Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie will introduce several time-saving framing products at the 2012 International Builders' Show (IBS) in Orlando, February 8-11, booth W1713.

The following are a few of the products that will be showcased.

LRU Rafter Hanger – Available in April
The new economical LRU hanger is designed for rafter-to-ridge connections and can accommodate solid-sawn rafters 2x6 to 2x12 in size. The LRU slopes up or down to 45° and can be installed either before or after the deck is in place. For added versatility the fasteners on the face of the hanger are placed higher on the flange, allowing the bottom of the rafter to hang below the ridge beam when needed. The hanger can be installed with nails or Strong-Drive® SD structural-connector screws; the double-shear nailing provides higher loads with fewer fasteners.

SDWC Truss and Rafter Screw – Available late-February
The new Strong-Drive® SDWC is a single-screw solution for truss and rafter uplift and lateral loads. Offering a time-saving and reliable option to fastening trusses and rafters to wall top plates, the SDWC offers fully tested loads in accordance with ICC-ES AC233 (screw) and ICC-ES AC13 (roof-to-wall assembly). Requiring no pre-drilling, the SDWC can be installed before or after exterior sheathing is applied from inside the structure, eliminating exterior work on the upper stories and enhancing job safety. The SDWC screws are sold in a kit that includes a metal installation guide tool and a matched-tolerance driver bit.

SDWS and SDWH Structural Wood Screws – Available Now
The Strong-Drive® SDWS and SDWH screws are easy-to-install, high-strength alternatives to through-bolting and traditional lag screws, and can be used in a wide variety of fastening applications. The low-profile, 0.22" diameter SDWS screw and the 0.195" diameter hex-head SDWH screw feature a bold thread design that provides increased holding power. The patented 4CUT™ tip ensure fast starts, reduces installation torque and eliminates the need for pre-drilling in most applications. The SDWS and SDWH are available in lengths up to 10" and feature a double-barrier coating that provides corrosion resistance equivalent to hot-dip galvanization, making it suitable for many exterior and preservative-treated wood applications.

For more information about these and other new products, please view or download our 2012 Wood Construction Connectors Addendum at www.strongtie.com.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie announces its entrance into the concrete repair, protection and strengthening business with the acquisitions of Baltimore-based Fox Industries Inc. and Switzerland-based S&P Clever Reinforcement Company.

Founded in 1969, Fox Industries manufactures a complete line of cementitious, epoxy, urethane, elastomeric and polyester coatings, grouts, mortars, adhesives, sealers, sealants, membranes and custom manufactured fiberglass parts for the marine, industrial, transportation, commercial building and public works industries. Customers interested in purchasing products from Fox should contact the inside sales team in Baltimore at 888-760-0369.

Established in 1998, S&P Clever manufactures epoxy resins and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials for concrete and asphalt reinforcement. S&P reinforcement systems are manufactured from fiber made of materials, such as carbon, glass and aramid. The company also provides static design software to engineers and planning and design offices. S&P's manufacturing and distribution facilities are located in Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

"Simpson Strong-Tie has been in this industry for more than 15 years with its Anchor Systems product line and is excited to bring complementary product lines to our customers in the U.S. and in Europe," said Terry Kingsfather, president of Simpson Strong-Tie.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie has recently acquired the majority of the assets of Automatic Stamping, LLC. and Automatic Stamping Auxiliary Services, LLC. to launch its truss plate offering. Automatic Stamping is based in Edenton, N.C., and is a family-owned business with a long history in the truss plate industry. Former owner Bill Black will continue to lead manufacturing and plate innovation operations in Edenton.

"Automatic Stamping is well known in the truss industry and highly regarded as an extremely efficient, high-quality manufacturer of truss plates. We are very excited about this new venture and look forward to being able to offer our customers some of the best truss plate products in the industry," said Mike Bugbee, vice president of the truss and component industry for Simpson Strong-Tie.

Bill Black added, "It's an honor to be affiliated with a company such as Simpson Strong-Tie who has the same integrity and determination as Automatic Stamping, LLC. We look forward to making history in the truss plate industry."

In addition to the new truss plate offering, Simpson Strong-Tie will launch an initial release of its new truss plate software later this year. The company acquired the source code of Keymark's truss software last fall and has been aggressively developing its software and technical support capabilities in order to provide truss and component industry customers with a high-quality, high-performance product offering.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie will introduce the GCN-MEP gas-actuated concrete nailer, a cordless, portable tool for the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) trades, at the World of Concrete. In addition, attendees will be able to download the new Simpson Strong-Tie® Adhesive Estimator mobile app.

