Partnering with Elite Representatives for Product Launches
- FlexAbility Concepts
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
We’ve had an exciting surge of product releases at Flex-Ability Concepts lately. Working on the development, testing, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and all the other details that go into launching a new product has been exhilarating.
If you have not kept up with the news, Slotted Flex-C Trac came out in March 2026 and Snap Lock was unveiled in May 2023.
The team that worked on Slotted Flex-C Trac added slotted legs for deflection to the standard Flex-C Trac. The result is a head-of-wall deflection track that frames exterior curtainwalls and non-load-bearing interior walls. That change allows for vertical live load movement of the primary structure without transferring axial loads to the studs in the wall. With Slotted Flex-C Trac, framing contractors have another way to create high-quality curved walls, columns and S-curves in specific applications. And yes, just like all Flex-Ability Concepts products, Slotted Flex-C Trac can be curved into shape by hand. The pivotal sections make it easy to create the perfect curve with no uneven or flat spots. After the track is curved into shape, on a hard surface like concrete, hammer the Hammer-Lock tabs to embed them into the web. This secures the shape. For added strength, install self-tapping screws into the side of the Flex-C Trac. The track can then be fastened to the floor or ceiling. This secured span of steel provides for a strong, solid installation. Finally, once the studs have been installed, use #10 x 9/16 inch wafer head screws for the stud-to-track connection. Screws should be placed a minimum of 3/8 inch from the end of the stud.
Slotted Flex-C Trac is available in 3-5/8-inch and 6-inch widths. Both of these options come in 16- and 20-gauge galvanized steel with a 3-inch leg. All the track options run 10 feet long. The 3-inch leg will allow up to 2 inches, plus or minus 1 inch, for vertical deflection.
Snap Lock is a bridging bar that takes the frustration out of bridging between studs because stud spacing is accomplished by the product. Bridging is necessary when framing a wall to prevent twisting and buckling. Other bridging products require clips and screws at every stud, which is the annoying part of the process. Snap Lock has a starter clip that can be used in the first stud of a run. A screw at the beginning and at the end of a run are the only screws needed no matter the length of the run. Snap Lock, designed to be installed as the wall is being framed, is available in 20- or 16-gauge steel and 16- or 24-inch lengths. If a different length is needed, maybe at the beginning or end of a run, the bridging bar flanges can be snipped. The product then can be folded over and screwed into place using the small pre-punched holes. Larger holes are also provided in Snap Lock to allow for other products, such as conduit, to easily pass through. Snap Lock eliminates fishing CRC or longer bridging products through stud knockouts, which can be challenging for framers to do while hoisted high on a lift. It is strong enough to provide exceptional torsional stud restraint, even in load-bearing walls. While not necessary, the tab on the bar can be hammered into place for added strength.
Beyond the Flex-Ability Concepts team in Oklahoma City that is inventing and manufacturing these and all our other products, there is a global sales group that knows curves and understands our offerings. We believe the intimidation that people have around designing or installing curves vanishes with our products. Our product representatives in the United States and globally in Australia, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand help to make that connection.
If you aren’t ready to talk with someone, watch our YouTube tutorials or visit www.flexabilityconcepts.com. Sometimes visualizing the simplicity that Flex-Ability Concepts’ products brings to projects is the best place to start.
We want our products to inspire architects and to make contractors’ jobs easier with the ultimate goal of adding more curves into the built environment. Who knows what our team will dream up next!
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