MND Safety Caps Record-Breaking Year as Avalanche Control Demand Accelerates Worldwide

French mountain infrastructure specialist MND Safety has reported a record year in 2026, driven by growing investments in avalanche risk mitigation, transport infrastructure protection and ski area safety across four continents. The company says revenue exceeded €17 million during the year, supported by major projects from Scandinavia to North America and strong market uptake of its latest remote avalanche control technology.

The business recorded 42% growth in 2026, installed around 100 new avalanche triggering points, and expanded its global footprint to 22 countries. The company also surpassed 3,300 installed systems worldwide, reinforcing its position in the increasingly strategic avalanche risk management sector.

Major Infrastructure Protection Projects

A total of 25 projects were completed across four continents during 2026, reflecting a rising global focus on safeguarding transport corridors and mountain infrastructure from natural hazards. Among the most notable developments was the installation of 27 O'BELLX systems in Norway, where the technology is being used to protect four key roads in the country's northern regions.

MND Safety also continued its long-running partnership with California's transportation authorities. The company confirmed the extension of its work with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to help protect critical mountain roads exposed to avalanche risks in the Sierra Nevada. Additional projects were undertaken across Europe, South America and Central Asia.

The expansion comes as mountain regions globally face increasing challenges in maintaining transport reliability, protecting communities and managing tourism infrastructure in complex alpine environments.

Fast Start for O'BELLX 1.8

A key driver of the company's momentum has been the launch of the O'BELLX 1.8, the latest evolution of MND's autonomous avalanche control system. Introduced at the Mountain Planet trade show earlier this year, the new model has already achieved 15 deliveries and attracted significant interest from operators and authorities.

According to MND, the O'BELLX 1.8 delivers performance comparable to the established GAZEX system while offering a firing capacity of up to 60 shots, giving avalanche managers greater flexibility in adapting solutions to different terrain configurations and operational requirements.

The system forms part of a broader trend towards automated and remotely operated avalanche mitigation technologies that reduce the need for personnel to enter hazardous terrain during periods of heightened avalanche danger.

Three Decades of GAZEX Success in California

MND also highlighted the continued success of its GAZEX technology in North America. Caltrans has been using GAZEX systems since the early 1990s to secure mountain highways in California's Sierra Nevada. Over three decades of operation have provided a substantial body of operational experience in avalanche forecasting, maintenance practices and remote triggering strategies.

According to the agency, the systems achieve a triggering reliability rate of more than 99%, with an average of over 500 avalanche releases carried out annually across the network.

Outlook

MND Safety's record year underlines the growing importance of avalanche protection technologies as governments, road authorities and ski area operators seek more resilient and efficient methods of managing mountain hazards. With expanding international deployments and strong early demand for the O'BELLX 1.8 platform, the company appears well positioned to capitalise on increasing investments in alpine safety infrastructure in the years ahead.