SidePlate

NEWS RELEASE

Date: May 7, 2009

MiTek Acquires SidePlate Systems Inc.

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – MiTek Inc. announced today the acquisition, through its subsidiary MiTek Holdings Inc., of SidePlate Systems Inc., an innovator of proprietary high-performance steel frame connection technologies used in a wide range of construction applications. MiTek, the world’s leading supplier of state-of-the-art engineered connector products, equipment, software and services for the building components industry, is a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

“The acquisition of SidePlate further extends the MiTek group’s field of interest into the commercial, institutional and heavy industrial construction markets and is a terrific addition to the MiTek family,” stated Gene Toombs, chairman and CEO of MiTek. “The planned enhancements to infrastructure in the U.S., along with more stringent requirements for resilient structures, make this a current and forward-thinking solution for multi-hazard design applications.”

All SidePlate associates will remain with the company, and Henry Gallart will continue to serve as president, along with Jared Adams remaining as senior vice president. SidePlate will operate as a separate company.

“We are delighted to be part of the MiTek and Berkshire Hathaway team. SidePlate’s combination with MiTek will allow us to accelerate the commercialization and development of SidePlate’s connection technologies,” stated Gallart.

Developed in direct response to the devastation caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake, SidePlate’s technologies are ingeniously designed to protect structures against natural and manmade disasters, including earthquakes, blast attacks and progressive collapse. SidePlate’s solutions are backed by full-scale laboratory testing for earthquake applications, as well as unprecedented testing for blast and progressive collapse.

SidePlate Systems Inc., based in Laguna Hills, Calif., is known for its product innovation, unique engineering solutions, and outstanding business relationships. SidePlate’s solutions have proved to make steel-frame construction faster, more robust, safer and more cost-effective. Visit www.sideplate.com for additional information.

MiTek is the world’s leading supplier of state-of-the-art engineered connector products, equipment, software and services for the residential building components industry. MiTek’s component fabricators lead the industry in delivering prefabricated trusses and wall panels to the residential housing industry. With operations on five continents, MiTek is a global operation serving customers in more than 90 countries. Headquartered in Chesterfield, Mo., it is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. For more information about MiTek, visit www.mii.com.

SidePlate is pleased to announce our move into expanded offices.

Our new corporate address is:

23332 Mill Creek Drive, Suite 225

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

We are proud to announce the launch of our New Website. We have expanded our website to make it an excellent resource for Engineers, Architects, Owners, Contractors, Steel Fabricators and Erectors to choose the best Connection System for their projects. We have also re-designed our corporate logo to have a fresh and new look.

On Thursday, January 15, 2009, the Directors of SidePlate Sytems elected new officers. We are proud to announce the following changes in our orporate officers:  

Henry A. Gallart           President

Jared J Adams              Senior Vice President

SidePlate is proud to be a part of these industry news-making projects: Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center at Univeristy of California, San Diego Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Hospital.

SidePlate Systems obtained its 5th patent – demonstrating once again its cutting-edge creativity in steel frame connection technology for multiple design applications and building types, and for both new and retrofit construction.

SidePlate® steel frame connection technology has been independently BLAST & PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE TESTED!

The SidePlate® moment connection was selected for blast and progressive collapse testing, as part of a first-ever joint civilian agency/Department of Defense Steel Frame Blast and Progressive Collapse Test Program, to investigate the behavior of conventional steel frame construction and its beam-to-column connections when subjected to high-level bomb blast and subsequent progressive collapse conditions.

SidePlate® steel frame connection system outperformed the post-Northridge ‘traditional’ WUF-B connection by:

• 2- and 3-times the gravity load carrying capacity
• 2-times the rotational ductility
• 5-times the energy absorption

Progressive collapse test program results can be obtained by contacting the Interagency Security Council at http://www.oca.gsa.gov/mainpage.php.

SidePlate Systems, Inc has joined forces with Hardy Frames, Inc., makers of the Hardy Frame® Panel and Brace Frame, to introduce standardized Moment Frames for residential and light commercial buildings. The new Hardy Frame® Moment Frame is the only pre-approved, pre-engineered and pre-fabricated Moment Frame system available. Our product is a cost-effective, state-of-the-art, Special Moment Frame (SMF) for one and two story applications that allows buildings to be designed with larger openings and less wall area required for lateral load resistance while exceeding the most stringent building code requirements. Additionally, the Hardy Frame® Moment Frame uses a pinned-base connection resulting in reduced foundation requirements and costs. For immediate installation and to facilitate framing, these Frames arrive at the jobsite fully assembled with wood nailers attached to all column flanges and to the top & bottom of the header.

Unlike other moment connection types which must depend on the use of wide flange ‘H’ shapes for the connecting beam, the Hardy Frame® Moment Frame is uniquely configured with SidePlate’s patented use of HSS tube steel beams. Because of the torsional stiffness and strength of HSS sections, lateral buckling of the beam flanges is avoided. As a result, this minimizes, if not eliminates altogether, costly and troublesome lateral bracing typically required by code to satisfy SMF design requirements. Such requirements apply to all other moment connection types, including the RBS (dog bone) connection. For more information or to download a Hardy Frame® Moment Frame catalog, installation details, code reports or calculations, go to www.hardyframe.com. To speak with a representative please call Hardy Frames, Inc. at (800) 754-3030.