ROPS Frames & Roll Bars
Rollover protective structures — roll bars, roll cages, and four-post frames in high-strength steel and structural tube, built to the geometry that protects the operator zone in a rollover.
Heavy Equipment · Safety
ROPS & FOPS
ROPS & FOPS
Protective Structures
Fabrication
Custom ROPS, FOPS, and operator protective structures — rollover and falling-object guards, cab frames, and screen guards in high-strength steel and structural tube. Built to ISO 3471 / 3449 geometry for excavators, loaders, and tractors. We fabricate the protective steel structure; you complete glazing, controls, and certification.
✓ ISO 3471 / 3449 geometry
✓ High-strength steel
✓ Robotic-welded
ISO 3471 / 3449
ISO
3471 / 3449 / 12117
HS
High-Strength Steel
Robotic
Welded Structure
L1/L2
FOPS Levels
01 / What We Fabricate
The Structure That Protects the Operator
When heavy equipment rolls or something falls, the protective structure is what stands between the operator and disaster. We fabricate that structure — the high-strength steel and tube frames engineered to absorb and distribute impact.
FOPS Guards & Roof Structures
Falling-object protective structures — reinforced roof guards and grids that absorb the impact of falling rocks, tools, and debris, to Level 1 and Level 2.
Cab Frames & Skeletons
Operator cab frames and skeletons — the structural backbone of an enclosed cab, engineered for impact integrity while supporting glazing, doors, and panels.
Screen Guards & OPG
Front screen guards, operator protective guards, and sweeps — protecting against horizontal intrusion in forestry, demolition, and material-handling work.
Our scope: the protective steel structure
We fabricate the protective structure — ROPS/FOPS frames, roll bars, cab skeletons, screen guards, and mounting — laser-cut, tube-bent, robotic-welded, and finished to the design and geometry you provide. Bought-out elements such as glazing and glass, seats, controls and instrumentation, hydraulics, electrical and engine systems, and the official ROPS/FOPS certification testing are completed by you or the equipment OEM. We build to your engineered design and can support impact-test specimens; final certification is held by the OEM.
02 / Structure Types
Protective Structures for Every Machine
We fabricate the protective structure for the full range of heavy equipment, to your engineered design and standard.
ROPS ROPS Rollover Structures
Roll bars and four-post frames engineered to ISO 3471 geometry — protecting tractor, loader, and earthmoving operators in a rollover.
- Standard ISO 3471
- Use Tractors, loaders
- Form Bar, 4-post
FOPS FOPS Falling-Object Guards
Reinforced roof guards to ISO 3449, Level 1 (tools, small debris) and Level 2 (rocks, heavy objects) — for excavators, mining, and demolition.
- Standard ISO 3449
- Levels L1 & L2
- Use Excavators, mining
Cab / TOPS Cab Frames & TOPS
Enclosed cab skeletons and tip-over protective structures (TOPS, ISO 12117) for compact excavators — the impact-rated backbone of an operator cab.
- Standard ISO 12117 (TOPS)
- Use Compact excavators
- Form Cab skeleton
Screen Guard Screen Guards & Sweeps
Front screen guards and operator protective guards against horizontal intrusion — for forestry, land clearing, and demolition machines.
- Use Forestry, demolition
- Protects Horizontal intrusion
- Form Screen, sweep
03 / Technical Capabilities
High-Strength, Impact-Rated, Standards-Aware
A protective structure has to absorb enormous impact energy and meet rigorous standards. Here's what we fabricate to.
| Materials | High-strength steel; ASTM A500 B/C structural tube; ASTM A588 weathering steel |
|---|---|
| Standards Awareness | Built to ISO 3471 (ROPS), ISO 3449 (FOPS), ISO 12117 (TOPS); OSHA 1928.51 aware |
| FOPS Levels | Level 1 (tools, small debris) and Level 2 (rocks, trees, heavy objects) |
| Tube Forming | CNC tube bending of structural sections for roll bars and cab frames |
| Welding | Robotic and manual welding to structural standards for impact integrity |
| Testing Support | Charpy V-notch impact testing of material; impact-test specimen fabrication |
| Energy Absorption | Structures engineered to absorb and distribute impact through the frame |
| Finishing | Hot-dip galvanizing, powder coat, or primer for outdoor durability |
| Applications | Excavators, loaders, dozers, tractors, graders, forestry, mining, compaction |
We fabricate the protective structure to your engineered design. Glazing, seats, controls, hydraulics, electrical, engine systems, and the official ROPS/FOPS certification are completed by you or the equipment OEM.
04 / Manufacturing Process
From Steel to Protective Structure
A protective structure lives or dies on material integrity, weld quality, and geometry. Our process delivers a structure built to your engineered, certifiable design.
01
DFM & Design Review
Review your engineered structure, machine, and standard — confirm material grade, tube sections, weld specs, and the geometry your certification requires.
