Superior Industries Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing and handling systems, highlights nearly three decades of the TeleStacker conveyor, showcasing how ongoing engineering advancements help producers build better stockpiles, handle material more efficiently and operate more profitably, according to the company.

Since introducing its radial telescopic conveyor in 1997, Superior has manufactured more than 2,000 units worldwide. Producers now rely on the technology not only to reduce material segregation, but also to improve plant and terminal efficiency, reduce material rehandling, maximize inventory and lower operating costs.

The manufacturer's first TeleStacker conveyor was decommissioned following the 2025 production season after nearly three decades of operation at a Midwest sand and gravel facility — a testament to the equipment's design and durability, according to the company.

"It was originally designed to solve stockpile segregation," said Scott Gulan, director of business development of Superior. "That still matters today, but over the years, owners and operators have discovered that the variable discharge length creates benefits that go well beyond desegregation."

From Stockpile Quality to Operating Efficiency

As material handlers face rising operating costs, labor shortages and tighter product specifications, the role of radial telescopic conveying has expanded beyond improving stockpile quality.

The TeleStacker Conveyor's telescoping action distributes material throughout the stockpile as it is built instead of relying on loaders to continually reposition or reshape piles. That not only improves product consistency, but also reduces material rehandling, increases storage capacity within the same footprint and lowers wear on mobile equipment.

The result is a more efficient stockpiling process that helps producers maximize existing site capacity while reducing operating costs.

Nearly Three Decades of Refinement

Over thousands of field applications, Superior engineers have continued refining the TeleStacker conveyor to address customer feedback and changing operating conditions.

"We have dealt with a wide bandwidth of unique situations over the years," said Tom Koehl, a conveyor application engineer of Superior. "That experience has shaped hundreds of engineering improvements and helps us better match each conveyor to the customer's application."

The outcome is a suite of seven exclusive advancements across the TeleStacker product line, including:

• FB Undercarriage: Supports longer conveyors and larger stockpiles by improving structural stability and reducing flex throughout the machine.
• FD Auto Level technology: Automatically levels the conveyor during radial travel to maintain proper operating position and help prevent belt mistracking.
• XTP swing axle: Simplifies the transition between transport and operation through faster power-travel engagement, fewer setup components and improved wheel alignment.
• 210-Ft. road-portable design: Uses a support structure that allows producers to build larger stockpiles while maintaining the stability and portability required for highway transport.

"Each innovation may seem small individually, but together they make the machine easier to operate and more productive in the field," Koehl said.

Built for Long-Term Performance

As producers increasingly evaluate equipment based on lifecycle value rather than purchase price alone, stockpiling equipment continues to play an important role in overall operating efficiency. Reducing material rehandling, lowering loader hours, improving stockpile consistency and maximizing inventory capacity all contribute to lower operating costs over the life of an operation.

"The economics of stockpiling haven't really changed," said Gulan. "Every improvement that helps a producer move material more efficiently, maintain product quality or reduce operating costs contributes directly to the profitability of the operation."

Superior offers TeleStacker conveyors in standard lengths from 110- 210 ft., with custom configurations and lengths available for specialized applications across aggregates, mining and other bulk material handling industries.

For more information, visit superior-ind.com.

This story also appears on Aggregate Equipment Guide.