Just two weeks ago Jennmar moved to its new facility at Smeaton Grange, Narellan, located southwest of Sydney.

Unit 1 of the facility is now producing Jennmar’s existing range of ground support products, roof bolts and cable bolts for the New South Wales market. The new plant will allow additional capacity for the manufacture of ground support products.

Unit 2 of the facility will produce J-Lok resin capsules, injecting new competition into the market for this product. The resin plant is currently under construction with new machinery expected to arrive in January.

Jennmar has entered into a joint venture with Strata Bolt Resins, which has a resin capsule manufacturing operation in South Africa. The company supplies South Africa's coal mines and deep metallurgical mines.

Jennmar Australia managing director Peter Roberts said Strata Bolt Resins was invited in to the operation for its expertise and experience in producing resin for the mining industry. Personnel will be brought over from South Africa to aid in the management and production processes.

Technical innovations developed by Jennmar's parent company in the US will also be used. The J-Lok resin is already being produced in the US out of Pennsylvania.

"In the US they have been using state-of-the-art machinery and equipment over the past 12 months and we will use these technological developments alongside the manufacturing expertise from South Africa to bring together the production process," Roberts said.

Jennmar Australia will act as the Australian distributor of J-Lok - enabling it to sell to other ground control manufacturers and mines.

The company is also expanding its Mackay manufacturing facilities by 30%.

Roberts said the growth was to allow for expansion in the Queensland market.