Radius Steel Fabrication announced they have partnered with Edmonton-based Weldco-Beales to build roll over protective structure (ROPS) mounts designed for heavy machinery.

The mounts are designed particularly for pipe layers and provide additional protection to the operator and equipment in the event of a rollover.

According to the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation, the second major source of occupational fatalities is machinery-based injuries.

Implementing ROPS can prevent rollover-related injuries and fatalities, but many older generation low-drive pipe layers operate without them.

These are the machines that Weldco-Beales Manufacturing primarily supplies and retrofits ROPS for. They have engineered, manufactured, and tested numerous Caterpillar and Komatsu pipe layers.

Weldco-Beales’ ROPS comply with advanced engineering and manufacturing standards. The company’s Structural Performance Test Stand is used to determine the stress level of each section of the ROPS.

ISO 3471 is the most predominant standard for off-highway machinery. It requires a side, vertical, and rear push test, and side-to-side energy absorption.

All Weldco-Beales prototypes are destructive tested to ISO 3471 in order to provide operators and machines with the highest quality security.

“We understand and take pride in the value we deliver to customers and the strength of partnerships we cultivate,” says Nick Cindrich, Product Manager, for the Forestry and Oil and Gas Division.

Although ROPS are not currently enforced on older generation low drive pipe layers, pipeline companies, contractors, and machine operators are beginning to demand more in the way of safety.

Weldco-Beales is Canada’s largest supplier of heavy equipment attachments in Canada and a part of the NorTerra Group of Companies.