EXPERIENCE | INNOVATION | INTEGRITY
CEMCO® is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Founded in 1974, CEMCO is recognized as one of the largest manufacturers of steel framing and metal lath systems in the United States. CEMCO has built its reputation on the finest in quality material, using mill certified hot-dipped galvanized steel. Equipped with state-of-the-art roll formers and four strategically located manufacturing facilities, CEMCO excels in supplying both small and large construction projects throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Pacific Rim.
All CEMCO products are manufactured right here in the USA. CEMCO is primarily a roll-former of cold-formed steel framing products, expanded metal lath products, drywall corners, control/expansion joints, plaster trims, screeds, weeps and several proprietary products and systems such as ProX Header®, Sure-Board® for Shear for the commercial, institutional, mid-rise, multifamily and residential construction sectors. Through our 50 years of success, we have also ventured into the firestopping market.
In October 2022 CEMCO was purchased by JFE Shoji America Holdings, Inc., giving CEMCO a bright future for growth and expansion. Led by president and CEO Tom Porter, CEMCO continues to provide the highest quality products backed by the best customer service and support in the industry. Our team of customer service, sales and manufacturing experts is committed to maintaining our place as a leader in the construction products industry.
CEMCO’s core products include cold-formed steel framing products that are roll-formed using state-of-the-art roll-forming equipment in each of our four facilities. Backed by decades of operational experience, customers of CEMCO continue to rely on products that are code-compliant with IBC, CBC and IRC standards. As an active member in the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) as well as the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), the Cold-Formed Steel Engineering Institute (CFSEI) as well as many other regional and local entities, CEMCO’s leadership of and commitment to the steel framing market is unparalleled.
For 50 years, CEMCO has continued to provide the construction industry with quality products all manufactured in the USA. Through our research and development efforts, CEMCO provides innovative products that save both time and money for architects, engineers, developers and installers. Recent developments include RC1-XD™ for sound abatement in commercial, multifamily and residential structures in both steel and wood-framed assemblies. Sure-Board for Shear products now include a non-combustible solution, Series 200S/F, for floor and roof applications. Designed to provide easier installation, the Sure-Board panels are a composite sheathing product available in 4-foot by 4-foot panels with 20 gauge thick hot-dipped galvanized steel sheet adhered to a magnesium oxide substrate for a one-step installation that not only acts as a subfloor but also provides a proven solution for shear.
CEMCO’s metal lath and plastering accessories offering is one of the broadest in the industry. Also manufactured from mill-certified hot-dipped galvanized steel, these exterior applied lath products have been the support for cement plaster systems in hundreds of thousands of buildings, houses and institutions since way back in 1974. A complete line of plastering accessories for corners, foundations and doors/windows allows for one-stop shopping when it comes to popular three-coat plaster systems as well as newer exterior finish systems, all while meeting the most recent building code requirements. As the exterior finishes industry continued to grow and expand into more efficient systems, CEMCO developed a complete line of water management products like #7 Extended Sill Screed, M-Slide Expansion Joint™, and the popular #12 Soffit Drip Edge® for improved protection of structures from potential water intrusion and damage.
With all these products, CEMCO did not stop there. Through exhaustive research efforts, CEMCO responded to the industry’s need for firestopping solutions that would last the lifetime of a typical building. Back in 2009 the first of many firestopping solutions for head-of-wall assemblies was launched. Today, CEMCO offers a multitude of firestopping solutions such as Fire Bead®, Fire Gasket®, HOTROD® XL and FireRip™ providing fire protection that lasts the lifetime of the building.
CEMCO’s Fire Bead® is a fire-rated wall mount deflection bead that provides one- and two-hour fire-ratings for both dynamic and static joints according to UL-2079 5th edition (for both standard walls and shaft walls).
Fire Gasket® is a fire-rated composite vinyl intumescent accessory that provides fire-ratings for both dynamic and static joints with both concrete and fluted deck assemblies according to UL-2079 5th edition. Fire Gasket® also provides one- and two-hour fire-ratings, and an L-rating of less than 1 CFM in three versions provides 1/2″, 1″ and 1 1/2″ of unencumbered movement and is sound tested according to ASTM E90.
HOTROD® XL is a composite fire-rated wall mount deflection bead that provides 1- and 2-hour fire-ratings in lieu of fire sealant for both dynamic (13/16″ overall movement) and static joints. FireRip™ is a composite steel angle encased in fire-rated drywall that provides unencumbered dynamic movement per UL-2079 5th edition. FireRip comes in 8-foot lengths and three sizes to provide unencumbered fire-rated joint protection for 2″, 3″ and 4″ wide joints. With the success of these firestopping innovations and many others in development, CEMCO continues to be a leader in this market as well.
How does CEMCO do it? Well, with an in-house IAS accredited testing laboratory (IAS TL-316), researchers are busy at work developing and testing possible labor-saving products and systems that meet or exceed ASTM, ICC and UL standards. Equipped with the latest in state-of-the-art instrumentation, CEMCO’s team of engineers, drafters and technicians continuously meet with CEMCO’s sales and marketing teams to devise solutions for all stakeholders in every sector of the construction industry. Strategic partnerships with other industry leaders provide guidance and expertise often resulting in paradigm-shifting advancements in construction technology as well as labor-saving products to end-users. We continue to look for future challenges in providing options that will expand the availability of safer, more productive and easier-to-use solutions to the construction industry at large.
Now that we have given you a complete view of CEMCO’s history, current capabilities, as well as our intentions to continue our leadership path, we humbly ask for your support for the next 50 years. Once a family-owned business working from a garage making Corner Aid, CEMCO has grown into four full-scale steel processing and manufacturing facilities strategically located in four major metropolitan centers (greater Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth). Known for our quality of product, service and support, CEMCO continues to seek opportunities to service you, the end-user.
For more information visit us at www.cemcosteel.com, or contact one of our local experienced sales professionals.
Here is to another 50 years of success!
About the Author
Steve Farkas is a 24-year veteran of CEMCO® and currently serves as director of business development, leading multiple CEMCO teams including architectural support, advertising and marketing, research and development, structural engineering as well as technical services. He is an active member in ASTM, CFSEI and SFIA.
