WEIDMANN AG of Switzerland started in 1985 with the development and manufacture of a range of GRP rock bolts which where then used in tunnelling projects in Switzerland for the first time. The GRP rockbolts where installed as permanent support in numerous tunnels, constructed in the single shell method using Weidmann GRP rockbolts in combination with steel mesh and shotcrete.
In 1994 this system was also applied for the construction of the Vereina Tunnel, Switzerland, which is 19km long and the world's longest, narrow gauge tunnel.
Weidmann GRP rockbolts have also been used in many pilot-tunnels, caverns, water-adits, slope stabilizations and quarries.
Subsequently the GRP rockbolts became well-known worldwide as the Weidmann-GRP rock bolt system has been used successfully in many applications like:
- Tunnelling
- Mining
- Civil Engineering
- Form work and Concrete Reinforcement
Many years of development resulted in the unique ALL-THREAD GRP rock bolt, which thread-profile has become also standard in the FiReP® Group for the whole range of products which now includes:
- POWERTHREAD GRP Rock Bolts
- SPINMAX GRP Self Drilling Rock Bolts
- CABLEX GRP Cable Bolts.
Rockbolt Systems AG has been founded in 2003, as a result of a “Management Buy Out” (MBO) and has taken over more than 20 years of experience in the development, distribution and application of the world wide well-known WEIDMANN GRP rock bolt technology. At the same time the cooperation between Beltec Industrietechnik GmbH in Germany and Rockbolt Systems AG was taking place and “Beltec - Rockbolt Systems Group” was formed.
In 2004 “Beltec - Rockbolt System Group” has developed a new range of GRP rebar products for the use in RC structures. At the same time the group has introduced the new product brand FiReP® for all its products.
The new GRP-Rebar Product has successfully been used in projects such as:
- New Metro Rail City Project Perth / Leighton Kumagai J.V. ( in 2004 )
- Circle Line C853 Land transport Authority LTA / Taisei Singapore ( in 2005 )
- Circle Line C828 Land transport Authority LTA / Nishimatsu Singapore ( in 2006 )
- Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel ( SMART) Project Malaysia / MMC-Gamuda JV ( in 2005 )
Also in 2004 Beltec - Rockbolt Systems Group has established a large scale production plant in Shanghai, China, which has obtained the Quality System Certificate according to ISO9001:2000 and ISO14001:2004
In 2006 a production plant in Slovenia was put into operation.
In May 2008 Beltec – Rockbolt Systems Group has been reorganized under „FiReP®“ and uinified to the „ FiReP®-Group“.
Today the “FiReP®-Group” has its own production capacity of approx. 3.6 million production meters in the Shanghai plant and approx. 1 million production meters in the Slovenian plant.
Together with famous and highly qualified distributors the group offers worldwide presence and service on site.