ENGINEERING TECH
Honeywell | July 16, 2021
Honeywell and Nexii Building Solutions Inc. today announced the creation of a strategic alliance to promote the development of low-impact buildings. This alliance identifies Honeywell as the exclusive building technology provider for Nexii's new buildings, offering energy savings and operational efficiency solutions.
Nexii's expertise in high-performance and efficient building systems will be combined with the Honeywell Small and Medium Building Administrator powered by Honeywell Forge, an affordable and scalable building portfolio management solution developed especially for small- to medium-sized buildings. The Honeywell Small and Medium Building Administrator can help customers save up to 30% on facility energy costs1, enhance insight into building portfolio performance, and assist facility managers in optimizing occupant comfort, operational performance, and asset management. Honeywell will also provide industry-leading fire and security systems to Nexii-built buildings.
More than 90% of the commercial building stock in the United States is under 50,000 square feet. The majority of these buildings lack a proper building management system (BMS) to control energy consumption.
Unlike competitive products, which are either traditional BMS solutions designed for large-scale, complex buildings or simple heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control systems designed for smaller-scale use, the Honeywell Small and Medium Building Administrator enables multi-site businesses to drive smarter building operations and meet compliance requirements.
Nexii's high-performance green building products are precisely manufactured in facilities utilizing 3D software to project specifications. This enables Nexii panels to fit together onsite like jigsaw pieces, reducing standard build times by 75% Nexii can reduce substantial construction waste via this method. Nexii products are manufactured offsite and assembled onsite. Nexii's groundbreaking materials and building processes provide greater energy savings, near-zero construction waste, and a much lower environmental impact than a traditional concrete building.
Recent Nexii projects include a first-of-its-kind Starbucks café in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, constructed using Nexii's innovative construction technology to assist Starbucks Canada's goal to operate more eco-friendly stores as part of its global sustainability strategy. In addition, a new Popeyes restaurant was also built in Abbotsford using Nexii's building system. Nexii anticipates that their technology will reduce the operational building carbon emissions of both the Starbucks café and the Popeyes restaurant by about 30% compared to traditionally constructed buildings.
Honeywell has committed to be carbon neutral in its operations and facilities by 2035. This commitment builds on the company's track record of significantly lowering the greenhouse gas intensity of its operations and facilities and its decades-long history of innovation to assist its customers in meeting their environmental and social goals. Approximately half of Honeywell's new product launch research and development investment goes toward products that enhance customers' environmental and social outcomes.
About Nexii
Nexii Building Solutions Inc. (Nexii) is a green construction technology company dedicated to building a sustainable future for people and the planet. Nexii creates high-performance buildings and green building products that are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and resilient to climate change. The Nexii System also reduces construction timelines significantly, allowing for the fast development of green buildings throughout North America. Nexii is suitable for industrial/commercial/institutional, mixed-use, multi-family residential, single-family homes, and the green retrofit sector.
About Honeywell Building Technologies
Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) is changing how buildings operate to enhance people's quality of life. We are a global leader in building controls, with operations in over 75 countries and a global channel partner network. Commercial building owners and operators use our hardware, software, and analytics to help create safe, efficient, and productive facilities. Our solutions and services are used in over ten million buildings across the world.
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ENGINEERING TECH
Ansys | September 15, 2021
Ansys and Rockwell Automation are expanding digital twin connectivity to industrial control systems, enabling users to optimize the design, deployment, and performance of industrial operations. By implementing simulation-based digital twins, engineering teams can garner new insights that speed innovation and reduce costs from the design phase to the production phase.
Rockwell Automation's latest release of Studio 5000 Simulation Interface now connects with Ansys Twin Builder, allowing automation and process engineers to leverage simulation-based digital twins. Users can create and test designs in a virtual space, saving the time and money associated with costly physical prototypes. The digital domain can also be used to test process changes before being implemented in the field, which can boost throughput and other performance aspects.
