Connectors for Timber Frame and Mass Timber Construction
KNAPP® Connectors provides high-end beam hangers for both timber frame and mass timber construction. KNAPP® Connecting Systems like our timber connectors provides a very high degree of prefabrication, is compliant with the (ETA) European certification and has the CE-marking. Regular external inspection guarantees maximum security for contractors, architects, manufacturers, engineers, and owners. All KNAPP® connectors can simply be snapped in place. The concealed timber connectors are recessed and not visible when assembled. In most cases, disassembly is also possible. KNAPP® timber connectors not only guarantees to meet the highest standards in the manufacturing and assembling process but also makes the structure aesthetically pleasing.
Timber Frame Connectors
RICON® Stainless Steel
Connector for main and secondary beam joints | 26 kN load-bearing
Like our mass timber connectors, the RICON® Stainless Steel beam hanger is a smaller version and allows for the simple and fast joining of beams, rails, and timber frames. If you have indoor applications, such as balconies, decking, carports, pergolas, gazebos, and playgrounds, this is the perfect frame connector for you. This stainless steel connector consists of two identical metal plates that hook into each other in a dovetail-like manner. The RICON® Stainless Steel timber frame connectors can be installed fully concealed or visible and can be used with timber or rail widths as little as 20 mm. For easy installation, KNAPP® also offers Routing Jigs, Mounting kits, and in addition, an optional Locking clip is provided to latch the connector. If needed, you can lock the connection using our locking clip, making disassembly and reassembly possible.
NEW! Stainless Steel design:
- Concealed – Connectors are recessed and non-visible.
- Self-tightening – Prevents forming of gaps in the joint over time.
- Short hooking way – Only 50 mm.
- Self-tightening – Due to the dovetail-like mechanism.
- Optional locking clip – Latches the fastener against slide-in direction (e.g. wind suction forces).
- Flexible – Disassembly and reassembly possible if needed.
- Slim Profile – Used for timber widths as little as 20 mm and upwards.
RICON® EA Beam Hangers
Connector for main and secondary beam joints | 26 kN load-bearing
The pre-engineered RICON® EA (Single Connector) Beam Hanger allows for the simple and fast joining of beams. Have you been searching for a fully concealed connector for main and secondary beam joints? Are you searching for a timber connector to join vertical and horizontal mullions for your wood curtain walls? The RICON® EA is completely invisible and consists of two identical metal connector plates that hook into each other in a dovetail-like manner. Typically, one plate sits in a recess and the other is screwed on the surface of the beam.
For easy installation, KNAPP® also offers Drilling and Routing Jigs as well as a Mounting kit. The connector plates on the end grain are installed with self-tapping 5×80 mm and 8×80 mm CS-screws and on the side grain with self-tapping 5×50 mm and 8×50 mm CS-Screws. The 8×50 mm and 8×80 mm CS-screws have an integrated stop, thus, on one end, the screw would stand above the connector and engage with the dovetail receiver socket of the other connectors when hooking them into each other. In addition, you can use our RICON® EA for engineered timber construction.
RICON® DA Beam Hangers
Connector for main and secondary beam joints | 26 kN load-bearing
The pre-engineered RICON® DA (Double Connection) beam hanger allows for the simple and fast joining of beams and is designed to be used in for cross joints, that is to say, where two horizontal mullions meet at the same position on the vertical mullion. In this case, the screws of RICON EA version would collide with each other and the connection would not be structurally sound. Thus DA version uses connecting nuts that sit in boreholes that go through the vertical mullion. Typically a recess is cut into the end grain of the horizontal mullions and where one plate is installed with self-tapping 5×80 mm and 8×80 mm SC-screws. On the contrary, the other plates are installed on the vertical mullion with M8x25 CS-screws that screw into the connecting nuts on each end.
