics, Inc. (CDI) and what does the company do?

Conveyor Dynamics, Inc. (CDI) is a conveyor engineering company founded in 1981 that pioneered the use of dynamic analysis to design modern long-distance (over 2 km) and high-capacity (over 10,000 tph) overland and underground conveyor belts. The company combines engineering services, proprietary design software, control systems, instruments, and tools, and works with EPC and OEM partners worldwide to supply conveyor systems. It is relevant to you if you need conveyor design, failure diagnosis, or belt design software rather than off-the-shelf hardware alone.

Core engineering services

CDI's service list covers the full lifecycle of a conveyor system, from feasibility through troubleshooting:

• Trough conveyor design and pipe conveyor design
• Chute design
• Control system development
• Feasibility studies
• Forensic analysis — diagnosing and fixing failed conveyor belts
• Belt splice and cover failure investigation
• Subassembly and product development
• Universal testing machine and conveyor idler testing

The company describes its engineers as understanding "the physics of conveyor belts, from the complete system, to the individual proportional brake valve," which frames the forensic and design work as physics-driven rather than template-based.

Software, instruments, and tools

Beyond services, CDI creates and sells design software and hardware products:

These are aimed at both its own engineering work and at manufacturers and operators who want the same design and monitoring capability.

Track record and notable projects

CDI cites three world records in the conveyor industry, more than 80 completed projects, and over 43 years in business. Named projects on its site include:

• Yubei — 15 km pipe conveyor
• Impumelelo — 27 km overland conveyor
• Los Pelambres — 25 MW downhill conveyor

These examples illustrate the scale the company designs for: long overland routes, pipe conveyors, and high-power downhill systems where braking and dynamic behavior matter.

How CDI approaches design

For overland systems, CDI says it develops optimized designs using next-generation tools including BeltStat, BeltFlex, PStress, DEM, and ANSYS FEA. Its stated expertise areas include:

• Long-length belts, curves, and bi-directional transport
• Standard, tubular, cable, and air-suspended belts
• Structural optimization of the belt path
• Pulley and roller analysis
• Tensioning system design and component specifications
• Control and start-up philosophy

When CDI is the right fit

Consider CDI if your problem involves long or high-capacity belts, pipe conveyors, curve or downhill geometry, control and start-up design, or a conveyor that has failed and needs forensic diagnosis. If you need standard short conveyors or general contracting without dynamic analysis, the specialized scope described here may exceed your needs. For current pricing, licensing terms, or software access conditions, check the company's site directly, since the available material does not state them.