ClarkDietrich, North America’s largest manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing (CFS) products and a Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) member, will showcase a portfolio of performance-driven innovations at the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry BUILD26 Convention and Expo, March 15-18 in New Orleans.
As an event sponsor, ClarkDietrich (booth #719) will demonstrate solutions engineered to address structural movement, fire resiliency, digital integration and sustainable interior finishing.
“What differentiates ClarkDietrich is our ability to deliver performance at every layer of the wall assembly,” said Jen Edgar, vice president, marketing, ClarkDietrich. “From framing to continuous insulation and interior finishing, we are engineering solutions that work together to elevate overall building performance.”
ClarkDietrich will showcase new steel framing innovations at AWCI BUILD26 in New Orleans (booth #731).
Engineered for Movement: ProSTUD® Motion Frame Connector
A featured innovation at the show will be the ProSTUD® Motion Frame Connector, developed to address the realities of building movement in commercial structures.
Designed to accommodate omnidirectional displacement and mitigate noise associated with the movement of steel framing members often heard in high-rise buildings, the Motion Frame Connector helps reduce stress transfer between structural and non-structural components. By supporting controlled movement within wall systems, the connector enhances durability and long-term performance in environments where structural shift is inevitable.
ProSTUD® Motion Frame Connector
Advancing Digital Workflow: Next-Generation iTools
ClarkDietrich will also present its newly launched next-generation iTools app, a free digital platform designed to bring engineering precision and product expertise directly to architects, engineers and contractors. Designed to be more visual, interactive and intuitive, the revamped iTools features a new infrastructure, redesigned lookup tools and enhancements to product navigation.
Fire-Resilient Exterior Solutions: ProChannel® Ci
As fire safety and code compliance remain critical considerations in exterior wall design, ClarkDietrich will spotlight ProChannel® Ci, a thermally and structurally efficient exterior rainscreen wall cladding support system designed to meet NFPA 285 compliance requirements within tested wall assemblies. By integrating continuous insulation with steel framing components evaluated within NFPA 285-compliant assemblies, ClarkDietrich provides a streamlined path to code-aligned, high-performance building envelopes.
In addition to fire-rated performance, ProChannel Ci with Grip-Deck TubeSeal® self-sealing fasteners provides a true continuous insulation system with added benefits of thermal values, structural capacities, and air and water penetration results.
ClarkDietrich will spotlight ProChannel® Ci
Sustainable Interior Finishing: Strait-Flex® Pro-Flex300™
ClarkDietrich will also feature Strait-Flex® Pro-Flex300™, a PVC-free flexible corner bead engineered to elevate both performance and sustainability in interior drywall finishing applications.
Pro-Flex300 is one of the only corner beads in the industry to carry a third-party verified Health Product Declaration, confirming the absence of Red List chemicals. The product supports material transparency initiatives while reducing resource consumption through a roll-dispensed format that eliminates cutoff waste and requires significantly less joint compound compared to traditional stick beads.
By combining verified material health credentials with efficient installation and durable performance, Pro-Flex300 reinforces ClarkDietrich’s commitment to responsible product innovation.
Visit Trade Show Booth #719
BUILD26 is the largest trade show for the wall and ceiling industry, highlighting products, services and solutions for metal framing, drywall, lath, plaster, EIFS, insulation, ceilings, acoustics and more. As a sponsor of BUILD26, ClarkDietrich continues to invest in advancing the wall and ceiling industry through education, innovation and collaboration. The company invites attendees to visit its exhibit at booth #719 to explore these solutions and engage with technical experts who can support project-specific challenges.
Read the ClarkDietrich news release.
About ClarkDietrichClarkDietrich® is the leading manufacturer of a full line of drywall studs and accessories, structural studs and joists, metal lath and accessories, shaft wall studs and track, interior and exterior finishing products, and connectors and accessories for commercial and residential construction. Quality manufacturing, a full-line offering, national distribution, engineering services and responsive customer service position ClarkDietrich as the largest manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing in North America.
Clarkwestern Dietrich Building Systems is a 75/25 joint venture with Marubeni-Itochu Steel America Inc. (MISA) and Worthington Enterprises, Inc.
For more information, visit clarkdietrich.com.
Additional Resources
- ClarkDietrich Launches Industry-First Embodied Carbon Calculator for Cold-Formed Steel
- ClarkDietrich Cuts Emissions to Help Builders Procure Lower-Carbon Products
- How to Specify Low Embodied Carbon Steel Framing for Construction Projects