South African conveyor belt systems specialist Tru-Trac asserts that an increasing move away from reactive conveyor maintenance towards structured service level agreements (SLAs) on mining operations is a reflection of the central role that conveyors play in high tonnage mining and bulk materials handling operations.

“Misalignment, belt wander, spillage and premature component wear can quickly escalate into unscheduled stoppages and costly repairs,” says Tru-Trac business development manager AJ van Eyssen. “The root causes are usually found in a lack of conveyor maintenance,” he says. “This leads to issues such as conveyor belt misalignment and product carry-back, which in turn create knock-on effects like idler failure and pulley lagging damage, eventually resulting in major breakdowns.”

He emphasises that the operational efficiency of all conveyor components is interconnected and inadequate maintenance allows relatively minor issues to accelerate wear across the system, from idlers to tail pulleys and chute structures. Left unchecked, this cascade can result in spillage events, environmental risks and unplanned shutdowns.

“By introducing SLAs with scheduled inspections, continuous monitoring and structured maintenance interventions, operators can have real-time ‘eyes on the plant’ before problems escalate.”

This shift in maintenance strategy also reflects a changing relationship between conveyor specialists and end-users. While traditional procurement models in the conveyor space have typically focused on component supply, many mines today are looking for partners that offer holistic solutions.

“Where trackers, idlers or scrapers are delivered as standalone products, the burden of system integration, maintenance and performance optimisation remains with the operator,” Van Eyssen explains. “Tru-Trac’s SLA model represents a marked departure as we are not there just to sell products. We are there to resolve problems and look at the broader picture to provide a 360o solution.”

The company’s interventions begin with a detailed on-site assessment, where specialists evaluate conveyor system performance and identify opportunities for improvement. From there, a tailored SLA is developed, aligned to the specific conditions, constraints and priorities of the operation.

David Pereira, head of sales at Tru-Trac, highlights the strategic rationale behind this approach.

“The logic behind using SLAs is to move away from ad hoc decisions and reactive maintenance,” Pereira says. “Putting an SLA in place gives operators a data-driven basis for decision-making and a clear plan for action.”

Instead of fragmented interventions, he explains, the SLA model introduces structured service delivery, predictable costing and a framework for continuous improvement. One of the most tangible benefits is its ability to drive optimisation efforts.

“Conveyor belts are high-value assets, and even minor inefficiencies can undermine an operation’s productivity and profitability,” he says.

A mining customer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, has seen plant availability rise dramatically. Tru-Trac began the relationship with a basic SLA, which later evolved into a full maintenance contract. Based on the client’s own records, plant availability improved from 65% to over 90%.

“The result of a tailored SLA is not simply fewer stoppages but a conveyor system that operates more efficiently, more safely and at a lower lifecycle cost,” Van Eyssen concludes. “This allows mines and processing plants to focus on what matters most: sustained and efficient production.”