Industrial Supply Solutions-West Virginia, 520 Elizabeth St, Charleston, WV 25311, US

James H. Fletcher began his company intent on developing technology that would improve coal mine productivity and reduce personnel risk by using rubber tire, non-track-mounted vehicles in underground applications. In 1938, the company showed its first products at a coal show in Cincinnati, a rubber-tire tractor and drop-bottom conveyor. Since that time, J. H. Fletcher & Co. has operated with a vigilant focus on finding ways to improve mining processes and reducing risk for the people who work there. Among its innovations are a rubber tired, battery-powered tractor; the first shuttle car with 4-wheel steer and elevating conveyor, and the first Fletcher timbering machine -three wheels. Fletcher's line of mobile mine equipment includes single-head and dual-head roof bolters for high-seam and low seams, each with its own set of features that maximize safety and efficiency in varying mine conditions; longwall/utility bolters that secure roof during longwall moves and double as utility bolters between moves; degasification drills that help release methane and predict seam orientation up to 5,000-feet ahead of the working face. Fletcher created the first powered Mobile Roof Support system (MRS), used for temporary roof support in pillar extraction operations. Recently, Fletcher developed a new and improved lone of Prime Mover surface/underground tractors.