Batch Cutting vs. Cut By Truss Edmond Lim, P.Eng. What weighs more, a pound of muscle or a pound of fat? In truss jargon, the question would be: What produces more trusses, 200 pieces of batch cutting or 200 pieces of cut-by-truss cutting? The answer, of course, is that both cutting methods produce the same number of trusses. So what’s... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 44
Accommodating Your Catch-as-Catch-Can Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Catching and stacking lumber can make or break productivity at the truss build tables. In an imaginary world where money is irrelevant, a linear saw in front of each automated truss jig would be ideal, cutting pieces in order from, let’s say, 60 ft finger-joined lumber, and robots grabbing... Read More February 2024 Issue #16295 Page 42
Floor Truss Technology, Part VIII: Inside Floor Truss Details Joe Kannapell Builders have been testing the viability of floor trusses, and they are now considering the results. Many of them switched from I-joists only because they were forced to do so. Either they couldn’t get them, or they didn’t want to pay double the price. Yet today, as they are seeing... Read More January 2024 Issue #16294 Page 10
Inspiration to Feed The Beast! in 2024 Edmond Lim, P.Eng. As we all plan for a productive and profitable 2024, I would like to celebrate three 2023 Feed The Beast success stories: a multi-million-dollar plant expansion, a complete saw shop makeover, and a plant renovation. All three of these projects implemented some or all of Enventek’s... Read More January 2024 Issue #16294 Page 42
Navigating Productivity Improvement Programs: The Vital Role of a Change Agent In manufacturing, continuous process improvement is critical to maintaining profits and quality. Transforming and enhancing operations, however, demands more than good intentions; it requires a dedicated change agent focused on ensuring the program is implemented and ingrained into ongoing plant... Read More January 2024 Issue #16294 Page 72
One Size Can Fit All Edmond Lim, P.Eng. 2023 was quite a year for Feeding the Beast of all sizes. That is a testament to the simplicity, utility, and robustness of our Process Organization Technology. The RetroC as a standalone auto-feeding component saw can anchor truss plants of all sizes from a single truss jig to over 10 jigs. A... Read More December 2023 Issue #15293 Page 38
A Lumber PickLine Buys Time Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Another BCMC is a wrap and it is clear that pent-up demand remains in the component industry for new automated saws. Longer than one-year machinery lead times are still with us, so what can be done in the meantime to mitigate the long lead times? Take a look at your existing automated saws and... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 40
Truss Plants Meet 90’s Rap – Welcome to Hammer Time! Ed Serrano To meet the demands of modern construction, lumber frame and truss manufacturers are embracing automation solutions. The automation revolution started with CNC linear saws for cutting and has now extended to the infeed of raw materials, the placing and nailing of plates, and even stacking... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 47
Pick, Cut, Build—Talking Shop at BCMC 2023 Edmond Lim, P.Eng. We had non-stop traffic in the Enventek booth at BCMC 2023 in Indianapolis. Enventek (Dave and Larry Dalson, Michael Bell) and LimTek (Ed Lim) are the only turnkey in-line automation suppliers for existing truss plants. We are gaining installed base momentum as word is spreading about our proven... Read More October 2023 Issue #15291 Page 48
Scale Your Business & Profits MiTek Staff As a component manufacturer, you enable better building. As a partner to CMs across the country, MiTek does the same — from advanced design software and automated production equipment to innovative and integrated technologies that lead to a more profitable and stable future for your... Read More September 2023 Issue #15290 Page 54