Glenn Traylor

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...

#17310 Cover image
May 2025
Issue #17310
Page 39
Edmond Lim, P.Eng.

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...

#17310 Cover image
May 2025
Issue #17310
Page 44
Ed Serrano

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...

#17310 Cover image
May 2025
Issue #17310
Page 62
Valerie Hansen

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...

#17310 Cover image
May 2025
Issue #17310
Page 112
Edmond Lim, P.Eng.

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...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 46
Kathryn Pedde

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...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 92
Valerie Hansen

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...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 100
Ed Serrano

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...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 66
Jay Jones, P.E.

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...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 116
MSR Lumber Producers Council

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...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 132
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