The agreement expands the partnership from conveyor belt supply and on-site installation to long-term intelligent operations support and lifecycle services. BOTON also announced the global launch of SERV, its new lifecycle service offering for mining conveyor systems.
On September 14, BOTON and SimFer formally signed a long-term intelligent operations support services agreement for the Simandou iron ore project in Wuxi, China.
Lizzy Wat, Rio Tinto’s General Manager for China and Simandou Procurement, attended the signing ceremony together with other senior procurement representatives. BOTON Chairman Bao Zhifang was joined by senior executives from the company’s global marketing organization and Guinea operations.
The agreement represents a significant expansion of the partnership between BOTON and SimFer—from conveyor belt supply and on-site installation to long-term operational support and lifecycle services for conveyor systems.
It also marks another step in BOTON’s development from a conveyor belt manufacturer into a global lifecycle service partner for large-scale mining operations.
From Conveyor Belt Supply to Lifecycle Conveyor System Services
BOTON’s cooperation with SimFer began in 2024. Over the past two years, the two sides have steadily expanded their collaboration around conveyor belt supply, on-site installation and operational services for the Simandou project.
In late 2025, BOTON became involved in SimFer’s long-term operational support services project. Following multiple rounds of technical and commercial discussions and site visits, the two parties reached the agreement formally signed in September 2026.
As one of the world’s major iron ore developments, Simandou places demanding requirements on the safety, reliability and long-term performance of its conveying systems.
Under the new agreement, BOTON will provide long-term intelligent maintenance and operational support for conveyor systems at the project, combining local service capabilities in Guinea with BOTON’s global technical and engineering resources.
For BOTON, the project also provides an important platform for further developing its lifecycle conveyor services for large-scale mining operations.
BOTON Launches SERV: Safety, Efficiency, Reliability and Value Creation
At the signing ceremony, BOTON officially launched SERV globally as a core lifecycle service offering.
SERV stands for:
S — Safety
BOTON uses AI-powered visual recognition, intelligent monitoring and early-warning technologies to support a more proactive approach to conveyor system safety.
By integrating digital technologies with on-site operations, the objective is to identify potential risks earlier and provide maintenance teams with better information for decision-making.
E — Efficiency
SERV applies data-driven operational optimization and preventive maintenance to help reduce unplanned downtime and improve the efficiency of conveyor system maintenance and operation.
These capabilities complement BOTON’s existing field service and technical support capabilities for mining and other heavy-duty bulk material handling applications.
R — Reliability
Through digital twins, condition assessment and lifecycle data, BOTON aims to manage conveyor system reliability across different stages of operation.
Rather than treating maintenance as an isolated activity, SERV connects inspection, condition assessment, maintenance and operational data to support more systematic lifecycle management.
V — Value Creation
Operational and maintenance data accumulated over time can provide a stronger basis for continuous improvement.
By converting industrial data into actionable insights, BOTON aims to help customers improve asset performance while continuously refining its own service models.
Together, Safety, Efficiency, Reliability and Value Creation define the core principles behind SERV and BOTON’s approach to long-term conveyor system services.
Speaking at the ceremony, BOTON Chairman Bao Zhifang said:
“SERV is an important step in turning BOTON’s service capabilities into a clearly defined and scalable offering. Through SERV, we aim to transform the global project experience, technical capabilities and service standards we have built over many years into a systematic service model that can be replicated and deployed across markets, creating lasting value for major mining customers worldwide.”
Building a Scalable Global Service Model
For the delivery of the Simandou agreement, BOTON has identified four priorities: benchmarking against world-class standards, combining global coordination with strong local delivery, applying intelligent technologies to support safety and efficiency, and using data to create value throughout the asset lifecycle.
BOTON’s current lifecycle service capabilities include:
condition assessment;
preventive maintenance;
conveyor belt splicing and repair;
on-site technical support;
operational optimization;
intelligent monitoring;
automated inspection.
These capabilities are already being applied across mining, port, steel and power projects in Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia and China.
They also build on BOTON’s broader experience in mining conveyor solutions, combining conveyor belt technology with engineering, field services and intelligent monitoring.
The long-term objective is not simply to respond when maintenance is required, but to build a more connected service system around equipment condition, operational performance and lifecycle management.
BOTON Establishes Guinea Community Development Fund
Alongside the signing, BOTON announced the establishment of the BOTON Guinea Community Development Fund, with an initial planned contribution of RMB 1 million.
The fund will focus on four areas in Guinea:
community education;
public health and sanitation;
youth skills development; and
women’s empowerment.
The initiative forms part of BOTON’s broader commitment to sustainable development and to building long-term relationships with the communities where it operates.
Bao Zhifang said:
“Through the Community Development Fund, we hope to build a long-term, stable and sustainable connection with local communities in Guinea, so that every effort BOTON makes at Simandou can translate into tangible benefits for the people who live there.”
The initiative reflects a broader principle behind BOTON’s international operations: major industrial projects should create value not only through operational performance, but also through local capability building and long-term community development.
Supporting the Long-Term Development of Simandou
At Simandou, BOTON is developing an integrated service model combining local delivery, global technical resources, preventive maintenance, intelligent monitoring and on-site technical support.
