Designed for Strength and Security

The Winkler Advantage

The structural framework is one of the most critical components of a quality fabric covered building. Our promise, The No Compromise Fabric Structure, means that buildings manufactured at Winkler are drafted first and foremost with safety in mind. Our unique purlin design ensures the structure’s integrity in the wildest weather conditions.

What is a Purlin?

A purlin is a term used in structural engineering that refers to any longitudinal, horizontal, or structural member in a roof, used for supporting rafters. In a Winkler Structure, purlins have two purposes. Purlins must resist compression from wind loads, and when the wind blows against the end of a building, they must keep the rafters from tipping over. Purlins also keep the rafters from rolling when loaded.

The Winkler Advantage

Our competitors also use purlins in their design but they use parallel purlins. The disadvantage to parallel purlins is they just help the purlin next to the failing one, fail as well. Additionally, if the purlins are placed too far apart, the truss can roll, also causing failure. Our No Compromise Fabric Structures use cross purlins at the top and bottom of each truss. Crossing the purlins helps the truss resist rolling. We also use 30% more steel than the competition, ensuring that there are enough purlins to keep your Winkler Structure standing tall for years.

High Strength Structural Steel

Winkler Structures uses high strength steel from Allied Tube and Conduit. Our steel meets an ASTM A-500 specification and minimum 50,000 PSI tensile strengths consistent with yields on structural C spec. Not all shelter manufacturers use structural steel.

Hot Dipped Galvanized

Galvanizing is recognized as the ultimate coating for corrosion protection on steel. Our tube is hot dip galvanized inline to a smooth consistent coating.

Triple Coated

In addition to hot dipping our tube is coated with a thin layer of conversion or passivation coating to neutralize the zinc against premature corrosion (white rust) and a clear organic primer that seals the coating in for long term corrosion protection.

How Good is Our Tube?

Over the past 20 years Allied Tube has performed numerous salt spray tests using ASTM’s (American Society of Testing and Materials) standard B-117 testing process. Their B-117 test is the procedure used to test the relative performance and longevity of metals and coatings in advanced corrosive environments. Allied Tube has outperformed ot dipped, pre-galvanized and painted or powder coated tubing. No other tube performs as well.