Predictive maintenance represents another significant benefit of simulation-based digital twins. Ansys Twin Builder empowers users with multiphysics analysis to understand how forces like flow rates, mechanical stresses and thermal profiles impact in-field assets. Engineers can use these insights to calculate the remaining life of equipment and plan for maintenance, reducing the chance of costly unplanned downtime.
"By connecting a control system to Ansys Twin Builder, users can simulate complex physical processes and give realistic inputs to the control system," said Julie Robinson, business manager, Rockwell Automation. "This can provide tremendous insights throughout the equipment lifecycle. For example, running a simulation model in parallel to a physical system during production can reveal opportunities to optimize performance in real time."
With the enhanced Studio 5000 Simulation Interface and Ansys Twin Builder, users can connect digital twins to emulated or physical controllers. Connecting to an emulated controller can help users optimize production at the design stage, while connecting to a physical controller allows them to compare optimal equipment performance against actual performance.
"Connecting the digital and physical worlds with Studio 5000 Simulation Interface creates tremendous value for users," said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products, Ansys. "It can help them go from conceptual designs to physical equipment faster and at a lower cost. It can provide useful new insights during production. For instance, users can apply what-if scenarios to understand the impact of changes on a process. They can create virtual sensors to estimate values that are otherwise too expensive or not possible to get today, and they can predict outcomes like failures that hurt the bottom line."
About Ansys
If you've ever seen a rocket launch, flown on an airplane, driven a car, used a computer, touched a mobile device, crossed a bridge or put on wearable technology, chances are you've used a product where Ansys software played a critical role in its creation. Ansys is the global leader in engineering simulation. Through our strategy of Pervasive Engineering Simulation, we help the world's most innovative companies deliver radically better products to their customers. By offering the best and broadest portfolio of engineering simulation software, we help them solve the most complex design challenges and create products limited only by imagination. Founded in 1970, Ansys is headquartered south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
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ENGINEERING TECH
Building Industry Partners | September 01, 2021
Building Industry Partners LLC (“BIP”), the leading building industry-focused private equity investment firm, has formed a new specialty building products component manufacturing platform in partnership with building industry veteran Ted Rock – North American Specialty Laminations (“American Laminations”). BIP and Mr. Rock formed American Laminations to build a best-in-class, people-first component profile wrapping and specialty manufacturing organization.
Concurrent with its formation, American Laminations made its inaugural investment, the acquisition of the assets of SourceCut Industries, Inc. in partnership with SourceCut’s existing owners and management team.
Founded in 1999, SourceCut Industries, Inc. (“SourceCut”) is a fast-growing manufacturer of laminated, composite and wood components serving the residential and commercial Window & Door, Cabinet & Casegood, Architectural Millwork, Furniture and Fixture/Display Industries.
This partnership and investment in SourceCut will help bring to life the Wiedenhoeft family’s vision for the business – investing in human and capital resources to bolster service of existing and new customers and position the business for significant organic and acquisition-related expansion. Brad Wiedenhoeft, founder of SourceCut, continues with American Laminations as Chief Revenue Officer. Zach Wiedenhoeft continues in his current role of President, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the facilities in Osseo, Wisconsin. Both Brad and Zach Wiedenhoeft will support Mr. Rock who will serve as Chief Executive Officer of North American Specialty Laminations. SourceCut Industries, Inc. will retain their business’ name.
Matt Ogden, Founder & Managing Partner of BIP, said, “We’re excited to kick off our new specialty component manufacturing platform with SourceCut as our foundation, and are looking forward to working alongside the Wiedenhoeft family to build on all they have achieved. We’re also introducing a proven, growth-minded manufacturing leader in Ted Rock, growth capital, and a commitment to driving enhanced results for our employees, customers, and business operations overall.
Mr. Ogden also noted, “North American Specialty Laminations is BIP’s second new platform under our people-first purpose. BIP renewed its purpose to drive a new standard in its investing that better aligns shareholder, management and employee interests, and prioritizes human capital management as a strategic pillar to building better businesses, generating better investment returns, and helping employees actualize their career goals.