The agreement represents a further step in BOTON’s international service strategy—from supplying products to supporting customers throughout the operating lifecycle of their conveyor systems.
Going forward, BOTON will work closely with the SimFer team to further integrate preventive maintenance, intelligent monitoring and technical services into project operations.
At the same time, BOTON will continue to strengthen its local capabilities in Guinea through employee training, service development and community engagement, supporting the long-term and sustainable development of the Simandou project.
For major mining operations worldwide, BOTON will continue to expand its role from conveyor belt supply toward integrated, data-enabled and lifecycle-focused conveyor system services.
March 7, 2025 – Executives from SimFer, a joint venture between the government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and and the Chinalco-led CIOH consortium, visited Boton. The delegation was composed by Managing Director of SimFer Chris Aitchison, General Manager of Mine Ron Gordon, Senior Mining Engineer Bryan Phoon, along with Rio Tinto’s Head of China Sourcing, Lizzy Wat, and Director of Mining Materials Sourcing, Max Shen. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme of “Responsible Supply to Innovation and Productivity,” further exploring cooperation prospects in the fields of smart mining, technological innovation, operational services, and community development.
Responsible Product Supply: From Single Products to Technological Collaboration
Since 2018, when Boton provided Rio Tinto’s Dampier Port with its first trial conveyor belt, the cooperation between the two companies has continued to deepen. To date, Boton has cumulatively supplied Rio Tinto with conveyor belts totaling far more than 800 kilometers, covering mines and new construction projects in various regions such as Australia, Canada, the United States, Mongolia, Guinea, and more.
Moreover, the collaboration has expanded from single product supply to technological cooperation. In 2023, Boton and Rio Tinto jointly developed a conveyor belt testing platform, optimizing product design by simulating actual working conditions and jointly addressing early-stage conveyor belt damage issues.
Technological Innovation: Accelerating the Intelligent and Unmanned Transformation of Smart Mining
Boton is committed to technological innovation, driving the intelligent and unmanned transformation of the mining industry. During this visit, Boton showcased its latest achievements in smart conveying, unmanned inspection, low-carbon materials, and circular recycling. Additionally, Boton is actively exploring the recycling and reuse of worn conveyor belts, promoting the development of a circular economy. Through technological innovation, Boton not only provides efficient products to its customers but also contributes to the sustainable development of the industry.
Full-Stack Services: Pioneering the A-Z Total Service Model
Boton’s A-Z (Design, Manufacture, Supply, Monitoring, Maintenance, Operation) total service model offers customers a full lifecycle solution from design to operation. This model provides safe, efficient, and reliable conveyor system services, not only enhancing production efficiency but also significantly reducing operational costs for customers.
Community Co-Development: From Product Supply to Shared Brand Values
The cooperation between Boton and Rio Tinto extends beyond product supply and technological innovation, with significant achievements in community co-development. Under Rio Tinto’s witness, Boton has actively collaborated with Canada’s Inuit indigenous communities, fostering mutual prosperity. This cooperation covers community economic development, education and employment promotion, cultural preservation, and the protection of local ecosystems, jointly building a new industrial ecosystem for smart mining conveyor services.
Furthermore, Boton has formulated the “Africa Community Action Plan,” implementing the “Future Conveyors” and “Sunshine Road” projects to contribute to the sustainable development of African communities, particularly in enhancing local youth skills and improving community infrastructure, promoting harmonious coexistence between mining development and community growth. Mr. Chris, managing director of Simfer, expressed recognition of Boton’s efforts in ESG.
The Simandou Iron Ore Project is one of the largest and highest-quality undeveloped iron ore resources globally, and Boton is honored to participate in this historic project. In March 2024, Boton officially began supplying the Rio Tinto Simandou mining project. Currently, Boton has established Boton Conveyor Services Guinea LLC and the Boton Africa Technical Service Center in Guinea, providing 24/7 technical support to ensure project supply chain security and operational continuity.
During the exchange, Chris Aitchison, Managing Director of SimFer, stated: “Simfer is committed to maximising the benefits of the Simandou project, through local content, prioritising employment and upskilling the Guinean workforce. We are working closely with all our suppliers to ensure that their investments contribute to supporting community development initiatives, enriching training programmes, expanding local sourcing and increasing employment prospects. We welcome the establishment of a Boton service centre in Guinea, contributing to our local content targets, and look forward to Boton’s greater involment in community co-development projects. “
Mr. Bao Zhifang, Chairman of Boton, added: “For the Simandou Iron Ore Project, Boton has successfully supplied conveyor belt products to the Winning Consortium and is about to deliver the first batch of conveyor belts and intelligent online monitoring products to Simfer. Boton’s Guinea Technical Service Center is already providing conveyor belt supply, installation, and maintenance services to end-users in Guinea. Facing the global trend of green and intelligent transformation in the mining industry, Boton is willing to further expand cooperation with Rio Tinto Group, jointly exploring new energy mining truck conveyor systems and circular economy scenarios, practicing ESG goals, and creating a global model of ‘resource development-technological innovation-community’.”
As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “Those who share the same aspirations are not separated by mountains and seas.” The cooperation between Boton and Rio Tinto will undoubtedly transcend geographical boundaries, creating greater value and jointly driving the sustainable development of the global mining industry!
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