The easy-to-use and load GCN-MEP gas concrete nailer is designed for attaching mechanical, electrical and plumb fixtures to concrete, concrete block (CMU) and metal deck. As a single-shot tool, it installs pre-assembled accessories for the MEP trades, and features a pin that has a .125" diameter shank and a .300" diameter head. The .300"-headed fastener can be shot with the GCN-MEP tool or any common PAT tool. The GCN-MEPMAG (magazine tool) can shoot common gas drywall track pins, including all of the Simpson Strong-Tie GDP series pins. The MEP-MAG magazine can be installed and removed easily with no additional tools. The GCN-MEP nailer will be available in March.

The Adhesive Estimator is the first mobile application from Simpson Strong-Tie and will enable users to quickly estimate adhesive product quantities right from their mobile device. By inputting the size and number of adhesive anchors, the app will calculate the approximate number of adhesive cartridges needed for a project.

For more information and to demo these and other new products from Simpson Strong-Tie, visit booths N1819 and O31428 at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, January 24-27, 2012, or visit the website www.strongtie.com/anchorsystems.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie offers a wide selection of fasteners and recently released its latest Fastening Systems Catalog and online Fastener Finder tool, making it easy for customers to find the fastener products they need to compare, specify or buy.

The 195-page Fastening Systems Catalog showcases the complete line of structural, corrosion-resistant, stainless-steel and collated fasteners as well as the entire line of Quik Drive® auto-feed screw driving systems. The catalog can be ordered by mail or downloaded in its entirety or as individual PDF pages from strongtie.com.

The new Fastener Finder is an online tool that enables customers to search for the exact fastener they need by selecting from a criteria list that includes application, fastener-type, finish/material, length and model number. The tool also features links to product descriptions in the catalog to provide more detailed information.

Simpson Strong-Tie is focused on providing fasteners and fastening systems that blend testing, field research and insightful design with the highest quality materials. Whether fastening roofs, decks, siding, subfloor, cooling towers or framing, Simpson Strong-Tie has a high-performance fastener to fit the project. To obtain the new Fastening Systems Catalog or use the Fastener Finder, visit www.strongtie.com/fasten.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie introduces its expanded line of Dexxter™ fasteners for composite and encapsulated-composite decking. Now available in coated carbon steel, the new screws are designed to ease installation and offer a cleaner, less noticeable fastening solution.

The Dexxter screw's trim pan head and patented thread formation reduce the mushroom effect common with traditional decking screws, resulting in a smoother clean-looking installation. It also features a Type-17 point that easily pierces composite deck boards for faster starts and a Quik Guard® coating to provide corrosion protection with many preservative-treated wood substrates.

The carbon-steel Dexxter screw is available in a variety of shades to match colors from leading composite decking manufacturers and is approved for use with the Trex® Transcend® decking and railing system. Customers also can choose stainless-steel Dexxter screws, which come in the popular 6-lobe version with optional painted heads.

Dexxter fasteners are offered in hand-drive options as well as collated strips for use with the Simpson Strong-Tie Quik Drive® auto-feed screw driving system. For more information, visit www.strongtie.com/deckcenter or the Simpson Strong-Tie booths #2221 and #2224 at DeckExpo in Chicago, October 13-15.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie has expanded its Strong Drive® SDW wood screw product line by offering two new screws that provide high-strength alternatives to through-bolting and traditional lag screws.

The new Strong Drive® SDWS screw is specifically designed for structural wood-to-wood applications, including securing deck ledgers. The low-profile, 0.22" diameter SDWS screw provides a safe, high-strength alternative to traditional lag bolts as well as higher loads than other lag solutions. The fastener features a patented 4-cut tip that eliminates pre-drilling and a unique thread design that provides superior holding power. The screw's tan color blends in with ledger boards while its double-barrier coating protects against corrosion in preservative-treated wood applications.

The hex-head Strong Drive® SDWH screw is designed for structural and general-purpose fastening applications. The 0.195" diameter fastener requires less torque to install than comparable fasteners, which makes it easier to drive. The SDWH also features a corrosion-resistant coating to make it suitable for interior applications and exterior, preservative-treated wood applications.

