Grasshopper Conveyor

Grasshopper conveyors — also called transfer or jump conveyors — are mobile belt systems built for long-distance bulk transfer. In mining and aggregates they are the most cost-effective, lowest-impact way to move material, replacing truck haulage between a crusher, screen or stacker and the stockpile. SANTO builds them wheel-mounted for versatile, multi-point deployment.

Key Features and Engineering Highlights

Technical Specifications

Specifications are indicative for the standard configuration. Belt width, boom length, drive power, chassis type and discharge height are engineered to your material and duty cycle — send us your requirements for a tailored data sheet.

Transfer principle

A grasshopper conveyor receives material at one end — typically from a crusher, screen or stacker — and carries it horizontally to a distant discharge point. Shallow working angles of 3-7° keep the belt loaded and efficient over long spans.

Because it bridges gaps that a single stacker cannot, operators lay several units end to end to move material hundreds of metres without truck traffic.

Lengths and drive options

Three belt families (800, 1000, 1200 mm) each come in 20, 30 and 35 m lengths, rated 300, 500 and 700 t/h. Discharge height is adjustable from 3.3 m to 5.1 m so the head docks into hoppers, screen houses or ship loaders.

The integrated motor-reducer at the head simplifies the drivetrain; wheel mounting means a tractor or loader can reposition the unit quickly between duties.

Where it is used

SANTO grasshopper conveyors work in quarries, mines, logistics, ports, inland terminals and power plants. They handle aggregate, gravel, sand, coal, copper ore, bauxite, topsoil, biomass, and agricultural products like wheat, corn, soybeans, rapeseed, palm kernel shells, wood chips and sawdust.

They are the natural link between a primary plant and a distant tracked stockpiler or a mobile ship loader at a quay.

• Quarry and mine haul roads
• Port and inland terminals
• Power plant coal lines
• Grain and biomass handling

Selection and layout tips

Hold the working angle at 3-7° to keep the belt tension and loading correct over distance; steeper pitches risk spillage and mistracking. Choose belt width for the tonnage, not the peak.

Plan the line so each grasshopper’s discharge meets the next unit’s feed, avoiding gaps. Wheel mounting lets you fine-tune positions during commissioning without civil works.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lengths are available?

20 m, 30 m and 35 m as standard, with custom lengths up to 45 m available on request.

What is the capacity?

300 t/h at 800 mm belt, 500 t/h at 1000 mm, and 700 t/h at 1200 mm belt.

Why use it instead of trucks?

It is cheaper to run and maintain than truck haulage, with lower energy use, less dust and fewer on-site safety risks.

What materials can it carry?

Aggregate, sand, coal, ores, biomass, grain, soybeans, palm kernel shells, wood chips, sawdust and similar bulk solids.