Simpson Strong-Tie
A global structural-solutions brand specializing in engineered connectors, fasteners, anchors, seismic and wind-resistance systems, construction software, and related building technologies.
Last updated October 17, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Simpson Strong-Tie is an American structural-solutions brand and operating subsidiary of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. It designs, engineers, manufactures, and supports products used to connect, reinforce, anchor, and protect wood, concrete, steel, cold-formed steel, and mass-timber structures. Its customers include structural engineers, architects, contractors, truss and component manufacturers, production homebuilders, lumber and building-material dealers, national retailers, original-equipment manufacturers, and do-it-yourself homeowners. The company traces its origin to 1956, when founder Barclay “Barc” Simpson was asked whether he could make a connector for joining the ends of 2-by-4 lumber in a roof. Simpson produced an early joist hanger using a punch press at his father’s window-screen factory in Oakland, California. The initial product-led business grew around a practical proposition: engineered metal connectors could make construction more consistent, safer, and easier to inspect than improvised field solutions. The company’s early portfolio centered on wood framing, including joist hangers, angle brackets, holdowns, hurricane ties, and other products for single-family and multifamily construction. Over time, Simpson Strong-Tie expanded from discrete wood connectors into a broad structural-systems platform. Its portfolio now includes structural screws and fastening systems, mechanical and adhesive anchoring, prefabricated shearwalls, moment frames, continuous rod assemblies, retrofit bolts, steel and cold-formed-steel framing products, products for mass timber, and carbon- and glass-fiber-polymer systems for repairing and strengthening concrete, masonry, and asphalt. The company also offers design, estimating, component-manufacturing, and ordering software intended to connect engineering decisions with material selection and production workflows. The brand’s differentiation rests on engineering, testing, code compliance, field support, and education rather than on consumer advertising alone. Simpson Strong-Tie emphasizes code-listed and value-engineered solutions, technical documentation, product testing, training centers, software tools, and support from engineers and field specialists. Its stated mission is to provide solutions that help people design and build safer, stronger structures, while its stated vision is to provide trusted construction solutions on jobs worldwide. The brand operates within Simpson Manufacturing’s larger public-company structure. Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SSD, while Simpson Strong-Tie remains the group’s principal structural-solutions business and is not separately listed. The parent company has used acquisitions, international subsidiaries, manufacturing expansion, and digital tools to extend the brand beyond traditional hardware. Notable strategic developments include the integration of European businesses, the acquisition of S&P Clever Reinforcement, the 2022 acquisition of ETANCO, and the 2024 acquisition of Calculated Structured Designs, a software company whose iStruct products support engineered-wood design and component workflows. Simpson Strong-Tie’s present positioning combines professional-grade structural hardware with engineering services, software, training, and jobsite guidance. The company sells through professional distribution, national retail, direct and regional channels, and other construction-industry relationships. It also maintains a community and workforce-development profile through student scholarships, disaster-relief support, skilled-trades initiatives, employee recognition, and Community Hero programs. In 2026, the company marked its seventieth anniversary and continued expanding manufacturing, retrofit, outdoor-living, software, and construction-equipment offerings.
History
Simpson Strong-Tie began in 1956 in California after Barclay “Barc” Simpson was asked to solve a straightforward framing problem: how to connect the ends of two-by-four members at a roof. Simpson developed a metal joist hanger using a punch press at his father’s window-screen factory in Oakland. The first commercial concept was practical rather than highly corporate—make a repeatable metal connector that could improve the strength, speed, and consistency of wood-frame construction. The early company established a product-development pattern that remained central to the brand: listen to contractors and builders, identify a recurring field problem, engineer a hardware solution, and support that solution with testing and technical information. Early products included the F24 connector, reinforced angle brackets, face-mount hangers, and other components for wood framing. These products helped establish Simpson Strong-Tie as a specialist in structural connectors rather than a general hardware label. As residential construction expanded and building codes increasingly emphasized wind, seismic, and load-path performance, the company broadened its wood-framing portfolio. Joist hangers, beam hangers, holdowns, hurricane ties, straps, anchors, and structural screws gave builders a coordinated family of products for transferring loads through walls, roofs, floors, and foundations. The company also developed strong relationships with structural engineers, code officials, distributors, production builders, and professional installers. The brand later moved beyond conventional dimensional-lumber construction. It developed solutions for cold-formed steel and structural steel, introduced prefabricated shearwalls and moment frames for lateral-force resistance, expanded into concrete and masonry anchoring, and added repair and strengthening technologies based on carbon- and glass-fiber polymers. Mass-timber construction, retrofit work, infrastructure, institutional buildings, remodeling, and mid-rise commercial projects became part of its addressable market. A