Both the SDWS and SDWH are available in 3" to 10" lengths for a variety of structural fastening applications. For more information, visit www.strongtie.com/fasten or the Simpson Strong-Tie booths #2221 and #2224 at DeckExpo in Chicago, October 13-15.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. announced today that Tom Fitzmyers will be its new Chairman. Fitzmyers has been with the company since 1978 and has led the company in the role of CEO since the company went public in 1994. Fitzmyers will be moving into the role of Chairman as Barclay Simpson, who founded the company more than 50 years ago, moves to the position of Chairman Emeritus. "I can't tell you how proud I am to have Tom Fitzmyers step into the role of Chairman. Tom is largely responsible for our success over the years and this move is more than well-deserved. I have never been more excited about the future of our company," said Simpson, who will continue to be a board member and is the largest shareholder. Fitzmyers will assume responsibility for investor relations.

The company also announced that Karen Colonias will assume Fitzmyers' role as President & CEO of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. Colonias most recently held the position of CFO. In her 27-year history with the company she has held a number of positions including Engineering Manager, Vice President – Engineering, and VP & Branch Manager of one of the company's largest profit centers. Colonias has a degree in Engineering, an MBA and has been personally responsible for developing multiple new product innovations during her career. In her role as CFO, Colonias played a significant part in the development and execution of the company's strategic business plans and directed the company's acquisition efforts. In her new role, Colonias will lead the company as it continues its expansion beyond residential construction products into the commercial building products category.

Terry Kingsfather will continue in his role as President & CEO of Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., the largest and most significant subsidiary of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. Kingsfather, who has been with the company for 32 years and has held this role for the last five years, has successfully led the company through some of the most challenging times in the industry. Kingsfather will continue to lead the sales and marketing efforts for Simpson Strong-Tie as the company continues to place more emphasis on growing its product offering and brand name worldwide.

Fitzmyers said, "Barclay, the board and I have a tremendous amount of confidence in Karen and Terry and their vision for our future. Their expertise, proven leadership and extraordinary in-depth knowledge of our industry will continue to grow our business and market share, and deliver value to our customers. This is a very exciting day for our company."

All new positions will be effective as of January 1, 2012.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie announced today that it will supply software systems and truss plates to the U.S. component industry. Mike Bugbee, a 30-year veteran with the company, will be dedicated to developing and leading this business for Simpson Strong-Tie.

The truss and component industry has been an important part of the Simpson Strong-Tie® structural connector business for the past three decades. The company has developed many products that have helped expand the innovative use of trusses in light-frame design. Offering software and truss plates is a natural progression in the company's effort to support the component industry.

Bugbee who has been very active in the truss industry and its organizations since 1982, and has helped create many truss-related products for the company said, "As software becomes increasingly integrated, it makes sense for us to help lead the development of high-integrity design tools. Working with the existing companies in this arena has become increasingly more difficult over the past several months, leading us to the realization that we need to jump into the market with total commitment."

Terry Kingsfather, president of Simpson Strong-Tie added, "As with all Simpson Strong-Tie products, the new truss product offering will meet our high standards of quality and customer service. Our customers have been asking for these products for a long time. We know the complete Simpson Strong-Tie solution will take some months to pull together, but we are deeply committed to providing innovative products to this industry along with our engineering, testing, training and field support."

The grand opening festivities included a tour of the new 400,000 sq. ft. facility, testing in the R&D lab, product demonstrations and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We wanted our grand opening celebration to reinforce our commitment to providing exceptional products and service to our customers throughout the southwest,” said Murray Daniels, branch manager and vice president of Simpson Strong-Tie Riverside.

The new facility in Riverside’s Aqua Mansa redevelopment area is 30 miles east from its former location in Brea and houses office, manufacturing and warehouse staff. “With everything under one roof, we are able to increase efficiency while preparing for future growth,” added Daniels.

In addition to the Riverside branch, Simpson Strong-Tie has several other manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the U.S. as well as operations in more than a dozen countries worldwide.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie has been honored with the distinguished "Partners of Choice" Award for the seventh consecutive year, earning an "A" ranking in both quality and service. Sponsored by David Weekley Homes, the nation's third largest for-profit privately held home builder, the award program recognizes top-performing suppliers in David Weekley's comprehensive evaluation program, which is based on the "National Trading Partner Survey."

