In the world of frame and truss manufacturing, there aren’t many events that gather the industry in quite the same way as the annual Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC). It’s a touchpoint – not just for showcasing machinery and equipment, but for sharing ideas,...

The summer build season is upon us, so the familiar daily time constraint challenges are back. Yet this summer build season is not like the past few years. In many regions, sales are not as strong, so margins are dropping to keep the sales volume needed to remain profitable. During the winter...

Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking through a component manufacturer’s facility. As you do this, some will see a facility with a relatively well-automated wall panel line, in which full sheets of OSB, gypsum, ZIP, etc. are being applied to the wall in line and the router on the...

U.S. businesses are feeling optimistic, with nearly half expecting economic improvement in the next 12 months. This four-year high in confidence, despite inflation and tariff concerns, is translating into a strong desire for growth. A remarkable 66% of middle-market companies and 36% of small...

For many in the structural building components industry, the past few months have been quieter than usual. This has been caused by a combination of factors including economic, regulatory, and operational. I was talking to a customer recently and he put it like this: “where we’re...

When discussing employee staffing issues during consultations, wages and long-term employment are inevitably part of the conversation. After decades of advisement, it is no longer a surprise to me about the disconnect between what executives think is most important to the employees versus what...

In today’s rapidly evolving housing market, the demand for diverse housing types—affordable, low-income, modular, multi-family, and general residential construction—is greater than ever. This growing demand highlights the need for scalable, efficient building solutions. Enter...

For the first time, a modern machine used in many other industries has proven itself in a truss plant. In other industries where it works in hundreds of plants, the JAX gantry transports tires, crates, and cases of Jack Daniels whiskey. In a truss plant, JAX moves 1 to 13 sticks of lumber from...

Consultative financing for wood component manufacturers goes beyond simple loans. It’s about understanding the industry’s unique challenges—like high equipment costs, raw material volatility, and market sensitivity—to offer tailored financial solutions. A consultative...

I’ve had the privilege of working with frame and truss manufacturers for many years now, and I’ve seen firsthand how the right equipment can transform a business. If you’re thinking about investing in an automated linear saw, I can honestly say, you can reap many benefits...