Dos Santos International

What Dos Santos International does

Dos Santos International (DSI) is a privately held, founder-led engineering firm that designs and supplies custom bulk material handling conveyor systems, with a specialization in Sandwich Belt high angle conveyors capable of elevating materials at inclines up to 90° (vertical) and lifts exceeding 300 meters. The company was founded in 1997 by Joseph A. Dos Santos, the inventor of the underlying technology, which was originally developed between 1979 and 1982 under U.S. Bureau of Mines funded research and entered commercial service in 1984. DSI's product portfolio centers on the flagship Sandwich Belt system and its variants — the Snake Sandwich (radial pressure via engineered serpentine belt path), the GPS or Gently Pressed Sandwich (fully equalized pressing rolls for tunneling applications), and the patented DSI Adder Snake (US Patent 9,815,627) — alongside conventional and overland conveyors, shiploading/unloading systems, and the proprietary ExConTec engineering program. Supporting product lines include rigging/hoisting solutions and the DSI Sandwich Shop, which provides ISO 9856-tested replacement belts, Fully Equalized Idlers, Wet Brush components, and Semi-/Fully-Automatic Take-Up systems.

The firm serves enterprise customers across mining (DeBeers, Goldcorp, Continental Gold), cement (Lafarge Holcim, Brennand Cimentos, Ash Grove), ports and harbors (Flinders Ports/Toll, Changi Airport), tunneling (Grand Paris Express via H+E Logistik), grain handling (LMO Cooper Consolidated floating terminal on the Mississippi), and water/wastewater treatment (Blue Plains). More than 200 commercial installations have been delivered worldwide since 1984, with recent milestones including the AA Quarry installation achieving the highest vertical lift to date at 800+ ft (244m).

DSI operates an enterprise field sales motion with quote-based, multi-year contract pricing for custom capital equipment, supplemented by professional engineering and consulting services, an aftermarket parts business (DSI Sandwich Shop), and a global representation network (e.g., Cortex Resources in Australia, Zanella in Brazil, M3 Engineering in North America). The company is family-founded, with founder Joseph A. Dos Santos as President and Marc Dos Santos as Vice President and named inventor of the Adder Snake technology. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, and revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is headquartered at 531 Roselane St, Suite 810, Marietta, Georgia, USA, and serves markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Oceania.

Name

Dos Santos International

Legal name

Dos Santos International

Website

https://dossantosintl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dos Santos International is a privately held, founder-led engineering firm that designs, engineers, and supplies custom Sandwich Belt high angle conveyors and related bulk material handling systems for enterprise customers in mining, cement, port, tunneling, and grain industries globally, with more than 200 installations since 1984.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bulk Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing (333922)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors) (AFAAAJAJ)

Keywords

• High angle conveyors
• Sandwich belt conveyors
• Bulk material handling
• Industrial conveyor systems
• Shiploading equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Winfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Conveyor Equipment Sales: Design, engineering and supply of custom Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyors and conventional conveyor systems. Revenue from capital equipment including Sandwich Belt conveyors, conventional conveyors, and shiploading/unloading systems.
2. Engineering & Consulting Services: Extensive experience throughout materials handling field including general structural and mechanical consulting, design and high tech analysis of conventional conveyors, studies for new systems, and upgrade of existing systems.
3. Parts & Support (DSI Sandwich Shop): Provides sandwich belt high angle conveyor operators a single source for high quality, reliable replacement components including belts, idlers, pulleys, drives, and specialized parts. One-stop source for right equipment at right price.
4. Field Advisory Services: Expert consulting services including design analysis, system upgrades, and remote tele-doc consulting for troubleshooting and optimization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dos Santos International (DSI) designs, engineers, and supplies custom high angle conveyor systems and bulk material handling solutions. Its flagship product is the proprietary Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyor, which sandwiches bulk materials between two belts to elevate them at angles up to 90° (vertical). The company also provides conventional and overland conveyors, shiploading/unloading systems, rigging and hoisting solutions, replacement parts, and engineering consulting services.