Brad Wiedenhoeft, the founder of SourceCut, commented “BIP’s commitment to SourceCut’s people was an intriguing factor in pursuing this partnership. BIP’s relationships, talent resources, and capital investment will allow us to continue our strategic growth plan – providing our customers excellent service levels with quality products. Most importantly, enhancing our pursuit to provide our employees best in class opportunities. I’m very excited about the positive impact this partnership will have for our great employees, and for our customers who trust us with their business.”
Ted Rock joins as Chief Executive Officer of North American Specialty Laminations, drawing on his 15+ years of experience with market-leading building products manufacturing companies, and successful track record of growing private equity-backed organizations. Mr. Rock will lead the company’s future growth, including an ambitious plan to expand the platform’s footprint. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Panoramic Doors, Senior Vice President of PGT Innovations, and as Chief Operating Officer of Atrium Windows and Doors.
Pat Mascia, Partner & Head of Strategic Development for BIP, said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with a talented and experienced leader like Ted Rock - his unique experience across Private Equity, Specialty Manufacturing, and the Window and Door segment make him especially qualified to lead American Laminations. We are honored to be working alongside Mr. Rock and the Wiedenhoeft family to build on the success they have each achieved individually, and to bring our collective experiences, skills, and resources together to drive a game-changing platform.”
Ted Rock commented, “It has been a pleasure to get to know the Wiedenhoeft family, and a privilege to be entrusted to lead this platform alongside them. I am delighted by the opportunity to partner with BIP, a firm that I have admired both for their investment track record and for their explicit commitment to the employees of BIP portfolio companies. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and for SourceCut, and I’m looking forward to being a contributor to BIP’s ‘Do Good and Do Well’ mission.”
Two BIP Operating Partners – Peter Stroble and Chris Kliefoth – will be joining the Board of North American Specialty Laminations as Directors. Mr. Stroble previously held roles as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Alta Forest Products, North America's largest manufacturer of fence boards, as well as President of Alta's predecessor, Welco Lumber Company. Mr. Kliefoth is a Wisconsin native, with deep experience in private equity, manufacturing, and leadership – including 15+ years as President of Nationwide Industries.
Partners involved in this opportunity were Holland & Knight LLC and Fifth Third Bank. Intrinsic LLC, CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc., DSG Benefits Group, and ATEC were also instrumental.
Building Industry Partners (“BIP”) Forms New Specialty Building Products Component Manufacturing Platform, North American Specialty Laminations (“American Laminations”), in Partnership With Building Products Manufacturing Industry Veteran Ted Rock
American Laminations seeks to build a best-in-class component profile wrapping and specialty manufacturing organization to better serve the building products industry. The Company will engage people-first business practices and broad-based employee ownership as part of BIP’s mission to better align collective shareholder, management & employee interests, elevate workforce prosperity, and drive enhanced organizational performance in its portfolio companies.
American Specialty Laminations makes its inaugural investment via the acquisition of the assets of SourceCut Industries Inc. (based in Osseo, Wisconsin), in partnership with Ted Rock, Brad and Zach Wiedenhoeft, and the business’ managers and workforce.
August 30, 2021 10:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time
OSSEO, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building Industry Partners LLC (“BIP”), the leading building industry-focused private equity investment firm, has formed a new specialty building products component manufacturing platform in partnership with building industry veteran Ted Rock – North American Specialty Laminations (“American Laminations”). BIP and Mr. Rock formed American Laminations to build a best-in-class, people-first component profile wrapping and specialty manufacturing organization.
Concurrent with its formation, American Laminations made its inaugural investment, the acquisition of the assets of SourceCut Industries, Inc. in partnership with SourceCut’s existing owners and management team.
Founded in 1999, SourceCut Industries, Inc. (“SourceCut”) is a fast-growing manufacturer of laminated, composite and wood components serving the residential and commercial Window & Door, Cabinet & Casegood, Architectural Millwork, Furniture and Fixture/Display Industries.
