No stranger to readers of Walls & Ceilings, Structus was founded in 1996 by Tim Smythe. Perhaps best known for its No-Coat product line, the manufacturer also offers AquaBead and Hydrotrim water-activated corners, Optimus Drywall Corner Reinforcement, EasyFlex Flexible Corner Bead, the AutoPRO drywall finishing machines, Ultraflex, Ultratrim, Ultra Arch and Ultratool drywall finishing tools and accessories, and Levelline drywall corner trim. Structus is a private label supplier of AquaBead, Optimus and EasyFlex to CertainTeed Gypsum in North America and in Europe to CertainTeed’s parent company, Saint-Gobain.
“Structus gives our business three vital elements—a dedicated employee base committed to driving innovation every day, a tremendous product portfolio, and above all else, an entrepreneurial and customer-focused spirit,” said Dave Engelhardt, president of CertainTeed Gypsum. “Driven by founder Tim Smythe and CEO Bill Scannell, Structus has ushered in a new technological era, revolutionizing the way the building industry designs and constructs wall systems. And, as a private label partner for the last six years, this purchase is a natural fit for our company and our future.”
“When I considered selling the business a number of months ago, I wanted to find a buyer who shared my vision for making products better and making the job of the drywall installer easier,” said Smythe. “I found it in … CertainTeed Gypsum—a partner committed not only to products but to our people, culture and vision for the future. In addition, I’m extremely grateful to Zachary Scott & Co, a trusted financial advisor to our shareholders for nearly a decade who has been a key partner in this sale transaction.”
Structus includes a single manufacturing location in Bend, Ore., with 60 employees. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Innovation is a key driver throughout CertainTeed’s wallboard business as demonstrated through products like AirRenew, which actively cleans indoor air spaces,” added Engelhardt. “Structus helps further position CertainTeed Gypsum as the leader in finishing solutions as well, with a suite of innovative, high performance products that are easy to install, improve room aesthetics and eliminate impact damage and edge-cracking callbacks.”
This acquisition opens additional opportunities for Structus products to be sold through CertainTeed Gypsum’s sister businesses globally via Saint-Gobain.