Geobrugg forges local production link
Staff reporter, 9 May 2012
Geobrugg mesh and ring net are used in ROCK Australia’s remediation of Mt Gibson’s main iron ore pit on Koolan Island, described as being among the most complex mining geotechnical projects ever undertaken.
MAY 7 – AUSTRALIAN and New Zealand mining and civil engineering users of Geobrugg high-tensile steel mesh can expect faster deliveries from a newly opened manufacturing plant in Western Australia.
The production capacity of the facility in Perth’s northern suburbs is said to have been doubled since the plant was commissioned in September last year and it has room for two more of Geobrugg’s specialised manufacturing units, the company said last week.
Swiss-based Geobrugg AG is part of privately owned BRUGG Group, which reportedly turned over more than $A750 million last year and is one of Europe’s largest steel rope and associated product manufacturers.
Roland Bucher, Geobrugg general manager for Australia, said the plant was built to cut delivery lead times to Australian clients, who had previously waited up to 12 weeks for mesh to be shipped from Europe.
“Our TECCO high-tensile steel wire mesh is rapidly becoming a protection material of choice for the mining industry here in Australia, and we recognised the need to be able to respond quickly to urgent orders,” Bucher said. “We now hold local stocks in Perth, enabling us to turn orders around on a 24-hour basis, and we also have the capacity to respond in just a few days to requests for non-standard TECCO mesh lengths and widths.”
Bucher said about 85% of the company’s products were supplied to the mining industry for ground support, mainly in openpit applications. Geobrugg also expected increasing demand for mesh for underground applications using the MESHA mechanised chain link mesh handling installer developed by drilling and ground support contractor ROCK Australia. The unit, fitted to one of the feed components of any multi-boom underground jumbo, mechanically places and holds the Geobrugg mesh in position while it is bolted to the back and walls using friction bolts, or grouted and resin bolts.
“This system offers mine operators two major benefits,” Bucher said. “It can reduce installation time by up to 40% compared to the time to install welded mesh using conventional methods, and up to 70% compared to the time to apply shotcrete. More importantly, it eliminates manual handling of heavy mesh sheets by the Jumbo operator and ensures that he is, at no time, exposed to working on unsupported ground.”
Also in the May 9 - 15, 2012 edition
- AFRICA
- ABG approves flagship expansion
- Facilitating change
- ASIA DESK
- Changes coming in Chinese people power
- CABBIE'S CORNER
- No easy streets in wild West Africa
- COAL
- Coal could become a factor in northern Queensland wealth
- EUROPE
- Sturec resource improved and increased
- EXPLORATION
- Castle builds case for graphite
- FINANCE
- Broadening Panoramic adds new site
- Indo cuts too much too soon
- Time for action for last man standing
- INTERCEPTS
- $650M raising for Neo Material acquisition
- 'Climate change' issue goes back to court
- Alcyone cuts capital raising by $1.5M
- Altona’s Little Eva is a growing girl
- Anglo Asian plans second Azerbaijan mine
- AngloGold builds buffers against the future
- Aphrodite lifts its indicated resource
- Araguaia nickel project economics this quarter
- Artemis snaps up West Pilbara prospects
- Ascot stays on gold growth course
- Azumah fast-tracks Wa project planning
- ‘Shoot-out’ to settle Peru project ownership
- Big bucks for Bucko
- Big resource upgrade for Roper Bar iron ore project
- Boss lines up 12-months exploration funding
- Brave New World clings to optimistic production targets
- Breakaway stays with Altia project
- Brumby flags Oakover resource increase
- Canaco looks beyond Tanzanian resources
- Canada Lithium works through approvals program
- Cape Lambert takes solid profit from Leichhardt sale
- Carbon Energy puts a target on Surat Basin tenements
- Carpentaria open to offers on Hawsons JV
- Centerra puts production plans on ice
- Chesser outlines first Turkish resource
- Coal plant contract goes to Sedgman
- Code d’Ivoire attracts explorer
- Continental takes Colombian coal option
- Currency protest stops Malawi mine
- Death hits Evander mine
- Diamond production bodes well for 1M carat target
- Doral backs Matilda’s Keysbrook project
- DR Congo workers end strike
- Eastern Iron launches scoping study
- Excellent quarter underpins Fortuna’s growth strategy
- Explorer calls for Aboriginal heritage reform
- Fire River heads for Alaskan target
- First diamonds from Kao earn $6.47M
- First Quantum takes 19.9% stake in Zincore
- From biotech to gold for Health Corp
- Galaxy welcomes lithium price rise
- Gold Resource Corp chasing annual 140,000oz
- Goldplat to lift Kenyan mine production
- Green light for big Greenland rare earths/uranium project
- High assays indicate possible new copper province
- High grade zones critical to Avalon’s Viscaria project
- IAMGOLD closes on 1Moz pa despite disappointing quarter
- Illegals highlight Credo’s Burkina Faso gold potential
- IMX-Continental merger to crank up nickel project
- John Holland extends Isaac Plains role
- Kazakh sales breakthrough for Central Asia
- Kidman purchase fattens up the Blind Calf
- Kirkland Lake aims higher
- Lonmin’s half-year profit plunge
- Lower output, higher costs hit Gold Fields
- Magma concedes to Panoramic takeover
- Major Mongolian copper/gold project near production
- Mega loss as Lake Maitland uranium progresses
- Merger to advance Westgold projects
- Milestone brings Liberty back to production
- Mindax drops Sumitomo agreement
- Mine closure follows Jaguar free fall
- Miner welcomes Malawi’s new power pact
- Mining starts at Kentor project
- Moonlight shines brighter for Ferrum
- More FMG contract work for Decmil
- More gold doubles Alacer’s profit
- More plant trouble for Northam
- Mount Gibson names in-house CEO
- New entity to push laterite nickel projects
- New Kibo company in coal-fired power project
- New study strengthens Finders’ project
- New WA minerals research institute gets $7.5M
- Northern Iron confirms Indian approach
- Nova seeks a new head
- NSL achieves first Indian iron sale
- Octagonal outlines Victorian gold resource
- OGL closer to Ebenezer coal acquisition
- Ortac secures big financing deal for Sturec project
- Pact sells new leach technology
- Phoenix adds another wing to its Castle
- Production and costs send Eastplats lower
- Production down, costs up, bottom line ok
- Reindeer win in drilling compromise
- Renamed Atlatsa continues old loss trend
- Resource upgrade boosts EastPlats mine life
- Riedel talks toll treatment at Cheriton’s
- Sales sets Russian project for production
- Shanta heads for New Luika mine update
- Shareholder backs Noventa again
- Silver lining for dark Pan American quarter
- Solid Energy expects long wait for Pike River mine
- Solomon Gold name change to SolGold
- South African iron study positive for Ferrex
- Steady as she goes for Vane in Mexico
- Talisman expands its WA exploration lands
- Tests back Panaust expansion plan
- Tiger doubles DR Congo plant capacity
- Tigers Realm advances Russian coal project
- Top bureaucrat joins Ampella
- West Wits sells SA assets for $9M
- Western Areas upgrades full year nickel forecast
- ISSUES
- Bullet dodged
- MINING IT
- Ambre set to grow with Ventyx
- Block model engine powers GEMS 6.4 update
- Immersive expands underground offering
- Mining in the mainframe
- PROJECT WATCH
- Indochine builds case, standing
- VIEW FROM THE WEST END
- Baby steps