02
Cutting
Laser and plasma cutting of plate, gussets, and brackets, plus tube cutting — clean, accurate parts to your structural design.
03
Tube Bending & Forming
CNC tube bending of roll bars and frame members, and press-brake forming of plate components — accurate to the protective geometry.
04
Welding
Robotic and manual welding to structural standards — the weld integrity that lets the structure absorb impact energy without failing.
05
Finishing
Hot-dip galvanizing, powder coat, or primer — corrosion protection for structures that live outdoors in harsh environments.
06
Inspection
Dimensional inspection to your geometry, weld inspection, and material traceability — supporting your certification and quality requirements.
05 / Why It Matters
What Makes a Protective Structure Right
A protective structure is an engineered lifeline. Four things separate one that protects the operator from one that fails when it matters most.
Material Integrity
A protective structure is only as strong as its steel. High-strength material with verified properties — and Charpy impact testing — is what lets it absorb energy without fracturing.
Weld Quality
In a rollover, the welds carry the load. Structural- grade robotic and manual welding ensures the joints hold and distribute impact through the frame as designed.
Geometry & Clearance
The structure must maintain a survival zone around the operator under load. Precise geometry to the standard is what preserves that clearance in an accident.
Standards Compliance
ROPS/FOPS are regulated lifelines that must meet ISO and OSHA standards. Building to certifiable geometry and documentation is the basis of a compliant, legal structure.
Customer Project
Heavy Equipment Protective Structure: Load-Tested Weldment
Materials, fabrication decisions and results for an anonymous customer project.
Component reference image
The Customer Challenge
Excessive deformation under the project load cases threatened operator clearance, while structural mass affected vehicle integration.
Project Measurements & Details
≥11,600 JFalling-object test energy
≥5 × vehicle weightRollover load basis
3.0 mmPlate thickness
Results apply to the project configuration described on the linked page.
Read the Customer Project → 07 / Why Choose Us
Why OEMs Trust DRAmetal for Protective Structures
01
Heavy-structure expertise
High-strength steel and structural-tube fabrication for impact-rated protective structures.
02
Tube bending & welding
CNC tube bending and robotic/manual structural welding for roll bars, cages, and cab frames.
03
Standards-aware
Built to ISO 3471/3449/12117 geometry, supporting your certification and documentation.
04
Material traceability
Charpy impact testing and material traceability for certifiable, documented structures.
05
Durable finishing
Hot-dip galvanizing and powder coat for structures that live outdoors in harsh environments.
06
Prototype to volume
From a first-article and test specimens through production, with consistent quality and DFM feedback.
08 / Related
Explore More
09 / FAQ
ROPS & FOPS FAQ
Do you certify the ROPS/FOPS, or fabricate the structure?
We fabricate the protective steel structure — ROPS/FOPS frames, roll bars, cab skeletons, screen guards, and mounting — to your engineered, certifiable design. Glazing, seats, controls, hydraulics, electrical and engine systems, and the official ROPS/FOPS certification testing are completed by you or the equipment OEM. We build to your design and can fabricate impact-test specimens; the certification is held by the OEM.
What standards do you build to?
We fabricate to the geometry and requirements of ISO 3471 (ROPS), ISO 3449 (FOPS), and ISO 12117 (TOPS for compact excavators), and are aware of OSHA 1928.51 (ag) and forestry requirements. You provide the engineered, certified design and we build the structure to it with material traceability.
What's the difference between ROPS and FOPS?
ROPS (Rollover Protective Structures) protect the operator if the machine rolls over, maintaining a survival zone. FOPS (Falling Object Protective Structures) protect against objects falling onto the cab — Level 1 for tools and small debris, Level 2 for rocks and heavy objects. Many machines need both, and we fabricate both.
What materials and processes do you use?
High-strength steel and structural tube (e.g. ASTM A500 B/C), with CNC tube bending, robotic and manual structural welding, and Charpy V-notch impact testing for material integrity. Finishes include hot-dip galvanizing and powder coat for outdoor durability.
Can you provide material traceability for certification?
Yes — we provide material traceability and can perform Charpy impact testing, supporting your certification and documentation requirements. Protective structures are regulated lifelines, and we build them with the documentation your compliance demands.
What's your minimum order quantity?
We support everything from a first-article prototype and test specimens to volume production. Send us your design and requirements and we'll confirm MOQ and pricing for your project.
Get Started
Need ROPS/FOPS
Need ROPS/FOPS
Structures Fabricated?
Send us your engineered design, machine, and standard. Our engineering team will review the submitted information and, where the scope is complete, provide a DFM review, a material and process recommendation, and a quote for the protective steel structure.
✓ RFQ-based DFM review ✓ ISO 3471 / 3449 geometry ✓ High-strength steel ✓ Robotic-welded