Bringing innovation to rooftop equipment at IRE

By Jesse Sanchez.

A simple bolt, a big idea — a solution to a decades-old roofing dilemma is turning heads.

At the 2025 International Roofing Expo (IRE), roofing professionals gathered not just to talk shingles and systems, but to rethink how equipment belongs on rooftops. In an interview at the Coffee Shop Soundstage, Joel Stanley, founder of Anchor Products, offered a compelling look into an often-overlooked challenge in commercial roofing — and how his company’s invention might be the fix the industry didn’t know it needed.

Joel shared the story of how Anchor Products began15 years ago. “I was VP of operations for a roofing manufacturer,” he explained. “Solar panels created a problem with moving and causing damage to roofs. HVAC equipment and other things are commonly put up there with ballasts.”

Since ASCE 7-16, rooftop equipment must be “bolted, welded or otherwise positively fastened to the structure without the aid of frictional resistance,” meaning no more ballasted systems. Joel stated, “So, we can't ballast things down anymore, we have to have things attached.”

Enter Anchor Products’ simple solution: a bolt that’s  welded to a U-Anchor Plate, which is then hot-air welded to roofing membrane that matches your rooftop’s project. Thus, creating a watertight, maintenance-free anchor point. “You can attach anything to it,” Joel noted, listing everything from ladders to solar panels to HVAC towers. He added, “It installs in about two and a half minutes.”

But what really stood out was Joel’s emphasis on preserving the roof’s warranty, something every contractor and building owner cares about. “This is solving all the problems that have been excluded from warranties for decades,” Joel quoted one Utah contractor.

The product has already earned the endorsement of major roofing manufacturers, some of whom rebrand it under their own labels. And for those who missed the show, Anchor Products is bringing their innovation on the road with their Mobile Showcase — complete with cookouts and hands-on demos.

Watch the full interview to learn more about how Anchor Products is transforming rooftop equipment installation with speed, simplicity and code-compliant innovation!