Wendy Boyd

What to Consider Before Purchasing an Automated Linear Saw

Wendy Boyd

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...

#17310 Cover image
May 2025
Issue #17310
Page 19
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
Steve Shrader

It’s Not About Layout—It’s About Logic

Steve Shrader

When companies consider adding automation to their plants, often they’ll focus on certain details and think that’s all there is. But true automation is about more than just reorganization, and it can take your company to a new level of production and success. [For all images, See PDF...

#17310 Cover image
May 2025
Issue #17310
Page 70
Wendy Boyd

Importance of Factory Layouts and Investing in the Right Machinery!

Wendy Boyd

Factory layouts are important in any industry, and none more so than in the structural building components industry. Not only do factory layouts allow you to simplify and streamline workflow processes, but they can also assist you in maximizing your productivity and improving overall...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 19
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
Steve Shrader

Labor Tweaks Won’t Save Manufacturing—Automation Will

Steve Shrader

Manufacturing, in truss production, means transforming lumber and plates into engineered components through machinery, labor, and precise processes. In 2025, it’s more than labor—it’s automation. Some cling to the old beat, stacking bodies and tuning schedules as if headcounts...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 62
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
Wendy Boyd

Machinery Software That Works For You!

Wendy Boyd

Looking at the year ahead, a number of predictions have said the manufacturing landscape in the US is set to grow. This is being driven by several factors including advances in technology, increasing use of automation, and changes within the economy, as well as changes to the workforce with a...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 19
Edmond Lim, P.Eng.

Gear Up for Winter Work Just Like Winter Sports!

Edmond Lim, P.Eng.

This winter season has been marked by severe weather conditions, including bitterly persistent cold and heavy snowfall. Thankfully, we’ve continued to install outdoor Lumber PickLines, which is a testament to the robustness and operational effectiveness of Enventek’s forklift...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
1345678910Last

Search By Keyword

Issues

Book icon Read Our Current Issue

Download Current Issue PDF