"The floor joist system represented a carefully developed and tested new concept. "They evaluated our requirements and provided us with an affordable turnkey manufacturing line," says Hall. Sutherland Presses, Malibu, Calif., offered a practical solution. We wanted something simple to maintain that could accommodate our die designs and our budget." We didn't need machines with a lot of bells and whistles. "We needed press technology that we could understand and easily train our personnel on. "Though an experienced roll-forming company, this type of flaring and embossing was new to us," says Hall. THE RIGHT PRESS COMPANY WAS SUTHERLAND, (Testimonial) The manufacturer submitted drawings to several press manufacturers but found the recommended machines complicated and too expensive. To produce the floor joists commercially, Cemco needed the right press. As a result, Sure-Span exhibits equal or greater strength capacity when compared to floor joists with no punch-outs." Prototype testing verified Hall's findings. These features counter reduction of sectional strength due to holes. "Our system eliminates this problem with specially designed flares and embossment. "Traditional over-sized or atypically large punch-outs compromise the floor joist's overall capacity and structural integrity," Hall says. Unlike conventional floor joists, Sure-Span features large trapezoidal-shaped punch-outs that give plumbing, HVAC and electrical contractors built-in access for a variety of services without sacrificing the structural integrity and sturdiness of long floor spans. Sure-Span's patented system can support both commercial and residential construction projects. Hall completed development of the light-gauge steel floor joist system in 2002. Aware of the competition, Cemco decided it needed a product that would give it an edge. "In 2001, one of our principal competitors was working on developing a system similar to our concept," says Georgi Hall, director of engineering at Cemco and the inventor of Sure-Span.
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The company's manufacturing and engineering teams were tasked with finding a press that could anchor the line and fabricate complex parts.īased in City of Industry, Calif., Cemco has four production plants and is one of the largest manufacturers of steel framing and metal lath systems in the United States.
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The system required new roll-forming, embossing and flaring technologies that could meet evolving consumer demands, strict industry standards and Cemco's criteria for quality and affordability. California Expanded Metal Products, known as Cemco, took these business practices a step further when it developed an innovative floor joist system called Sure-Span. The cold-formed steel industry's competitive environment is driving todayâ¢s manufacturers to streamline operations and adopt technologies to increase efficiency and add value to end products.