Home Building Technology, Part II: Mass Production Technology Joe Kannapell, PE While Sears had stolen the spotlight on precut technology, their lesser-known rival, Aladdin Homes, helped usher in prefabrication, but not initially. For many years, Aladdin fought the concept of pre-assembling parts of homes in their factory, asserting that their precut packages took... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 10
Benefit from a Wall Line Solution That Fits Your Business! Wendy Boyd When it comes to wall frame lines, they aren’t all made equally. At Spida Machinery, we pride ourselves on providing solutions that are comprehensive, innovative, and most importantly, designed for your manufacturing needs and budget. The beginning of the year is often a time to reflect... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 17
The Sales Team’s Number One Time-Wasting Activity Todd Drummond When it comes to the sales team, the very group that provides the lifeblood of the entire company, there is often one blind spot for wasted efforts. Why do so many companies allow their sales team to jump through so many hoops to find need-to-know-right-now information? Why must the sales... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 28
Joint Detailing for Accurate Plate Placement Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Good joint detailing at the design stage can help truss builders accurately position truss plates, including the back plate which is essentially positioned “blindly.” Laser projection is excellent for positioning the top face plate, however, it is subject to the same limitations for... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 48
The Digital Revolution in Offsite Construction and Manufacturing Ben Hershey and Thomas Griffin The offsite construction industry is undergoing a transformative era, driven by the advent of digital technologies. This evolution is not only revolutionizing how projects are managed but also addressing fundamental industry challenges. As more firms embrace digitization, understanding its... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 60
A Core Artery of Your Truss Plant Steph Karlstad In every truss plant, there are three main arteries: the Truss Design Department, Production & Operations, and Sales. While all are vital, the design department is where everything begins—and where you need to keep your pulse. The production floor will build what shows up on their... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 90
Reasons Why Truss Designers Leave Their Jobs Truss manufacturers rely heavily on skilled and experienced professionals, especially truss designers. Yet, retaining these technical workers is a common challenge. Here’s what we have learned over the past few years on why truss designers often leave their jobs, focusing on the most... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 98
Design Connections: The Complex World of Truss Design Access Geordie Secord This month I’d like to discuss something that’s causing quite a stir in the component industry: how software suppliers are handling the explosion of remote work, and the sometimes blurry line between different types of designers – including their own design centers. The... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 108
The Art of a Lumber PickLine Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Of course, if you’re starting a truss plant from the ground up, it’s a snap to include an Enventek Lumber PickLine in your plans. The real beauty of the Lumber PickLine, however, is that it can be easily configured for existing truss plants – whether inside the plant or outside... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 46
Penetrating the Shallow Depth Floor Market: How Posi-Strut® Can Be Your Best Solution Stephen Keller, PE In today’s light-frame construction market, wood web floor trusses are commonly used in many multifamily projects. Builders, structural engineers, and general contractors often view wood web trusses as the default floor system for projects requiring 18 inches or greater depth. However,... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 54