07/09/2026 • SEW-EURODRIVE is helping power one of the most ambitious bulk material handling projects in North America through its contribution to the Dune Express conveyor system, a record-setting 42-mile single-flight conveyor designed to transport frac sand across the Permian Basin.
Developed by Atlas Energy Solutions in collaboration with system integrator Voith Turbo, the Dune Express system is designed to move up to 13 million tons of frac sand annually from Kermit, Texas, to the New Mexico border. The infrastructure-scale conveyor is expected to significantly reduce truck traffic, roadway congestion, fuel consumption, and associated emissions while improving logistics efficiency for well-site operations.
To support the extreme demands of the application, SEW-EURODRIVE supplied 36 custom X.e Series helical-bevel heavy industrial gear units engineered specifically for continuous-duty performance in rugged desert conditions.
The project required advanced thermal validation, high torque capacity, precision mechanical integration, and long-term reliability across one of the most demanding conveyor applications ever constructed. Continue Reading