Product overview

Dos Santos International offers a portfolio of bulk material handling solutions centered on its proprietary Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyor technology. The core product line includes the DSI Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyor with multiple variants: the Snake Sandwich (using radial pressure from curved profiles), GPS (Gently Pressed Sandwich using equalized pressing rolls), and the patented Adder Snake (for eliminating conventional-to-Sandwich transfers). Supporting products include Conventional & Overland Conveyors, Shiploading/Unloading systems, and Rigging/Hoisting solutions. Services encompass the DSI Sandwich Shop for replacement parts (belting, Wet Brush, idlers, take-ups), and Consulting & Engineering Services. The proprietary ExConTec (Expanded Conveyor Technology) program underpins the engineering approach, rationalizing sandwich belt technology within conventional conveyor design rules to ensure reliability and low maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DSI Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyors: The flagship system using two standard smooth-surfaced conveyor belts face-to-face to hug and elevate materials at angles up to 90° (vertical).
• DSI GPS (Gently Pressed Sandwich)
• DSI Adder Snake
• DSI Wet Brush
• ExConTec (Expanded Conveyor Technology)

Products and services

• DSI Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyors Flagship conveyor system that sandwiches bulk materials between two smooth-surfaced conveyor belts face-to-face with gentle hugging pressure to elevate materials continuously at steep angles up to 90° (vertical). Designed for mining, cement, port, and industrial bulk material handling applications with capacities exceeding 10,000 t/h and lifts of 300m.
• DSI Snake Sandwich High Angle Conveyor High angle conveyor variant using all conventional conveyor components with smooth surfaced belts continuously cleaned by scraping. Hugging pressure is entirely imparted by radial pressure induced by belt tension on an engineered curving profile, suitable for applications such as diamond mines, cement plants, and ship loading.
• DSI GPS (Gently Pressed Sandwich) High Angle Conveyor GPS option applies hugging pressure onto the top belt by closely spaced, fully equalized pressing rolls along the straight high angle portion of the profile. Modular structure that can be extended or contracted for different lift requirements, designed for versatility across multiple project deployments.
• DSI Adder Snake Patented conveyor technology (US Patent 9,815,627) that swallows a narrower conventional belt with its material into two wider sandwich belts, allowing material to enter the sandwich belts with minimal disturbance and eliminating the need for conventional-to-Sandwich transfers. Extends sandwich belt technology to applications where a large footprint is available but a high angle is needed in just a small portion of the conveyor path.
• Conventional and Overland Conveyors Conventional conveyor systems of simple or complex profile to high capacities and high lifts, including downhill regenerative overland conveyor systems with horizontal curves. Used in mining, cement, and power applications for long-distance material transport.
• Shiploading and Unloading Bulk materials handling solutions for ship loading and unloading projects on land or at sea, including mobile Snake ship loaders and transfer terminal systems for ports and harbors.
• Rigging, Reeving, and Hoisting Solutions for rigging, reeving, and hoisting applications in materials handling, leveraging DSI's engineering expertise in wire rope and tensioning systems.
• Consulting and Engineering Services Extensive consulting and engineering services throughout the materials handling field, including general structural and mechanical consulting, design and high tech analysis of conventional conveyors, studies for new systems, and upgrade of existing systems.
• DSI Sandwich Shop (Parts and Support) One-stop source for highest quality replacement parts chosen specifically for sandwich belt conveyor systems, including Snake Flex Belting, Wet Brush Applications, Fully Equalized Idlers, Semi-Automatic Take-Ups, and Fully Automatic Take-Up Systems. Field advisory services including remote tele-doc consulting for troubleshooting and optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• At 76m lift height, vertical DSI Sandwich Belt has investment index of 0.51 vs 0.82+ for conventional 15° conveyor (36-60% savings)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• H+E LogistikcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Dos Santos International in cooperation with H+E Logistik provided two DSI GPS (Gently Pressed Sandwich) high angle conveyors to the Paris Metro Expansion tunneling project. The Grand Paris Express is the largest transport project in Europe, a $25 billion expansion of the century-old Paris Metro.
• Cortex ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2006Partnership between Dos Santos International and Cortex Resources of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia commissioned Australia's first DSI Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor ship loader. Cortex Resources is a leader in materials handling market of Australia and Southeast Asia with special strength in dock and yard heavy mobile equipment sector. Partnership produced revolutionary DSI Sandwich belt high angle conveyor ship loader successfully tendered to Flinders Ports/Toll Group for operation at Port of Adelaide. Unit completed November 2006.
• DeBeers CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeBeers Canada incorporated DSI Snake Sandwich Belt Conveyors into Snap Lake Diamond Mine (Northwest Territories) and Victor Project (Northern Ontario) processing facilities. Snap Lake was Canada's first completely underground diamond mine. DeBeers Victor is Ontario's first diamond mine.
• M3 EngineeringstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerM3 Engineering of Tucson, Arizona approached DSI for alternative conveying route at Los Filos gold mine after previous system failure. DSI was awarded overland conveyor contract May 19, 2009. M3 continues to be a key engineering partner for DSI conveyor projects.
• Goldcorp (Los Filos)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoldcorp's Los Filos gold mine in central Guerrero State, Mexico uses DSI overland conveyor system. DSI expertise enabled reduction of original 10-flight design to 7 flights using horizontal curves, and designed enroute agglomeration conveyor saving cost of separate agglomerating drum. System includes regenerative downhill conveyors feeding power back into mine grid.
• Continental GoldstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental Gold's Buriticá project in Antioquia, Colombia uses two DSI Sandwich belt high angle conveyors for gold ore processing. DSI commissioned two Sandwich conveyors for transfer operations at one of Colombia's largest gold mining projects.
• Lafarge HolcimstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSI supplied Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor for Lafarge Holcim at Sparrow's Point Slag Cement facility, delivering both slag and supplementary cementitious materials.
• SNF CoagulantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSI supplied Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor to SNF Coagulants for plant expansion in St Avold, France. Conveyor elevates 30 t/h of magnetite at 90° angle for coagulant production.
• Changi Airport GroupstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSI was awarded contract to provide DSI Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor for Changi International Airport Terminal Expansion in Singapore. Conveyor elevates 800 tph for tunneling project.
• Flinders Ports/Toll Group Joint VenturecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlinders Ports/Toll Group joint venture operates Australia's first DSI Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor ship loader at Port of Adelaide. Mobile Snake ship loader elevates high value ores from trucks to ship for export.
• Zanella Engenharia e Indústria de MáquinasstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSI commissioned Sandwich high angle conveyor with Zanella Engenharia e Indústria de Máquinas of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil for cement factory in Pitimbu. Factory laid out to accommodate protected areas and reduce environmental impact.
• Power TechniquesstrategicTechnology or IntegrationPower Techniques of Alma, Illinois provided control flow chute systems (Weba Chutes) for DSI conveyor installations at transfer terminals, contracted separately for high-tech material flow control.
• M & J EngineeringstrategicTechnology or IntegrationM & J Engineering of Germiston, South Africa provided control flow chute systems (Weba Chutes) for DSI conveyor installations, contracted separately for high-tech material flow control at transfer terminals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions: German industrial conglomerate's plant engineering arm providing cement, mining, and bulk material handling systems including conveyors, stackers, and reclaimers. Comparable in bulk material handling scope but as a much larger full-line EPC player rather than a niche technology firm.
• FLSmidth: Denmark-listed supplier of equipment and services to the global cement and mining industries, offering complete material handling systems as part of broader plant EPC packages. Overlaps with DSI in cement and mining conveying but operates as a full-line incumbent rather than a niche specialist.
• Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Sweden-listed business unit of Sandvik providing mining and rock excavation equipment including crushing and loading systems. Serves overlapping mining customers as DSI but with a much broader portfolio spanning drilling, loading, and rock tools rather than high-angle conveying specialization.

