A brief history of conveyor belts Primitive conveyors have been around since 1790. The invention of vulcanized rubber in 1844 was a significant milestone. In 1892, Thomas Robins began a series of inventions that led to the development of a conveyor system used for carrying coal, ores and other products. In 1901, Sandvik invented all-steel conveyor belts. Shortly after this, in 1905, Irish-born mining engineer Richard Sutcliffe invented the first rubber conveyor belts for use in underground coalmines. They revolutionized … Continue reading BACK TO THE FUTURE. HOW COMBINING THE BEST OF THE PAST WITH THE VERY LATEST TECHNOLOGY HAS CREATED THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE