Simpson Strong-Tie Honored with Sphere 1 Partner of the Year Award

Simpson Strong-Tie has been recognized as 2012 Preferred Supplier Partner of the Year by Sphere 1, a cooperative of independent tool and fastener distributors. Simpson Strong-Tie received the premier award over 84 other Sphere 1 preferred suppliers for the second year in a row.

Individual awards were presented to companies that performed well in one of the six different criteria categories established by Sphere 1. The Preferred Supplier Partner of the Year Award goes to the organization that ranks highest overall across all six criteria, including sales volume increase over the previous year, growth percentage, number of members purchasing from the supplier, completion of Gateway for Growth Programs and Sphere 1 University student course completions in 2012.

“Congratulations to Simpson Strong-Tie for winning Partner of the Year again," Sphere 1 CEO Carol Shackelford says. "We appreciate their participation and the commitment from their outstanding team. Simpson Strong-Tie will have another opportunity to exclusively showcase their wonderful line-up of products to our membership at our Annual Member Meeting next year in May in San Antonio, Texas.”

“Being awarded the Preferred Supplier Partner of the Year for the second consecutive year is a great achievement, and we thank the Sphere 1 membership for this outstanding recognition. We look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship with Sphere 1 by providing the membership with the products, testing and customer service we are known for,” says Simpson Strong-Tie President Terry Kingsfather.

The award was presented at Sphere 1’s Annual Member Meeting on May 7-9, 2013 in Tucson, Ariz.

Robert Bosch Tool, Simpson Strong-Tie Form Strategic Alliance

Robert Bosch Tool Corp., a manufacturer of professional power tools and accessories, and Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., a provider of concrete, masonry and anchor repair solutions, has signed an agreement to form a strategic alliance that will allow the companies to jointly pursue sales, marketing and product development opportunities in the concrete construction market.

The sales combination gives the companies’ distribution partners and customers’ access to the broadest commercial and residential product portfolio in the concrete construction industry. The strategic alliance will give distributors the opportunity to compete effectively and take market share from direct sellers.

“Both the Bosch and Simpson Strong-Tie brands are synonymous with trust, integrity and quality in the concrete and masonry markets,” says Terry Horan, president and CEO, Robert Bosch Tool Corp., North America. “This strategic alliance will leverage both companies’ engineering strengths, manufacturing practices and sales expertise to deliver anchoring and fastening solutions that meet building code requirements and improve productivity for installers.”

The alliance seeks to bring to market a complete Bosch/Simpson Strong-Tie installation system, including adhesive and mechanical anchors, as well as demolition and rotary hammers and accessories, and to improve efficiency and productivity for customers. The new venture also will provide joint jobsite training to installers and will offer distribution partners a variety of sales and marketing benefits.

“The alliance between our two companies will give our distribution partners a better way to compete against direct sellers,” says Terry Kingsfather, president, Simpson Strong-Tie. “By combining Bosch’s expertise in power tools and accessory systems with the Simpson Strong-Tie focus on providing specified, value-engineered anchoring solutions, we can drive quality business to our partners and provide customers with even better solutions.”

Largest Shake Table Test Research Awarded Raymond C. Reese Prize

In 2009, SimpsonStrong-Tie collaborated with academia on the NEESWood Capstone project in Japan, the world’s largest earthquake shake table test. A research article based on that test was awarded the 2011 Raymond C. Reese Research Prize by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The research paper, “Experimental Seismic Response of a Full-Scale Six-Story Light-Frame Wood Building,” co-authored by John W. van de Lindt, M.ASCE, Shiling Pei, M.ASCE, Steven E. Pryor, M.ASCE, Simpson Strong-Tie, H. Shimizu and H. Isoda, describes testing and results from the NEESWood Capstone project.

The Raymond C. Reese Research Prize is awarded annually to a notable achievement in research related to structural engineering, with special consideration for how the research can be used. The award was presented at SEI and ASCE’s 2012 Structures Congress in Chicago on March 29-31.

The NEESWood Capstone project was developed to test new design methods for multistory, wood-frame buildings during large seismic events, and featured a seven-story, 40- by 60-foot condominium tower with 23 one- and two-bedroom living units and two retail shops on the ground level. The condo building was subjected to and withstood several earthquakes created by Japan's E-Defense shake table. The test was also intended to provide a landmark data set to the seismic engineering research community.

"The testing done in Japan shows that performance-based design for light-frame wood structures works. This will allow the engineering and building community to provide safer, better performing buildings in the most cost-effective manner,” says Simpson Strong-Tie International Director of Building Systems Steve Pryor, who co-authored the paper.

Simpson Strong-Tie Reaches $1.5 Million in Donations to Habitat for Humanity

The connection between Simpson Strong-Tie and Habitat for Humanity is growing stronger. Simpson Strong-Tie is renewing its partnership with Habitat for the sixth straight year bringing the company’s overall donation to $1.5 million.

Sharing Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live, Simpson Strong-Tie began its partnership with Habitat for Humanity International in 2007, annually providing $250,000 in cash and product donations, including the structural framing hardware (connectors and fasteners) and reinforced shear walls for new home construction.

Simpson Strong-Tie has built homes with Habitat in the United States and abroad, supported Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Projects, and responded to communities affected by natural disasters including along the U.S. Gulf Coast Region and Haiti. The partnership extends beyond financial and product donations as Simpson Strong-Tie employees volunteer their time, labor and technical skills on construction sites, training volunteers in proper connector installation and the use of tools.

Simpson Strong-Tie Enters Concrete Repair, Protection and Strengthening Industry

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 Co.

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 Manufacturing Names Fitzmyers as Chairman

Simpson Manufacturing Co. Inc. named Tom Fitzmyers as 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 Eemeritus.

"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.

Karen Colonias will assume Fitzmyers' role as president and 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, VP – engineering, and VP and branch manager of one of the company's largest profit centers. 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 and CEO of Simpson Strong-Tie Co. 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.

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