major part of the company’s evolution was the expansion from hardware into systems and technical services. Simpson Strong-Tie produces engineering catalogs, installation guidance, load tables, testing information, software, training, and field support. Digital products help users select connectors, design structural systems, estimate materials, lay out components, and connect engineering requirements with manufacturing and ordering. The 2024 acquisition of Calculated Structured Designs strengthened the company’s software capabilities through the iStruct platform for engineered-wood design and material reporting. International expansion also became important. Simpson Manufacturing established and acquired businesses serving European and other markets, creating a broader group of Simpson Strong-Tie and related subsidiaries. The European organization includes operations connected with Denmark, Switzerland, France, Germany, and other markets, while the company also serves customers in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Vietnam, and additional regions. The 2022 acquisition of ETANCO represented a significant expansion of Simpson Manufacturing’s European fastening and construction-products presence. Earlier acquisitions and investments also added concrete-reinforcement and structural-strengthening capabilities. The brand’s culture is closely associated with Barc Simpson’s Nine Principles of Business, which emphasize customer focus, straightforward conduct, high-quality products, leadership, respect, long-term thinking, innovation, humility, and giving back. These principles have been used to frame product development, employee practices, community programs, training, and customer service. Simpson Strong-Tie has also invested in manufacturing and workforce development. Its operating model combines factories, warehouses, training centers, engineering laboratories, technical personnel, distributors, retail relationships, and digital channels. The company supports student scholarships and undergraduate fellowships, contributes to disaster relief, recognizes employees and community volunteers through Community Hero programs, and participates in skilled-trades initiatives. In 2026, the company celebrated its seventieth anniversary. The anniversary messaging presented the business as having evolved from a single joist hanger into a global provider of structural hardware, anchoring, fastening, software, equipment, and repair systems. Current leadership operates under Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange as SSD. Mike Olosky serves as president and chief executive officer of the parent company, while Simpson Strong-Tie remains the central operating brand and principal structural-solutions business.
- 2026
Seventieth anniversary
[4]Simpson Strong-Tie marked seventy years of structural-connector and building-solutions development.
- 2026
Gallatin manufacturing facility opened
[17]The company announced the grand opening of a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Gallatin, Tennessee.
- 2024
Calculated Structured Designs acquired
[7]The company acquired CSD, developer of iStruct software for engineered-wood design and component workflows.
- 2023
Mike Olosky becomes chief executive officer
[16]Mike Olosky became chief executive officer on January 1, 2023, after previously serving as chief operating officer.
- 2022
ETANCO acquisition
[15]Simpson Manufacturing acquired ETANCO, expanding its European construction-fastening and building-products operations.
- 2017
International trade litigation over anchors
[14]Simpson Strong-Tie litigated issues concerning the tariff classification and scope of trade orders affecting certain masonry-anchor products.
- 2010
California Supreme Court advertising litigation
[11]The California Supreme Court decided Simpson Strong-Tie Co. v. Gore, a case involving the company’s defamation and related claims over advertising concerning galvanized deck screws.
- 2009
NEESWood capstone earthquake project
[3]Simpson Strong-Tie participated in the NEESWood research program, associated with large-scale testing of wood-framed structures for earthquake performance.
- 2001
Expansion of international Simpson Strong-Tie operations
[13]Simpson Manufacturing disclosures describe the development of international subsidiaries and the continued expansion of the Strong-Tie business outside North America.
- 1957
Reinforced angle brackets introduced
[4]The A34 and A35 reinforced angle brackets expanded the early connector range for wood framing.
Products and positioning
Professional and specification-driven structural building-products brand positioned around engineered performance, safety, code compliance, rigorous testing, technical support, and integrated design-to-installation solutions. The brand generally competes in the premium or mid-to-high-end segment of structural connectors, fastening systems, anchors, and related construction technologies.
Wood and structural connectors · 1956
Strong-Tie Structural Connectors
The core product family includes joist hangers, beam hangers, angle brackets, straps, holdowns, hurricane ties, post bases, post caps, and related connectors. These products are engineered to transfer gravity, uplift, lateral, and tension forces through wood-framed structures and are supported by load tables, installation instructions, testing, and code-related documentation.
Fasteners
Strong-Drive Structural Screws
Strong-Drive is a family of structural screws and related fasteners used for wood-to-wood, wood-to-steel, connector, deck, retrofit, and heavy-duty framing applications. The line is positioned as an alternative or complement to bolts and traditional nails where engineered fastening, installation speed, and documented performance are important.
Lateral-force-resisting systems
Strong-Wall Shearwall Systems
Strong-Wall products are prefabricated shearwall systems designed to resist lateral loads in wood, steel, and other building applications. They are used where conventional framed shear walls may be difficult to configure or where builders and engineers need a manufactured component with defined structural characteristics and installation requirements.
