Geobrugg - Rockfall Protection in the Mining Industry: Safer – Faster – More Economical

Geobrugg is a global leader in providing solutions from high-tensile steel wire for safety and security applications as well as for protection systems against rockfall, slope instabilities, debris flow, landslides and avalanches. Geobrugg is the world's only manufacturer of an approved 5,000kJ rockfall barrier.

The performance of Geobrugg protection systems is not only calculated, but also tested according to the world's most rigorous directives in 1:1 impact and tearing tests. At the same time, the performance parameters of all system components are regularly monitored by independent testing institutions.

Zinc-aluminium coated protection systems

Thanks to GEOBRUGG ULTRACOATING®, the latest generation of zinc-aluminum wire coating, Geobrugg products have a lifetime up to three times longer than wires with GALFAN corrosion protection.

With its worldwide presence, Geobrugg is always close to its customers. So 'close customer relations' are not limited to sales but cover the entire process chain — including engineering, manufacturing, design support, final inspection and long-term maintenance. At the same time we support the mining operator and planner with our know-how in related spheres of application — including with regard to combined protection measures.

Flexible rockfall protection barriers

Steeper pit walls may result in better access to ore pockets and less removal of non-ore waste rock. However, the danger of rockfall, breakouts or partial failure of pit walls often prevents such plans as traditional protection measures with steel beams, wire ropes and meshes often will not give sufficient protection.

In open-pit mines flexible rockfall barriers — crash-tested to extreme impact energies — are increasingly installed to allow for steeper pit walls while at the same time providing effective protection for workers, equipment, access roads, tunnel portals and buildings. Reduced mining costs and the value of additional ore considerably exceed the installation cost of flexible barriers.

In line with the hazard potential — determined from the pit profile, falling height and anticipated rock mass — we supply you with flexible barriers for retention capacities of 100kJ, 250kJ, 500kJ, 1,000kJ, 1,500kJ, 2,000kJ, 3,000kJ and 5,000kJ. Barrier heights between 2m and 9m are possible.

Mesh and spiral rope nets for unstable rock slopes

TECCO® mesh is manufactured from a 3mm high-tensile steel wire with a tensile strength of 1,770N/mm². Together with a pattern of bolting or anchoring, it stabilises steep, unconsolidated rock and rock slopes.

The robust SPIDER® spiral rope net of high-tensile 4mm steel wire, prevents block breakouts from rock slopes and secures loose rocks, rock spurs and overhangs, also unstable rock formations with a very irregular surface structure and coarse block weathering.

The TECCO® and SPIDER® rockfall drapes protect rock slopes up to 100m high, where the rockfall capture space is small or the kinetic energy is too high for barriers. The rockfall drape is fastened to a support rope at the top and hung over the rockslope. Rockfall events therefore take place in a controlled manner between the mesh and the rockface and are directed into the catchment zone on the berm.

Mesh for ground support in underground mining

For ground support in underground mining and tunnelling, the TECCO® mesh, made from a high-tensile steel wire, protects against rockfall, rock bursts and squeezing ground. Tests by the Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) have proven that TECCO®, with a tensile strength of 1,770N/mm² can carry higher static and dynamic loads than traditional reinforcement nets.

With the MESHA® installation handler, compatible with all multi-arm drilling jumbos, the TECCO® mesh is unrolled onto the walls in roll widths up to 3.5m and bolted by the jumbo operator in the same working process, thereby providing a fast, safe and fully mechanised installation.