A low-profile, high-capacity elevator conveying system that is operably able to reduce spatial requirements for the elevating system to not less than about one third (⅓) of the overall lift height, and preferably having a height to base ratio in a range of between 4:1 to 8:1. The present invention also relates to a high capacity elevator conveying system which can elevate both fine and coarse materials through a range of between 300 μm and 300 mm, while limiting belt side travel to 150 mm maximum, or +/−75 mm as required to prevent edge damage to the conveyor belts.