March 8, 2006—Dietrich Metal Framing, a Worthington Industries company, has signed an exclusive sublicensing agreement with Clark Western for UltraSTEEL metal framing products using patented technology of Hadley Industries PLC. Dietrich has a licensing agreement with Hadley for exclusive rights to manufacture and sell metal framing using the UltraSTEEL technology in North America.
UltraSTEEL is an internationally patented method of altering the characteristics of the base strip steel providing higher strength material. Additional benefits have been verified by independent sources and the product has received certification by Underwriters Laboratories. The product will improve speed and quality of the building process by allowing for faster and better fastening of both the framing products and wallboard, says Dietrich. UltraSTEEL’s greater rigidity and smoother edges also make handling easier and safer.
Dietrich has begun making UltraSTEEL framing products available in Florida, North and South Carolina and Georgia while systematically rolling them out across North America as Dietrich manufacturing facilities convert to the UltraSTEEL process. Clark Western will employ a similar plan to make the product more readily available in the marketplace. Clark, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, with 14 manufacturing locations, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marubeni-Itochu Steel America.
Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company with annual sales of approximately $3 billion. For more information, visit the Web site.
