I’ve had many conversations with manufacturers across the structural building components industry lately, and the topic that keeps coming up is automation. And it’s no surprise – automation is no longer a futuristic concept. It’s here, and it’s delivering real...

Both the US’ One Big Beautiful Bill Section 179 and Canada’s Accelerated Investment Incentive are designed to stimulate economic growth by encouraging businesses to invest in new equipment and technology by providing upfront tax relief. How’s that for Inspiration to Feed the...

We are just under two months away from the 2025 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Omaha, Nebraska. Simpson Strong-Tie’s dedicated employees are excited to demonstrate our latest innovations in our booth this year. [For photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] Along...

In today’s rapidly evolving construction industry, manufacturers face a growing imperative to do more with less—less labor, less waste, and less downtime. Traditionally, dedicated machines have been used for specific tasks like cutting or marking. While effective for current needs,...

We put our JAX gantry into full operation in late 2023, but we never stopped working to enhance its effectiveness. That’s the advantage of having owner-operators who are hands-on in the plant every day. Fortunately, we began with a proven automated gantry system equipped with a proven...

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,...

In an industry long defined by hard work and incremental improvement, a new chapter is being written. But not everyone seems to realize it. Some are still telling companies to squeeze more productivity out of crews by reorganizing work paths, tracking stopwatch data, and optimizing jobsite...

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...

In late May, I was fortunate to travel to Germany on a quest to discover processes that could advance the state of the art of component manufacturing. Driving 90 miles from Munich’s 6 million people, I passed several quaint villages with businesses bordering the Autobahn, each separated by...

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...