Fastening tools and equipment
Quik Drive Fastening Systems
Quik Drive combines screw fasteners with tools and accessories designed to speed repetitive fastening in subflooring, decking, drywall, underlayment, roofing, and other construction applications. The system is used by professional installers and includes specialized tools such as the Project Pro screw-driving platform.
Concrete and masonry anchoring
Mechanical and Adhesive Anchors
Simpson Strong-Tie provides mechanical anchors, adhesive anchoring systems, threaded rods, dowels, and related accessories for securing structural elements to concrete and masonry. Products such as SET and AT adhesive systems are supported by installation procedures, design information, and substrate-specific engineering guidance.
Retrofit and anchoring products
RFB Retrofit Bolts
RFB retrofit bolts are used in concrete and masonry retrofit applications. The line has been expanded with additional diameters and lengths, multiple steel grades, and stainless-steel options for projects requiring different strength, corrosion-resistance, or environmental characteristics.
Outdoor-living structural hardware
Outdoor Accents
Outdoor Accents is a line of black powder-coated structural hardware for decks, pergolas, gazebos, fences, and other outdoor structures. The collection combines load-rated connectors and fasteners with a more decorative appearance intended for visible exterior applications.
Construction and engineering software
iStruct Software
iStruct software, developed by Calculated Structured Designs and acquired by Simpson Strong-Tie in 2024, supports engineered-wood product design, three-dimensional layout, member design, and material reporting. It strengthens Simpson’s strategy of linking structural engineering, component manufacturing, and material ordering through digital tools.
Repair and strengthening systems
Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Systems
The company offers carbon- and glass-fiber-polymer products for repair, protection, and strengthening of concrete, masonry, and asphalt. These systems extend the brand beyond new construction into rehabilitation, infrastructure maintenance, and structural remediation.
Marketing campaigns
- 202670th Anniversary
Global
A corporate anniversary program marking seventy years since Barc Simpson created the company’s first roof connector. The campaign used historical milestones, product stories, community recognition, and customer storytelling to connect the brand’s origins with its current structural-solutions platform.
Outcome. The program reinforced the brand’s heritage, engineering identity, and community-oriented positioning.
- 2026Share Your Simpson Strong-Tie Story Sweepstakes
United States
A 70th-anniversary promotional program invited participants to submit short stories about their connection with Simpson Strong-Tie. The program ran from April 30 through May 31, 2026, under official sponsor rules.
Outcome. The program generated customer and community participation around the anniversary theme.
- 2026Community Hero Awards
Global
The Community Hero program recognizes employees, partners, and volunteers who demonstrate service, integrity, innovation, and community involvement.
Outcome. The program became part of the company’s anniversary-era community and employee-recognition platform.
- 2026Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition
United States
Simpson Strong-Tie joined Lowe’s Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition as a founding member, participating in a broader effort to strengthen the American skilled-trades workforce.
Outcome. The initiative expanded the company’s workforce-development and industry-partnership profile.
- 2024Student Scholarship and Undergraduate Fellowship
United States
Scholarships and undergraduate fellowships support students pursuing construction, engineering, architecture, and related fields. The program reflects the company’s interest in developing the future construction and structural-engineering workforce.
Outcome. The company reported more than $2 million in cumulative student scholarship support by 2026.
- Disaster Relief Support
United States
Simpson Strong-Tie regularly supports relief following wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, including donations to the American Red Cross.
Outcome. The program supports the company’s stated value of giving back and links the brand to resilient communities and safer structures.
Brand decisions
2026
Expansion of North American manufacturing capacityStrategyBackground
The company continued to invest in domestic production capacity as part of its structural-solutions and supply-chain strategy.
Action taken
Simpson Strong-Tie opened a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Gallatin, Tennessee.
Aftermath
The facility increased the company’s manufacturing footprint and supported continued North American production and distribution.
2026
Expansion of RFB retrofit boltsProduct launchBackground
Retrofit and rehabilitation projects require different diameters, lengths, steel grades, and corrosion-resistance options depending on substrate and exposure conditions.
Action taken
Simpson Strong-Tie expanded the RFB line with additional sizes, Grade 36, Grade 55, Grade 105, and 304 and 316 stainless-steel options.
Aftermath
The expanded range broadened the product’s applicability in concrete and masonry retrofit work.
2026
Expansion of Outdoor Accents EssentialsProduct launchBackground
Outdoor structures require structural hardware that can meet engineering requirements while remaining visually appropriate for exposed applications.
Action taken
The company added post bases, joist hangers, screws, and a deck tension tie to the black powder-coated collection.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the range of visible structural hardware available for decks and outdoor-living projects.