Installation:
For easy installation, KNAPP® also offers Drilling and Routing Jigs as well as a Mounting kit. The 8×80 mm and M8x25 CS-screws have an integrated stop, thus on one end, the screw would stand above the connector and engage with the dovetail receiver socket of the other connectors when hooking them into each other. An optional Locking clip can be installed to latch the connector. If needed, the locking clip can be removed later on. Connecting nuts are available for mullion withs of 50mm, 60mm, and 80mm. The RICON DA is available six sizes 60/40, 80/40, 100/40, 120/40, 140/40, and 160/40. Further, two more RICON® versions Single Connection (EA) and Rampa insert (EAR) are available.
RICON® EAR Beam Hangers
Connector for main and secondary beam joints | 26 kN load-bearing
The pre-engineered RICON® EAR (with Rampa Insert) series allows for simple and fast joining of beams and is used mostly to in joining vertical and horizontal mullions in wood curtain walls. It consists of two identical metal connector plates that hook into each other in a dovetail-like manner. Typically, one of the plates sits in a recess and the other is plainly screwed on the surface of the beam.
Installation:
For easy installation, KNAPP® also offers Drilling and Routing Jigs as well as a Mounting kit. The connector plates on the end grain are installed with self-tapping 5×80 mm and 8×80 mm SC-screws and on the side grain with self-tapping 5×50 mm and Rampa insert M8x18 with CS-screws M8x25 for all other sizes. The 8×80 mm and M8x18 CS-screws have an integrated stop, thus, the screw sits above the connector and engages with the dovetail receiver socket of the other connectors when hooking them into each other.
An optional Locking clip can be installed to latch the connector, additionally, the locking clip can be removed later on. The RICON® can be installed fully concealed or visible and can be used with timber widths as little as 50 mm. RICON® is available in three versions, Single Connection (EA), Double Connection (DA) and Rampa insert (EAR), and with this in mind, each version has six sizes 60/40, 80/40, 100/40, 120/40, 140/40 and 160/40.
GIGANT® Beam Hangers
Connector for main and secondary beam joints, up to 29.8 kN load-bearing
The GIGANT® connecting system consists of two identical connector brackets made of steel. The brackets are recessed and screwed onto the timber components. You can join your timber components by hooking the two brackets into each other in a dovetail-like manner. You can use the GIGANT for timber structures, such as, canopies, pergolas, sunrooms, timber homes, and even engineered timber structures. The GIGANT connectors are non-visible, self-tightening, and adjustable, with no additional screwing or nailing required to assemble the timber structure on site. You can install an optional locking clip to latch the connector against the slide-in direction. The GIGANT is available in three sizes, 120/40, 150/40 and 180/40.
NEW and improved:
- ETA extension for Hardwood (i.e. oak, larch, beech)
- Available in hot-dip galvanizing for higher corrosion resistance.
- Concealed – connectors are recessed and non-visible.
- Highly loadable – in all directions.
- Short hooking way – only 50 mm.
- Self-tightening – due to the dovetail-like mechanism.
- Optional locking clip – latches the fastener against slide-in direction (e.g. wind suction forces).
- Flexible – Disassembly and reassembly possible if needed.
- Safety – Fire resistance according to (DIN 4102-2) by 4-sided concealed mounting (R30 ≥ 20 mm, R60 ≥ 40 mm).
Mass Timber & Engineered Timber Connectors
RICON® S Mass Timber Beam Hangers
Connector for main and secondary beam joints, up to 100 kN load-bearing
RICON® S is a main and secondary beam connector for timber frame and mass timber construction. It consists of two identical connector plates, made of galvanized steel. Simply screw your plates onto the timber, steel and/or concrete components. Lastly, hook in the two plates by joining them in a dovetail-like manner. The RICON® S is used in residential and commercial timber construction, and in the same way, they are used in engineered timber structures.
There are two kinds of RICON® S connectors, (1) Welded collar bolt (VS) and (2) Screwed collar bold (VK). Both kinds are available in four sizes: 140/60, 200/60, 200/80, 290/80.
NEW and improved:
- ETA extension for hardwood (i.e. oak, larch, beech).
