Modern Mining February 2022

ROOF SUPPORT

Underground support solutions for hard rock and coal mines Fabchem Mining is a one-stop tailored support solution company to the mining and civil industries. Founded in 1996, Fabchem provides total underground support solutions to hard rock and coal mines. The company has grown to become a trusted manufacturer, distributor and supplier with a footprint across Africa, Australia, North America and South America. By Mark Botha .

Freddy Mugeri, CEO of Fabchem Mining.

T he company specialises in roof support technology that is at the core of making under- ground mining safer, especially at the great depths of South African mines. Fabchem Mining is a leading manufacturer (OEM) and supplier of Strata control products and solutions to both the mining and civil industries. The company offers a total support solution, from drilling the hole for the tendon, to installation, pre-stressing, grouting and post installation integrity testing. The company holds several patents over some very innovative products and is the official distributor for Vula Drilling (Pty) Ltd in southern Africa. According to Fabchem Mining CEO Freddy Mugeri, Fabchem is a black empowered company with 52,6% black ownership, which qualifies it as a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor. “This,” says Mugeri, “means that our clients can claim 135% of their purchases with Fabchem for their B-BBEE scorecard.” He says the company’s quality management system is certified by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). Anchors and strata control As a manufacturer of customised anchors based on clients’ specifications and suitable for any hole size, Fabchem is certified through the SABS to the Quality Management System ISO9001:2015. All product ranges undergo testing by the Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) and all anchors have technical data and drawing sheets. The company manufactures mechanical, spin,

multi-strand, de-bonded and double corrosion pro- tected type anchors that are manufactured to clients’ specifications. Fabchem also produces a variety of lock-off bar- rels to suit various applications. “Our PLV Series barrel is Fabchem’s newest inno-

vation in barrel technology, which features anti-pre- activation, specified load tension indication and overload tension indica- tion,” says Mugeri. Spin anchors

The FAB500 lightweight stressing jack

Spin anchors are used primarily as secondary sup- port in hard and soft rock mines. These anchors are usu- ally point anchored with quick-set resin and, depending on the rock engineer’s requirements, may also be grouted. “Our spin anchors are supplied com-

plete with dome plate, barrel and wedge,” says Mugeri. “In the event that the anchor is to be grouted, a grout tube, breather tube and gasket will be provided separately.” He says Fabchem also manufactures multi-bulb passive anchors with fishhooks, with bulb spacing determined by the client’s requirement. Spin Trusses are generally used for supporting slips, faults, bullnoses, large roof spans, friable roof

conditions (used in conjunction with mesh and straps) and pil- lar wrapping (support). Mechanical anchors F a b c h em ’ s me c h a n i c a l anchors are primarily used in hard rock mines as sec- ondary support in both development ends and

The FAB470 hydraulic stressing pump.

in the stopes. These anchors are usually full column grouted

30  MODERN MINING  February 2022