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Blumberg explains. “The visible problem is not always the primary problem. Engineered intervention starts with understanding the system.” Only once the root cause has been identi- fied does product specification follow. He says engineering judgement and an understanding of the application must always come before selecting a corrective intervention. Tru-Trac then works with operations to ensure the correct solution is implemented properly on site before continuing with ongoing technical support, inspections and performance monitoring aimed at sustaining long-term conveyor reliability. This shift from reactive maintenance to en- gineered conveyor performance is expected to be a major focus of Tru-Trac’s discussions with customers at Electra Mining Africa 2026. The company believes the industry is increasingly The right solution starts with the right diagnosis, making accurate conveyor assessment and condition monitoring critical to identifying root causes and delivering sustainable performance improvements.
Conveyor performance is a production priority, not just a maintenance concern, making effective tracking, monitoring and optimisation essential to maximising throughput, reliability and operational efficiency.
like idler failure and pulley lagging damage, eventually resulting in major breakdowns.” He emphasises that the operational ef- ficiency of all conveyor components is inter - connected and that one problem inevitably leads to another. 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, en- vironmental risks and unplanned shutdowns. “An SLA can change this dynamic fun- damentally,” he explains. “By introducing scheduled inspections, continuous monitoring and structured maintenance interventions, operators can have real-time ‘eyes on the plant’ before problems escalate.” He estimates, for instance, that up to 60% of conveyor belt performance issues could be resolved by identifying belt misalignment early and addressing it effectively. This shift in maintenance strategy also reflects a chang - ing 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 recognising that conveyor failures cannot be solved sustainably by repeatedly replac- ing individual components alone. “Reactive maintenance fixes what breaks,” Blumberg says. “Engineered performance focuses on diagnosing, specifying, implementing and supporting the correct long-term solution.” At Electra Mining Africa 2026, Tru-Trac aims to engage directly with operations around the broader production impact of conveyor instability and the importance of system-level diagnosis. He says the company wants customers to move beyond viewing conveyor problems as routine maintenance frustrations and instead recognise them as operational performance issues that directly affect production targets,
delivered as standalone products, the bur- den 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 360-degree 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 priori - ties of the operation. David Pereira, Head of Sales at Tru-Trac, adds: “The logic behind using SLAs is to move away from ad hoc decisions and reactive main- tenance. Putting a service level agreement in place gives operators a data-driven basis for decision-making and a clear action plan.” 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,” Pereira concludes. operating costs and reliability. By focusing on root-cause analysis, engi- neered intervention and long-term perfor- mance support, Tru-Trac believes operations can significantly reduce repeat failures while improving uptime, belt life and overall con- veyor reliability. As conveyor systems continue to play a critical role in modern mining and bulk mate- rials handling operations, Blumberg says the industry must move beyond reactive thinking and towards a more integrated approach to conveyor performance management. “The goal is not simply to sell a component,” Blumberg concludes. “The goal is to improve conveyor performance.” https://tru-trac.com/
SLAs and the shift to performance optimisation for conveyors A shift towards structured service-level agreements (SLAs) is redefining how conveyor systems are managed, moving operators away from a cycle of breakdowns and repairs towards proactive performance optimisation. According to conveyor systems specialist Tru- Trac, this trend recognises the central role conveyors play in high-tonnage mining and bulk materials handling operations, where conveyor downtime poses a direct threat to production, safety and profitability.
“Misalignment, belt wander, spill- age and premature component wear can quickly escalate into unscheduled stop- pages and costly repairs,” says AJ van Eyssen, Business Development Manager at Tru-Trac. “Production losses alone can run into millions, making conveyor reliability a critical strategic priority for these operations.” From a field service perspective, Van Eyssen notes that catastrophic events causing serious downtime rarely occur in isolation. Instead, they are usually the cumulative result of neglected fundamentals. “From my experience, the root causes are usually found in a lack of conveyor mainte- nance,” he says. “This leads to issues such as conveyor belt misalignment and product car- ry-back, which in turn create knock-on effects
July-August 2026 • MechChem Africa ¦ 43
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