Celebrating 60 Years
Six decades of partnership, practical innovation, and growth: That is the legacy Alpine® celebrates as it marks its 60th anniversary. Turning the big 6-0 is something that hits some people hard, while others consider themselves lucky to reach that milestone. But a business in a competitive landscape, particularly one that started from objectively humble beginnings—marking its Diamond Anniversary?
It’s worth celebrating—recognizing the people, hard work, and innovation that helped the company thrive while also looking forward. As Alpine turns 60, reflection shines a light on the history and trajectory of the organization that has helped define—and frequently redefine—the component manufacturing industry.
The legacy began in 1966 when Bill McAlpine and Charlie Harnden left Sanford Industries to form Alpine Engineered Products in Pompano Beach, Florida. Truss design was done using only “paper, pencils, and slide rules,” but the duo, working from a small shop, churned out 200 truss designs for three customers that first year. In doing so, they established our hallmark: practical innovation, grounded in customer needs.
Within a year the founders had already expanded, acquiring a small nail plate manufacturer. This growth mindset set the tone—within the first decade, they acquired three more companies, expanding service capabilities and territories.
Industry-Shaping
As the structural building components industry grew, Alpine helped shape the conversation around innovation and best practices. The company wrote the industry’s first optimizing and pricing software in 1970, while also researching and developing truss assembly equipment that year. A decade later, Harnden helped co-found an industry institution: the first BCMC equipment exhibition, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Our innovations evolved in lockstep with that progress—from advances in layout software and CAD-type graphics that helped pave the way for today’s design environments, to plant-level concepts that reshaped operations, automation, and optimization.
The company’s growth has also reflected an important tenet of component manufacturing: one material or method doesn’t fit every project. In 1995, Alpine introduced TrusSteel, expanding into cold-formed steel truss systems and serving a wider range of structural needs.
Over the decades, the company has developed a comprehensive suite of solutions, including software, engineering services, connector plates, and equipment—designed to help customers manufacture better buildings while becoming more competitive.
A defining moment in Alpine’s modern story arrived in 2006, when Illinois Tool Works (ITW) acquired Alpine Engineered Products. As a division of ITW, we continue to invest in innovation, software development, and engineering services, while remaining committed to component manufacturer needs.
Mike Johnson joined Alpine over 35 years ago and serves as the Southern Region Sales Manager. He explained that the company has always been tremendously fluid and agile in meeting customer needs. “We all try to run our departments like it’s our own business—making good decisions and focusing on what truly serves our customers. That allows us to build trust and form lasting partnerships.”
The Story is in the People
Now with the company for over half of its existence, Engineering Manager Bill Krick, P.E., joined Alpine straight from college. Asked about the secret to its success and longevity, he replied: “It’s the people, whether it’s the people who stamp the plates and ship them, the sales team, the programmers, the engineers, or the administration, marketing, and HR—it’s all of them.”
A plaque in the Orlando office represents an idea that has become a foundational principle. “Find good people and grow old with them,” is a sentiment from McAlpine that captures Alpine’s belief that strong relationships, trusted partners, and committed, passionate teams are at the core of our business. The fact that so many staff members pride themselves on decades of experience here also speaks to the enduring nature of its positive culture.
Krick added that even as the company has weathered acquisitions, ownership transitions, and challenges like the 2008 economic downturn, COVID, and others, new staff members typically embrace the company culture quickly. That culture has remained steadfast as the company has continued to help component manufacturers design and make high-quality roof, floor, and wall components. In fact, the culture is also measured in outcomes: millions of homes built in North America under one name.
Alpine supports advanced sustainability throughout the industry. Component-based construction improves material efficiency and reduces jobsite waste, which are crucial benefits in today’s builds. Additionally, Alpine design software enables technicians to value-engineer and optimize component designs, reducing unneeded material from the outset.
Cultivating Talent
As a longtime leader in building innovation, Alpine has always understood that shaping the industry’s future requires more than technical excellence and leadership: it requires cultivating diverse talent and growing from within when possible.
When Cathy Hill first joined the company nearly 30 years ago, there weren’t many women in the room. Now serving as Product Owner and residential architect, she oversees the core truss design and engineering software, and she has appreciated seeing more female colleagues joining the
conversation. “While it has traditionally been a male-dominated field, women are embracing construction and it’s becoming increasingly balanced,” she said.
Hill, a strong advocate for women in the industry, partially attributes her success to having excellent mentors throughout her career. “I’ve been fortunate to work with so many great mentors who’ve consistently encouraged me to push myself or take on new challenges, and that has helped me grow in ways I haven’t yet imagined.” However, she added, much of her success—and Alpine’s—ties directly back to delivering value to customers. “Each day brings new challenges, a new problem to solve, and we’re committed to meeting them, whether it’s creating new features or resolving issues—our goal is always helping our customers succeed.”
Partnering Remains Paramount
With the company for nearly four decades and having served customers from nearly every department, Marty Hauge, Senior Software Trainer, said the culture that Harnden and McAlpine established six decades ago has not only survived but flourished. “The focus has always been on partnering with the customers, providing solutions to their problems, and helping them grow. And by doing that, we grow.”
Industry buzzwords and acronyms come and go, he added, “but at Alpine®, being a good, true partner to our customers doesn’t change. That theme hasn’t changed in the 37 years that I have been here.”
From a small Pompano Beach shop designing trusses with slide rules, to a global division of ITW, Alpine’s trajectory over 60 years has been remarkable. Matt Davis, Group President, noted that this anniversary “presents a perfect opportunity to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are, and look forward to the opportunities and a bright future.”
Looking ahead, that original vision—partnering with customers to drive innovation and shared growth—will continue to guide every decision.