As housing demand accelerated in the 1960s, builders increasingly turned to trusses. But, lacking better equipment, truss shops had trouble scaling up to fill their orders. Early shops had little more than radial arm saws to cut members and wood tables to assemble them. They had exhausted every...

As we start a new year, many frame and truss manufacturers are focusing on a familiar challenge – how to support their teams, maintain output, and continue delivering a quality product in a labor market that’s tighter and more competitive than ever. While technology and automation...

Meetings are a necessary part of running any business. They can align teams, solve problems, and move projects forward. But in many organizations, meetings have quietly grown out of control. What once served a clear purpose has, over time, turned into a standing calendar block that exists simply...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept—it’s here, and it’s reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. For component manufacturers, AI promises efficiency, speed, and cost savings. For years now, we’ve been promised that one day we would be able to...

A great American competitive struggle broke out in truss shops around Miami in 1957. The owners of these shops learned that two new plates had hit the market, and both worked without supplementary nailing. The Sanford Grip-Plate that they were using required hundreds of nails to be hammered into...

As the North American truss market continues to evolve, fabricators are asking themselves how do we do more with the time, labor, and space we already have? How can we improve efficiency, reduce manual handling, and position our production lines to take advantage of the next wave of...

As this year rapidly comes to a close, it’s time to prepare for 2026. In addition to our daily tasks, it’s important to step back and view the bigger picture too. My question for you today: Do you have CapEx room for 2026? To answer my own question, I have to say: the best...

As we close the books on 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a year defined by innovation, adaptability, and forward momentum in the world of off-site construction and component manufacturing. Throughout the past twelve months, our editorial team has explored the trends,...

In modular and off-site construction, productivity gains rarely come from dramatic changes in framing or sheathing techniques. Instead, the biggest improvements often occur at transition points and especially end-of-the-line material handling. Moving completed wall panels safely, efficiently,...

According to Elon Musk, “Grok 4 is already at the intelligence of a PhD in every profession.” Anyone paying attention to the rapid developments in AI understands that this statement is not exaggeration—it is a warning. Within a very short period of time, AI systems will be able...