A fastener for a rod belt having one or more rods includes a support area, at least one intermediate area, and a fastening area. The support area extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a support side. The at least one intermediate area and the support area are made as one piece. The fastening area projects away from the intermediate area in the longitudinal direction.

A system and apparatus are provided for monitoring a conveyor system. The system and apparatus may include one or more sensors or sensor modules associated with a conveyor belt. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a sensor connected to at least one of first and second plate members that are configured to be connected to one another on opposite surfaces of the conveyor belt. The sensor may be at least partially received in a recess formed in the conveyor belt such that the sensor resides in a protected pocket formed by at least one of the plate members and the recess in the conveyor belt. The system is configured to monitor ancillary devices of a conveyor system, such as a belt splice. The system may maintain a digital twin of an ancillary device so that a condition of the ancillary device may be monitored remotely.