2024
Acquisition of Calculated Structured DesignsM&ABackground
Simpson Strong-Tie identified engineered-wood software and digital workflows as strategic extensions of its structural-products business. CSD’s iStruct platform served customers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Action taken
Simpson Strong-Tie acquired CSD and added its software capabilities to the Simpson organization.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Simpson’s design, layout, engineering, and material-reporting capabilities and strengthened its digital-solutions strategy.
2023
Leadership transition to Mike OloskyStrategyBackground
Simpson Manufacturing continued its leadership transition after Olosky had served as chief operating officer for two years.
Action taken
Mike Olosky became president and chief executive officer on January 1, 2023.
Aftermath
The company continued emphasizing engineering, digital solutions, customer support, culture, and global structural-products growth under Olosky’s leadership.
2022
Acquisition of ETANCOM&ABackground
Simpson Manufacturing pursued broader European scale in fastening and construction products through the acquisition of ETANCO.
Action taken
Simpson Manufacturing acquired ETANCO and integrated it into its European operations.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the group’s European product portfolio, customer base, and manufacturing and distribution presence.
Acquisition consideration. 805.4 million USD (2022)
Recent events
- 2026
Simpson Strong-Tie celebrates its 70th anniversary[4]
Campaign · Other
The company marked seventy years since Barc Simpson developed its first roof connector and highlighted product, manufacturing, community, scholarship, and innovation milestones.
- 2026
Simpson Strong-Tie opens a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Gallatin, Tennessee[17]
strategy · Other
The company held the grand opening of a new manufacturing plant in Gallatin, Tennessee, expanding its North American production footprint.
- 2026
Simpson Strong-Tie expands its RFB retrofit-bolt line[17]
Product launch · Product generation
The company announced new diameters, lengths, grades, and stainless-steel options for retrofit bolts used in concrete and masonry applications.
- 2026
Simpson Strong-Tie expands Outdoor Accents Essentials hardware[17]
Product launch
The company added post bases, joist hangers, screws, and a deck tension tie to its black powder-coated outdoor-living hardware collection.
- 2026
Simpson Strong-Tie warns against unapproved fasteners[17]
Regulation · Other
The company warned installers that substituting fasteners not specified or approved for a connector can compromise the performance of structural assemblies.
- 2026
Popular Mechanics honors the Quik Drive Project Pro tool[17]
Product launch · Other
The Quik Drive Project Pro screw-driving tool received a 2026 Tool Award from Popular Mechanics.
- 2026
Simpson Strong-Tie joins the Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition[17]
Campaign · Other
The company joined Lowe’s Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition as a founding member to support construction workforce development.
- 2024
Simpson Strong-Tie acquires Calculated Structured Designs[7]
M&A · strategy
The company acquired Canada-based Calculated Structured Designs, developer of iStruct software for engineered-wood design, engineering, layout, and material reporting in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
- 2024
Simpson Strong-Tie student scholarship and undergraduate fellowship[19]
Campaign
The company continued its scholarship and fellowship programs for students pursuing construction, engineering, architecture, and related fields.
- 2024
Simpson Strong-Tie v. MiTek copyright and unfair-competition litigation[12]
Lawsuit
A federal court addressed litigation concerning Simpson’s allegations that MiTek copied product names and portions of structural-connector catalogs. The case concerned intellectual-property and competitive practices rather than a product recall.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources19 sources
- 1About Simpson Strong-Tiestrongtie.com
- 2Simpson Strong-Tie Mission, Vision and Valuesstrongtie.com
- 3Simpson Strong-Tie 70th Anniversarystrongtie.com
- 4Simpson Strong-Tie Celebrates 70th Anniversarynews.strongtie.com
- 5Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2025 Form 10-Ksec.gov
- 6Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2026 Proxy Statementsec.gov
- 7Simpson Strong-Tie acquisition of Calculated Structured Designsnews.strongtie.com
- 8Simpson Strong-Tie 2024 Annual Report disclosuressec.gov
- 9Gentry Homes, Ltd. v. Simpson Strong-Tie Co.law.justia.com
- 10Salhotra v. Simpson Strong-Tie Companylaw.justia.com
- 11Simpson Strong-Tie Co. v. Gorelaw.justia.com
- 12Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. v. MiTek Inc.law.justia.com
- 13Expansion of international Simpson Strong-Tie operationsannualreports.com
- 14International trade litigation over anchorslaw.justia.com
- 15ETANCO acquisitionannualreports.com
- 16Mike Olosky becomes chief executive officerblog.strongtie.com
- 17Gallatin manufacturing facility openednews.strongtie.com
- 18Share Your Simpson Strong-Tie Story Sweepstakesstrongtie.com
- 19Student Scholarship and Undergraduate Fellowshipnews.strongtie.com
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/simpson-strong-tie · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled