Rio Tinto D&T Leadership Explores Innovation and Sustainability at BOTON

On August 28th, BOTON’s Hongshan Smart Industrial Park welcomed a new group of visitors: an executive delegation from Rio Tinto’s Development & Technology (D&T). As an important stop in the 2024 MDGM Forum visiting activities for Rio Tinto, BOTON held an in-depth discussion themed “Responsible manufacturing fosters innovation and productivity” with the Rio Tinto delegation. The meeting was attended by key leaders of BOTON, including Chairman Bao Zhifang, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Brilliant Boton Tang Yu, General Manager of BOTON IOT Zhou Hui, and Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Deputy General Manager of the Marketing Headquarters He Ganghou.

To give the Rio Tinto team a direct experience of BOTON’s innovation capabilities and production strengths, BOTON arranged a comprehensive field tour and interactive experiences. From automated operations on intelligent production lines to environmentally friendly designs in green factories and cutting-edge technologies at the R&D center, each aspect provided visitors with a deep understanding of BOTON’s commitment to intelligent manufacturing and sustainable development.

In his speech during the salon activity, BOTON Chairman Bao Zhifang stated, “Since BOTON first started cooperating with Rio Tinto in 2019, our partnership has deepened in areas of safety, sustainability, and innovation. In June of this year, Rio Tinto renewed an eight-year global procurement contract with BOTON, marking a new phase in our partnership. Looking ahead, BOTON will continue to enhance its global footprint and explore extensive cooperation with Rio Tinto, jointly creating a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes!”

Shaun Kelly, General Manager of the Project Services Department at Rio Tinto Development & Technology, mentioned in his speech that this visit was part of their “Discovery Journey,” aimed at exploring and learning about leading global smart manufacturing management technologies and sustainable development practices. He said, “This has been a wonderful visit. We have gained valuable insights into advanced production and manufacturing management practices that can be applied to our future projects. Additionally, I saw BOTON’s innovative research on conveyor systems, which aims to enhance the efficiency of mine conveyors. This is truly exciting, and the enthusiasm of BOTON employees for exploring new technologies has deeply impressed me.”

During the subsequent salon discussion, BOTON presented on topics of interest to the Rio Tinto representatives, leading to lively discussions on issues such as “Unmanned driving, conveyor belt recycling projects, collaboration with indigenous communities, DEI culture, biodiversity protection, and sustainable education.” A series of presentations allowed the Rio Tinto team to gain a deeper understanding of how BOTON achieves efficient resource utilization, reduces environmental impact, and actively takes on social responsibilities in its production processes.

It is worth mentioning that during this visit, BOTON also invited a charity café featuring “silent baristas” to provide lunch coffee and baked snacks for everyone. “Silent baristas” is a nickname for hearing-impaired individuals working as baristas. BOTON, in collaboration with the Xinwu District Leyi Social Innovation Center, has supported this charitable cause for two years, actively promoting inclusive employment for disabled individuals. Everyone on-site learned sign language to express their sincere gratitude to the “silent baristas.”

The visit by the Rio Tinto Group executives not only acknowledges BOTON’s capabilities but also reaffirms the long-term and deep cooperation between the two parties. In the future, BOTON will continue to uphold the principles of innovation-driven and green development, continually optimizing products and services, enhancing corporate competitiveness, and working with Rio Tinto to conduct deeper cooperation in technology, environmental protection, and social responsibility, jointly promoting the global green development of the mining industry!