- Flexible – disassembly and reassembly possible if needed.
- A high degree of prefabrication – fast and easy assembly on site.
- Universal – connectors for timber, steel, and thirdly, concrete joints.
- Concealed – connectors are recessed and non-visible.
- Simple – Provided with self-tapping screws, therefore, there is no pre-drilling.
- Easy – assembly made easy due to V-shaped bracket and only 3.5 cm hook way.
- Adjustable collar bolt – can be adjusted according to joints intervals, even up to 5 mm in timber length tolerances.
- Optional locking clip – latches the fastener against slide-in direction (e.g. wind suction forces).
- Safety – fire resistance according to DIN 4102-2 by 4-sided concealed mounting (R30 ≥ 20 mm, R60 ≥ 40 mm).
MEGANT® Mass Timber Beam Hangers
Connecting system for engineered and mass timber construction.
550 kN load-bearing.
MEGANT® is a completely concealed beam connector for mass timber construction. It has been pre-engineered to connect your main and secondary beams with speed and accuracy. The connector consists of two identical aluminum plates and a threaded rod. Two integrated clamping jaws on the top and bottom guarantee a secure connection. Install the MEGANT® with our included structural screws on a 45% angle. Lastly, with the connectors mounted in their place, your on-site installation time is greatly reduced. Not only do you save on installation time, but your connection is also completely invisible.
- Load range – standard sizes up to 341 kN, customized solutions up to 500 kN
- Timber width – min. ≤ 100 mm (4 inches)
- Versatile – for wood, steel, and thirdly, concrete joints
- Unique – can be mounted from all directions without tilting
- Load-carrying – loadable in all directions
- Fire protection – concealed on three sides
- Fast – simple and fast assembly with only 2 cm (¾ inch) hook-way
- Efficient – reduces labor and equipment costs, especially the cost of a crane.
- Demountable – disassembly and reassembly possible if needed.
Post and Column Timber Frame Connectors
ACRO Systems
Connector for pillars, posts, and column mounting
The ACRO-System has ten basic fastener parts and allows you to have a large variety of combinations for multiple applications. With little effort, you can mount the connectors on site. It allows a very high degree of pre-manufacturing and a quick process assembly.
You can use the Acro for all kinds of prefabricated timber construction, such as smaller sunrooms, pergolas or garden houses, as well as “classic” carpentry. The ACRO-System parts are screwed on and snapped together. They are non-visible and you can disassemble them at any time.
ACRO-System is designed for connections with tested stress values in structural timber construction, i.e. for your simple post and beam joints.
- Non-visible – concealed, self-tightening column and beam connectors.
- User-friendly – disassembly possible if needed.
- Self-tightening – through adjusting of the screws.
- Efficient – high degree of pre-manufacturing.
- Simple transport – components can be transported disassembled and simply assembled on site.
- Fast – saving of throughput times in production.
- Safe – tested by HFA (Holzforschung, Austria).
- Adjustable – the connector can be adjusted as needed.
BASIS Systems
Connector for pillars, posts, and column mounting
The BASIS System is an extension of the ACRO System. The ACRO connector is mounted on a galvanized steel plate, further, it is already assembled when it arrives. You can screw this fastener on solid surfaces, including, screed, tiles, stone, etc. Next, you can attach your counterpart to the column. This makes an almost non-visible (only a small slot is visible) and very durable attachment of columns to the ground.
Note*, the BASIS System is not designed for freestanding columns.
The BASIS System is available in two sizes.
- Non-visible – concealed, self-tightening column and beam connectors.
- User-friendly – disassembly possible if needed
- Self-tightening – through adjusting of the screws.
- Efficient – high degree of pre-manufacturing.
- Simple transport – components can be transported disassembled and simply assembled on site.
- Fast – saving of throughput times in production.
- Safe – tested by HFA (Holzforschung Austria)
- Adjustable – the connector can be adjusted as needed.
Timber Frame and Mass Timber Construction Connectors
Which beam hanger is right for your project?
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