ITW Buildex Revolutionizes Threaded Rrod Attachment

ITW Buildex opened its doors in 1967 with a total of four employees and a mission to market the ITW Shakeproof self-drilling fastener, TEKS®, to the construction marketplace. Our commitment to research and new product development lead to the launch of globally-acclaimed products such as Tapcon® and E-Z Ancor® Products and has guided the company through three decades of continuous growth by meeting the construction industry’s ever-changing needs for quality and cost-effective fastening solutions.

The acquisition of the patented Sammys® product line in 2002 extended the breadth of our offering into the market by serving the commercial electrical trades as well as the cabling, fire protection, plumbing and HVAC installers with a user-friendly system to install threaded rod. By increasing productivity, our Sammys products enable our end users to compete profitably in the marketplace. Sammys provide a fast and efficient way to secure conduit trays and suspend luminaires for both new and retrofit construction projects.

Our core product, Sammys and Sidewinders®, allow for both vertical and horizontal installation of the anchor and are available with an internal tap of ¼”, 3/8” and ½” for threaded rod. A s inventors of the Teks self-drilling fastener for steel, Buildex brings thirty years of expertise to this category, offering a range of self-drilling, self-tapping anchors that will install in steel ranging from 22 gauge to ½” in thickness. Our original Tapcon masonry anchor coupled with the Sammy technology, provides high performance in poured concrete while requiring only a ¼” pilot hole.

As a domestic manufacturer, we pride ourselves on our ability to work with the contractors to bring innovative fastening solutions to their construction requirements. Our desire to meet their needs on the jobsite enables Buildex to provide value-added products through our distributor channel partners. Backed by a proactive engineering staff, our technical support help line is open to address application issues immediately. Attachment to wood, steel concrete and now, metal deck is fast and economical.

Our trade focus approach to new product development has enabled Buildex to introduce an innovative addition to the Sammy X-Press® product line, X-Press Lite (XP 200), which will revolutionize the electrical trade. The Sammy X-Press System is designed to provide direct attachment of threaded rod in metal deck (minimum 22 gauge) and thin gauge purlin (minimum 16 gauge), while providing reduced installation costs in terms of time and materials. The X-Press Anchors eliminate the need for costly trapeze installations. Current methods offered for thin gauge purlin require use of a time-consuming retaining nut on the threaded portion of the fastener to prevent pullout and are not designed for use in metal deck. In many instances, access to the backside of the installed anchor is prohibited by panel liner, roofing insulation, or lightweight concrete. Sammy X-Press Anchors deliver the performance installers require without the use of a retaining nut!

The patent-pending X-Press Anchors consist of a threaded fastener and expandable sleeve. The X-Press System features an easy-to-install anchor with expanding anchoring strips that collapse to prevent pullout after installation. The Sammy X-Press It ä Installation Tool assures a perfect installation every time offering the added convenience of one-tool efficiency – just drill and drive in seconds! SECONDS!

The X-Press System has earned the UL Listing and was tested to comply with the NEC standards.

The Sammy Saddle™ System attaches to new or previously installed ¼” or 3/8” threaded rod in a snap. The plenum-rated system is UL approved and provides easy management of up to 35 category 5 cables. The system will also support conduit. Made of non-corrosive, non-conducting material, the saddle can be used alone or in multiples to create a vertical trapeze.

Visit www.SammySuperScrew.com or www.ITWbuildex.com for additional information about our company and its products.

Andrea Basalay is Market Manager for ITW Buildex. She can be reached by email at abasalay@itwbuildex.com.