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“I am new to the component manufacturing industry, what are some of the industry’s ‘Gotchas!’? Thanks for this Question. There are several ‘Gotchas!’ that come immediately to mind. Perhaps the one most often cited is not having, and sticking with, a...

SBCA Chapters will always hold a special place in my heart and I love an opportunity to sing their praises. Well, the Truss Manufacturers Association of Texas, a.k.a. TMAT, has really done something worth praising – it just raised a bucket of money for charity! Showing Texas Pride In...

“Structures are connections held together by members” (Hardy Cross) Take a quick look at a truss design drawing, and you will see a reaction summary that specifies the downward reaction, uplift and a horizontal reaction (if applicable) at each bearing location. Some people are...

Okay, I have finally had it. I have been reading articles for months and finally reached a tipping point. I cannot sit quietly any longer. So, I’ll start by saying I have been in this industry a very long time…..and on all sides of it. I have worked as a carpenter installing...

Did you know that it is possible to achieve greater than $3 million in sales on one build table, even with severe seasonal fluctuations causing winter sales to be nonexistent? I define a build table as one build group of three to four assemblers building roof trusses. Did you know an automated...

The growing attraction of owning attached, close-in housing is a winning trend for componentization. Higher densities shift the labor equation in our favor, both in-plant and out on jobsites. Maximizing the “cube” of structures via open webbed floor and attic room trusses leverages...

It’s with extreme excitement, we unveil and invite you to visit our new and improved website: www.SQ-1Design.com or www.Square1design.com . Our new website is loaded with features available to everyone, for all of the product lines we support. The new site features Square 1 Design’s...

When a connector has been installed on a joint and it is determined the plate does not meet the requirements of the design standard, then the truss designer has to make a decision. The connection can be repaired by removing the plate, or there may be a way to facilitate the repair leaving the...

In the first part of the Primer for Wall Panels, we discussed the fundamentals of wall panel production and how they may figure into your wood component business. In summary, we asked the reader to remember that wall panels were built for decades with little more than a blueprint,...

Modern technology helps to simplify our daily lives in many ways with the touch of a button—and now, today’s technology plays an important role in the way the wood construction industry is improving speed, efficiency and safety, and even compliance with the latest building...