Every quarter, David Weekley Homes' 500+ team members (employees) review the company's 150 suppliers, known as "trading partners," and rate them on both quality and service. The "National Trading Partner Survey" tracks team member responses to measure how effective partners are in managing the supply chain. Partners are rated on a scale from 1-10. Numeric scores are averaged and an alpha ranking of A through F is assigned in 20 percent increments based on each company's relative standing to others. The award program honors suppliers who earn an "A" in quality, service or both in a 12-month period. David Weekley Homes shares the results with all participating partners each quarter to encourage ongoing communication and improvement. Simpson Strong-Tie, who has been a part of the survey since its inception in 2003, was among 10 companies this year to receive an "A,A" award.

"World-class excellence is achieved when you are willing to put your products and services against anyone, anywhere, anytime, and come out on top," said Bill Justus, vice president of supply chain services for David Weekley Homes. "The National Trading Partner evaluation platform allows us to compare companies from entirely different industries. Through their actions, Simpson Strong-Tie has demonstrated they have properly identified their customer, and consistently deliver world-class quality and service to our company."

Mike Moran, vice president of Simpson Strong-Tie builder programs, added "It's an honor to be recognized each year. David Weekley's program pushes the entire industry to higher standards of excellence in delivering quality products and customer service."

"Many other curtain-wall connectors are not tested to take into account the anchorage to the structure. Designers typically have to calculate this key connection manually, which can be complicated when considerations are made for eccentric and prying forces," explained Randy Daudet, cold-formed steel product manager for Simpson Strong-Tie and industry expert with more than 20 years of experience.

Through comprehensive testing Simpson Strong-Tie has virtually eliminated these calculations by providing the connector's load capacity and its attachment to the framing as well as its anchorage to the primary building. "By providing complete data for the entire connection system, designers save time and are reassured that all forces, including eccentric and prying forces, are adequately considered," said Daudet.

The Simpson Strong-Tie pre-engineered connectors accommodate many different bypass framing applications in stand-offs as large as 11 ¼". In addition, the new line includes connectors for head-of-wall and strut applications. All of the standard slide clips accommodate 1" of both upward and downward movement, equivalent to an L/360 live-load deflection for a 30' span. For deflections greater than 1", or stand-offs greater than 11 ¼", Simpson Strong-Tie can provide custom clips to suit most framing needs.

For more information and to download the new Connectors for Cold-Formed Steel Curtain-Wall Construction filer, visit www.strongtie.com/cfsclips.

DeckTools software is a sales, design and estimating program that enables deck builders, remodelers and suppliers to design decks in a photo-realistic, 3D environment. Users can customize nearly every detail, from the deck shape and railings to canopies and material choices. By showing homeowners images of their finished deck designs and making it easy to select upgrades instantly, sales are closed much faster. In addition, the program can quickly generate plans, proposals and material lists. Feeney is one of many brand-name deck product manufacturers to be included in the program's partners' library.

"Our success over the past 63 years stems from our experience, service, quality products and strong customer relationships, and we're very excited to be part of DeckTools program and the Simpson Strong-Tie company that shares the same business vision," said Feeney's VP of marketing, Andrew Penny. "Not only does DeckTools offer additional valuable exposure for our products, but it also provides an extremely realistic and user-friendly environment in which contractors and homeowners can easily interact with our products and clearly visualize their finished project. And this close involvement and interaction is a great way to help build strong, enduring relationships with customers."

DeckTools Software 3.3 includes new features, such as an enhanced user guide with drawings, a handy tape measure tool and new straight run layout options in its Railing Designer. It also is now easier to upgrade to stainless-steel connectors and to replace nails with SD structural-connector screws. The software retails for $1895.00. For more information about the program and to see a current list of DeckTools partners, visit the DeckTools site.

American Society of Home Inspectors conducts free deck inspections in Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle areas

Chicago, Ill. – From June 21 to June 28, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) will conduct free deck inspections for homeowners in the Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle areas to evaluate the structural safety of their decks this summer and educate them about the importance of building and maintaining a safe, strong deck. Deck Inspection Week is a collaboration between ASHI and structural safety expert Simpson Strong-Tie.

More than half of all decks in the U.S. are not built to code and in need of repair or replacement; millions are built incorrectly, have not been properly maintained or are beyond their lifespan of approximately 10-15 years. Since 2003, there have been thousands of reported injuries and more than 20 deaths as the result of deck collapses.

"Deck collapse is a real problem in America," explained ASHI President Kurt Salomon. "It is important to be aware that not all decks are built properly. Furthermore they age and deck components can fail making some decks structurally unsafe. These accidents are completely avoidable by knowing the five warning signs of an unsafe deck, regular inspections and proactive repairs."