Direct peers

• Superior Industries: US-based manufacturer of conveying and material handling equipment including conveyors, crushing, and screening equipment for aggregates, mining, and ports. Comparable mid-tier niche manufacturer serving overlapping North American customers with conveyor and material handling solutions.
• Continental ContiTech: Industrial rubber and conveyor belt manufacturer supplying heavy-duty steel-cord and textile belts used in mining, cement, and port conveyors globally. Comparable to DSI's Snake Flex belting business and serves the same conveyor-equipment installed base as a component supplier.
• H+E Logistik: German bulk material handling specialist and DSI's actual partner on the Grand Paris Express tunneling project, providing conveyor and loading systems for mining, ports, and tunneling. Closest direct peer in terms of project type, customer overlap, and engineering specialty.
• Fenner Dunlop: Global manufacturer of conveyor belts and material handling solutions for mining, ports, and industrial applications. Directly comparable to DSI as a conveyor-belt specialist serving the same end markets, though focused on belt manufacturing rather than complete high-angle conveyor systems.
• Beumer Group: German family-owned supplier of intralogistics systems including pipe conveyors, troughed belt conveyors, and bulk material handling solutions for mining, cement, and ports. Directly comparable to DSI in serving bulk material customers with engineered conveyor systems, particularly for steep-angle and high-capacity applications.
• Metso: Finland-listed global leader in mining and aggregates technology, offering a full range of crushing, screening, and conveying equipment including in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) systems. Directly competes with DSI in the mining high-angle conveyor and IPCC segments and serves the same blue-chip mining customer base.
• Tenova: Italy-headquartered supplier of equipment, technologies, and services for mining, metals, and bulk material handling industries. Overlaps with DSI in bulk material conveying and shiploading/unloading systems for mining and metals customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dos Santos International