Wall Panel Technology, Part IX: More Panel Automation From American Suppliers Joe Kannapell Handling studs and plates to build walls is easy, but handling oversized sheets of OSB and sheathed wall panels is not. Fortunately, two inventors in the Midwest have lightened the load. Automated Sheathing Saw: Since he began his career at Monet DeSauw 30 years ago, David Ohnesorge has been... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 10
Inspiration for Automation in 2025 Edmond Lim, P.Eng. After the wonderful success that was BCMC 2024, I decided to take a quick holiday…to Japan! Having never visited that fascinating country before, I was excited to see what I might find. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] While waiting in line for the Ubako and Owakudani... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 48
Wall Panel Technology, Part VIII: Panel Automation From American Suppliers Joe Kannapell Plate markers, single tool bridges, and automated saws were just a few of the enhancements that filtered into wall panel shops at the Millennium. Their adoption was quickened by the consolidation of component manufacturers (CMs) and by the increasing pressure on all CMs by busy builders.... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 10
Celebrating Success: MiTek Innovations & Connections at BCMC | FS 2024 MiTek Staff We at MiTek Inc. extend a heartfelt thank you to SBCA and all attendees for making BCMC | Framer Summit 2024 a fantastic event. From a dynamic show floor to ample opportunities to network, learn, and connect with our industry, BCMC plays a crucial role in advancing our industry, and we are... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 58
The Legacy Continues: Introducing the Next Generation of the Alpine Linear Saw Alpine Team Coming in 2025 – Alpine is excited to announce the evolution of the Alpine Linear Saw (ALS) with the introduction of ALS 5.0. Building on over two decades of reliability, durability, and accuracy, this latest version continues Alpine’s proud tradition of innovation. [For all photos,... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 70
Wall Panel Technology, Part VII: A Deeper Dive into Automation Joe Kannapell Toll Brothers imported an automated panel line commensurate with their luxurious homes, or so they expected. Perhaps because the European economy was ailing in the early 1990s, Randek from Sweden, like the Makron company from Finland before them, offered Toll an excellent deal. But Randek was an... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 10
Optimize Offsite Production by Optimizing Lumber Costs Valerie Hansen Lumber is mission-critical to every component manufacturer (CM). On average, it represents two-thirds of your cost-of-goods (CoG), roughly half of the value of your product (Revenue – Pretax Profit). So, what are the market dynamics that surround the purchase of lumber? And how can your... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 73
Wall Panel Technology, Part VI: Panel Equipment Innovations Joe Kannapell As automation and robotics are increasingly embraced, it makes sense to review examples of successful implementations from the pioneers of past systems. Interestingly, the first successful fully automated component assembly in the U.S. involved wall panels rather than trusses. However, in many... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 10
MiTek to Showcase Innovative Solutions at BCMC | FS 2024 MiTek Staff As a global pioneer in the building components industry, we’re looking forward to presenting our integrated solutions suite at the upcoming Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) | Framer’s Summit 2024. Our booth at the event will feature best-in-class software, automated... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 52
Harnessing Data: The Key to Advancements in the Structural Building Industry Ben Hershey In the building industry generally and industrialized construction specifically, the utilization of data has become increasingly pivotal. This trend parallels the data-driven advancements seen in Formula 1, where precision, speed, and strategic insights derived from data have revolutionized the... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 71