Homeowners should check their deck each year for five key warning signs that indicate a needed repair or, in some cases, complete replacement. Warning signs include loose connections (for example, a wobbly railing), missing connections (for example, the deck is just nailed to the side of the house), corrosion (such as red rust), rot and large cracks. The two critical areas in a deck collapse are the deck's connection to the house and the railings.

"Your deck may be beautiful, but if it's not built properly, it can be a real safety hazard," said Ricardo Arevalo, VP of engineering with Simpson Strong-Tie. "Our goal this week is to help educate people about the importance of deck safety. We want to make sure families enjoy their decks safely this summer."

To receive a free inspection, homeowners must meet ASHI's deck requirements and be willing to sign an inspector agreement. A limited number of free inspections were available on a first-come, first-served basis between June 21 and June 28. Homeowners who signed up for a free deck inspection will receive a free Deck Safety Guide and a chance to win one of several deck-related prizes.

To learn more about Deck Inspection Week, visit www.facebook.com/decksafety.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie will showcase several products, including the latest release of DeckTools® deck sales and design software for lumber dealers, builders and remodelers at the PCBC tradeshow in San Francisco, June 22-24, 2011, in booth N6101.

DeckTools software provides users the ability to design custom decks in a photo-realistic, 3D environment where designs are rendered in real time. With this technology, homeowners can quickly see their deck designs as well as instant upgrades, which help close sales faster. DeckTools owners report up to a 30% increase in closing rates and 40% increase in per-project budgets. The software also has tools to generate estimates, proposals, plans and takeoffs. The most recent version 3.3 offers several new features, including an enhanced user guide with drawings, a handy tape measure tool and new straight run layout options in the Railing Designer. It also is now easier to upgrade to stainless-steel connectors and to replace nails with load-rated Strong-Drive® SD structural-connector screws.

The DeckTools library offers users several brand-name decking products to incorporate into their designs. The California Redwood Company, WP Fail-Safe, Feeney Architectural Products® and EB-TY® hidden deck fasteners are the recent brand additions to version 3.3. For current users, the software upgrade is free. For new users, the software retails for $1895.00.

The Canadian Strong Frame Selector software will narrow down the 336 available stock frames to a handful of possible solutions. Only minimum input geometries are required for the software to select an appropriate frame for the available space. If opening dimensions are outside stock frame sizes, designers can enter the specific opening dimensions, and the program will provide possible customized solutions.

The Canadian Strong Frame Selector software can accommodate uniform, partial uniform and point loads placed anywhere along the span of the beam. It also provides anchorage design for the selected frame. Both concise and detailed output options are available.

To download the software, visit the Canadian Strong Frame Moment Frame Selector Software download page.

Pleasanton, Calif. – In an effort to increase plant capacity and improve efficiency, Simpson Strong-Tie has relocated its southern California operations from Brea to Riverside in unincorporated San Bernardino County.

The company's new 400,000 sq. ft. facility is in Riverside's Aqua Mansa redevelopment area – 30 miles east of Brea. It houses office, manufacturing and warehouse staff, and will continue to serve customers in the southwest region of the U.S. "At our former Brea location, our employees, equipment and inventory were scattered throughout six buildings. Now everything is under one roof, which will increase efficiency and allow us to grow in the future," said Murray Daniels, branch manager of the Simpson Strong-Tie facility.

Simpson Strong-Tie completed its move on April 1 and has already sold its former facilities in Brea.

Please note new address:
Simpson Strong-Tie – Southwest
12246 Holly St.
Riverside, CA 92509

In addition to its southwest facility, Simpson Strong-Tie has several manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the U.S. as well as operations in more than a dozen countries worldwide.

Pleasanton, Calif. – Simpson Strong-Tie announced that it will make a $25,000 donation to Direct Relief International to assist with earthquake relief and recovery efforts in Japan. The company also will match 100% of employee donations.

The company donation will go directly to the "Japan Relief and Recovery Fund," which was created by Direct Relief International and the Japanese American Citizens League. 100% of the funds donated to the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund will be dedicated exclusively to relief and recovery efforts in Japan.

"Simpson Strong-Tie is deeply saddened by the destruction and loss of life caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan," said president Terry Kingsfather. "Our sincere sympathy goes to all the people affected by this tragedy."

Rated a Four-Star charity by Charity Navigator and endorsed by PHILANTHRO for their efficient and transparent use of funds, Direct Relief International is a privately funded humanitarian organization with extensive experience in emergency response and humanitarian health assistance worldwide. Founded in 1929, the Japanese American Citizens League is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States.