German-engineered, IS0 9002-certified fischer anchor systems have undergone rigorous testing in line with the company’s leading-edge research and development programme, making it the industry leader in anchor fastening technology globally.

Available in South Africa exclusively from leading distributor Upat, fischer’s anchor-system range comprises steel, chemical anchors, and frame, cavity, general, electrical, insulation, and sanitary fixings. The anchors range from 5 mm to 32 mm in diameter.

Upat Technical Manager Kevin Owen comments that safety is always guaranteed when using a fischer anchor system. “When tensile tests for load failure are undertaken on anchors, fischer anchors on average are able to withstand four to five times more than what is certified, highlighting the high level of safety and confidence implicit in using this brand.”

For example, a 10-mm chemically installed stud has a recommended load capacity of about 1 ton. However, using a fischer anchor, failure usually only occurs at around 5 tons. This is another clear indication of the exceptional strength and durability of fischer products. “Ensuring that the correct products are specified and installed in accordance with all of the necessary technical requirements effectively guarantees that no installation will fail,” Owen asserts.

Being IS0 9002-certified means that fischer adheres with the international standards and regulations. The company is also certified by construction standards body the European Organisation for Technical Approvals (EOTA), which test hundreds of different construction materials each year.

If the material passes the test and receives a European Technical Assessment (ETA) stamp of approval, this translate to a 50-year guarantee on the certified product, and fischer has ETA certification on all of its anchors used in safety critical applications.

Upat National Product Specialist Charl Weber remarks that the correct selection of anchor systems is of vital importance, as the incorrect use or application of any of these products can lead to injuries and even fatalities.

“I am aware of several incidents where suspended ceilings collapsed due to incorrect specification, or the use of substandard products selected mainly due to their cheaper cost, but without any thought given to their quality or applicability,” Weber highlights. The problem is exacerbated by contractors sometimes not taking the correct load into account, which can result in a structural failure even if the correct products are applied.

“The market is highly price-sensitive at present, given the tight margins that contractors are operating under at present,” Weber points out. This has resulted in the predominance of cheaper, lower-quality fixing systems being used in the local construction industry.

Upat is meeting this challenge head-on by a concerted effort to educate the construction industry about the benefits and advantages of using fischer, which represents the best technology available internationally.

“We are making substantial inroads into the local market through our targeted marketing campaigns to inform users from DIY to heavy industrial about the possible costs which can be incurred by using inferior products. This includes failures, added maintenance, repair and replacement, and reputational damage to companies using inferior fixings.”

Owen points out that many of the leading building contractors in South Africa always specify fischer products for their projects, as “they know that what they are using is trusted and will work the first time.”

He concludes that the brand has always been synonymous with providing the highest levels of safety, reliability, and innovation. “Due to this, fischer is now rightly regarded globally as the pinnacle in total fixing solutions for the construction industry.”

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