Is Plate Substitution the Most Common Error By Confused Truss Builders? Glenn Traylor Generally speaking, ANSI/TPI 1 makes common sense and is very logical. However, there are several items that can be a little confusing because they seem to defy logic. When we upgrade lumber per ANSI/TPI 1 Section 3.4.2, we know that lumber strength needs to be maintained in order to meet the... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 39
Component Saws Are Messy Eaters! Edmond Lim, P.Eng. When you’ve got five or six 20” to 32” blades chewing through lumber simultaneously at even just 18 pieces a minute, you’re not just making a lot of truss parts—you’re creating a full-blown localized dust storm. So what do you do when you’ve got to... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 44
Optimizing Every Inch: Why Space Utilization Matters in Frame & Truss Manufacturing Ed Serrano Imagine a factory floor where every square foot contributes to efficiency and productivity. That’s the power of lean manufacturing: a philosophy centered on maximizing value and eliminating waste. In the fast-paced world of prefabricated frames and trusses, space optimization isn’t... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 62
Tariffs, Countervailing Duties, and More: Optimizing Production Requires Optimizing the Inputs to Production Valerie Hansen On/off tariffs, the pending hike in countervailing duties, and Section 232 National Security Investigation (which designates lumber as a “strategic good” on par with automobiles, steel, and aluminum) stalk the wood frame construction industry. Collectively and individually, these... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 112
Giant Kanban! Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Kanban systems are designed for “just in time” workflow to optimize production efficiency and inventory levels. The Enventek Lumber PickLine is essentially a “Giant Kanban System” designed to improve lumber handing and to efficiently cull lumber away from the saws. Did... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 46
Hardware + Software Integration with JAX, The Wood Retriever Kathryn Pedde When we started down the path of creating the JAX automated retrieval system, it had to work with our existing saws from three different suppliers. So, one of our first tasks was to bring their disparate cutting files into a common format to feed JAX. We also had to bring the sequence of jobs... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 92
Component Industry’s Latest Nightmare: Tariffs Valerie Hansen Today, 93% of America’s new homes are built of wood-frame construction. If fully enacted, the implemented and pending tariffs will reduce lumber supply and trigger an increase in lumber price, resulting in a one–two punch for the wood-frame construction industry. As we once again... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 100
An Ink-redible Advantage: The Vekta P3 Revolutionizes Frame and Truss Printing Ed Serrano Pssst...do you want to know a secret? Not all printers (and their ink) are created equal. If you are struggling with inaccurate or incomplete printing on your production line, you’re missing out on a crucial efficiency boost. The Vekta P3 printer is THE industry-shaking, custom-built... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 66
What the Latest ANSI/TPI-1 Updates Mean for Truss Designs Jay Jones, P.E. The ANSI/TPI 1 standard is a critical document that governs the design and quality criteria for metal plate-connected wood trusses. It serves as a guideline for truss manufacturers and engineers alike, providing the technical framework to design and construct reliable and code-compliant trusses... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 116
MSR Workshop Heads West for Valuable Learning Opportunity at Resort Destination MSR Lumber Producers Council In 1995, the MSR Workshop was born out of one man’s commitment to fulfilling what he saw as a real need to bring together those who produce MSR lumber, those who sell MSR lumber, and those who use MSR lumber, in order to develop a better understanding of each other’s challenges and... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 132