Modern Mining December 2015

GEOTECHNICAL

constructed a drape wire mesh decoil- ing machine which is able to anchor to the anchor system at the crest of the drape wire mesh installation areas, and then be remotely operated to ‘walk/ drive’ down the slope highwall, at the same time decoiling the rolls of drape wire mesh. The ‘Decoiler’, as the machine has been named, is able to handle drape mesh rolls up to 200 m in length, and 8 m wide. The Decoiler has been internationally patented. Two of these Decoilers were built by Wepex at its fabrication workshop in Durban and deployed at the project. Working on unstable slope high- walls, suspended on ropes 180 m above the ground, is potentially a dangerous activity. Ensuring that a fully wire

the Decoiler, as well as stitching close the drape wire mesh panels. Due to the rope access industry in Botswana being virtually non-exis- tent, Wepex brought in a rope access instructor from South Africa to present two courses in Botswana. As a result, Botswana now has 10 new rope access technicians. 

mesh laden 12 tonne Decoiling machine does not plummet uncontrolled down to the bottom of the highwall slope required innovative engi- neering design. Wepex employed primarily local Botswana citizens in its workforce. The project depended heavily on rope access technicians operating

The wire mesh chosen for the project needed to be strong, long lasting, and of a correct weave to restrict the size of the smallest rocks that might pass through the apertures of the drapery mesh system.

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