09/02/2026
The problem: A rock fall blocked a dam spillway. The rock needed to be cleared without any personnel entering the spillway because of the risk of more falling rock.
The solution: The IVL-DENT Joint Venture contacted Brokk Inc. to explore using remote-controlled Brokk robots. They quickly agreed on a solution that involved craning in two Brokk 520D robots. One robot broke large boulders with a breaker attachment while the second robot loaded rock with a bucket. A crane removed the skip buckets filled with debris. The Brokk operators worked from a temporary deck that overlooked the spillway.
The result: Using two Brokk robots and a crane, the team skillfully removed approximately 1,046-1,177 cubic yards (800-900 cubic meters) of rock in three weeks. The overall project, including, building an access road and crane pad, took 2.5 months. The dam was put back into service in a timely manner, and the customer was happy with the outcome.
Contractors: JIM DENT Construction, IVL Contracting Ltd., Mammoet Crane
When: Summer 2024