This partnership and investment in SourceCut will help bring to life the Wiedenhoeft family’s vision for the business – investing in human and capital resources to bolster service of existing and new customers and position the business for significant organic and acquisition-related expansion. Brad Wiedenhoeft, founder of SourceCut, continues with American Laminations as Chief Revenue Officer. Zach Wiedenhoeft continues in his current role of President, with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the facilities in Osseo, Wisconsin. Both Brad and Zach Wiedenhoeft will support Mr. Rock who will serve as Chief Executive Officer of North American Specialty Laminations. SourceCut Industries, Inc. will retain their business’ name.
Matt Ogden, Founder & Managing Partner of BIP, said, “We’re excited to kick off our new specialty component manufacturing platform with SourceCut as our foundation, and are looking forward to working alongside the Wiedenhoeft family to build on all they have achieved. We’re also introducing a proven, growth-minded manufacturing leader in Ted Rock, growth capital, and a commitment to driving enhanced results for our employees, customers, and business operations overall.
Mr. Ogden also noted, “North American Specialty Laminations is BIP’s second new platform under our people-first purpose. BIP renewed its purpose to drive a new standard in its investing that better aligns shareholder, management and employee interests, and prioritizes human capital management as a strategic pillar to building better businesses, generating better investment returns, and helping employees actualize their career goals.
Brad Wiedenhoeft, the founder of SourceCut, commented “BIP’s commitment to SourceCut’s people was an intriguing factor in pursuing this partnership. BIP’s relationships, talent resources, and capital investment will allow us to continue our strategic growth plan – providing our customers excellent service levels with quality products. Most importantly, enhancing our pursuit to provide our employees best in class opportunities. I’m very excited about the positive impact this partnership will have for our great employees, and for our customers who trust us with their business.”
Ted Rock joins as Chief Executive Officer of North American Specialty Laminations, drawing on his 15+ years of experience with market-leading building products manufacturing companies, and successful track record of growing private equity-backed organizations. Mr. Rock will lead the company’s future growth, including an ambitious plan to expand the platform’s footprint. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Panoramic Doors, Senior Vice President of PGT Innovations, and as Chief Operating Officer of Atrium Windows and Doors.
Pat Mascia, Partner & Head of Strategic Development for BIP, said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with a talented and experienced leader like Ted Rock - his unique experience across Private Equity, Specialty Manufacturing, and the Window and Door segment make him especially qualified to lead American Laminations. We are honored to be working alongside Mr. Rock and the Wiedenhoeft family to build on the success they have each achieved individually, and to bring our collective experiences, skills, and resources together to drive a game-changing platform.”
Ted Rock commented, “It has been a pleasure to get to know the Wiedenhoeft family, and a privilege to be entrusted to lead this platform alongside them. I am delighted by the opportunity to partner with BIP, a firm that I have admired both for their investment track record and for their explicit commitment to the employees of BIP portfolio companies. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and for SourceCut, and I’m looking forward to being a contributor to BIP’s ‘Do Good and Do Well’ mission.”
Two BIP Operating Partners – Peter Stroble and Chris Kliefoth – will be joining the Board of North American Specialty Laminations as Directors. Mr. Stroble previously held roles as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Alta Forest Products, North America's largest manufacturer of fence boards, as well as President of Alta's predecessor, Welco Lumber Company. Mr. Kliefoth is a Wisconsin native, with deep experience in private equity, manufacturing, and leadership – including 15+ years as President of Nationwide Industries.
Partners involved in this opportunity were Holland & Knight LLC and Fifth Third Bank. Intrinsic LLC, CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc., DSG Benefits Group, and ATEC were also instrumental.
About Building Industry Partners
Building Industry Partners (“BIP”) is the leading private equity investment firm focused on the U.S. building industry. Founded by Matt Ogden in 2008, BIP is headquartered in Boston, with partners across the U.S. The firm is led by Matt and Partners Pat Mascia, Pete Robinson, and Stu Kliman and supported by the firm’s Operating Partners. BIP invests its Partners’ own capital, as well as that of a number of strategic, like-minded investors, including business leaders and family offices affiliated with the U.S. building industry.
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