A Montana coal mine conveyor system failed catastrophically during severe winter conditions in 2019. The failure resulted in a temporary loss of mine production and extensive damage to the final bridge section of the 72 inch wide conveyor support structure.
GES Tech Group, Inc., (GES) was retained in 2024 by the defendants, due to legal action brought by the owners. On-site inspections, performed by experts retained by the owners, concluded that the root cause of the structural failure was “a design defect”. On behalf of the defendants, this early assumption was thoroughly investigated by GES and Rocky Mountain EM Tech (RMEmTech, metallurgists).
GES and RM Em Tech ultimately determined that the root cause of the failure was thermal expansion and contraction and a lack of maintenance of design elements specifically intended to compensate for thermal effects in the harsh Montana environment.
During legal proceedings, GES and RM Em Tech provided expert reports and consultation that resulted in a settlement prior to the start of trial.
