The company says increased coal mining activity in the Southern Appalachian coalfield in the eastern United States provided the impetus for the expansion.

In a press statement, Jennmar said a new stamping operation and automated forging equipment were key components of the plant upgrade. An additional 10,000 square feet of plant space was being created, and new product delivery trucks had been ordered. The new production capacity will enable the company to supply an extra 40,000 roof bolts a day.

Jennmar is a leading supplier of roof support systems to coal and metalliferous mines, and the tunnelling industry. It has sales offices and plants in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Utah in the US, and in Australia.