Do you prefer using a linear saw or a component saw? Both saws can cut lumber cleanly, so other factors need to be considered, especially when batching your cutting. Often, batching decisions are made solely on cutting quantity. While this is a very important factor, the decision is more...

For years, I’ve seen efficiency in component manufacturing judged by how well a plant performs when conditions are stable — consistent orders, familiar product mix, reliable labor, and enough lead time to keep work flowing. But stability is not always guaranteed, and I believe that...

In last month’s article, “NEXPLATE: Achieving F1 Pit-Stop Speed in Truss Production,” we analyzed a production run of 80 long-span agricultural trusses using an “all-or-nothing” approach to automated plate distribution. We demonstrated how Enventek’s NEXPLATE...

As discussed in “Rediscovering Automated Builder“ in March, I’m working to build a comprehensive Automated Builder archive website. As a lifelong fan, I’ve come to realize that we need to recapture this great legacy before it’s lost to the digital age. While I am a...

My previous articles have mentioned this innovative bit of technology, so it’s time to discuss it in more depth. When nailing heads on sheathing bridges run out of nails at different times, it causes multiple stoppages on the line – and it’s maddening to see how these...

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act marks a pivotal shift in the U.S. housing landscape. Aimed at addressing the national supply crisis, this bipartisan legislation introduces sweeping changes to federal housing standards and permitting. For building component manufacturers — particularly...

The 2026 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) is just around the corner. Our team is eager to present the latest innovations at our booth this year, including cutting-edge equipment, software, and services. This year, we are proud to feature a range of advanced saws, including...

After nearly 40 years in sales in the structural wood component industry, and with countless trusses and wall panels behind him, Jay Halteman has nevertheless summarily been shown the door – and by his own two progeny, to boot. His long, tiresome and haggled-over retirement is effective...

Frame and truss machinery has always competed on mechanical engineering design, and it still does. But, when you ask a plant manager where the day-to-day pain and gains in their plant actually come from, increasingly the answer is software. Throughput, uptime, operator experience — these...

Affectionately dubbed 3.0, the latest generation of Enventek’s NEXPLATE injects Formula 1-style velocity to truss build tables. Building on the foundation of version 2.0 — which debuted last year at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Omaha — NEXPLATE 3.0...