VSH Hagerbach Test Gallery Ltd

Over the last 30 years, the Hagerbach Test Gallery Ltd. (Switzerland) has developed an underground infrastructure of tunnels totaling approximately 5.0 km in length, together with gallery cross-sections ranging up to the size of a two-lane motorway tunnel. From the very outset, the tunnel structures have been used for research and development work on materials, equipment and processes, primarily for the underground construction sector. While interest was initially focused on drilling and blasting processes, nowadays our investigations and our research and development work encompass virtually all aspects of underground construction. All the infrastructures required for these purposes are in place, including several fire tunnels, a blasting chamber, experimental areas for tests on concrete, injection and sealing, our own concrete plant, drilling equipment, pumps for injection and sprayed concrete, rock and concrete laboratory and so on. The overall aim is to offer test facilities which reproduce practical conditions as closely as possible.