Joe Kannapell, PE

Home Building Technology, Part IV: The $6,000 Question

Joe Kannapell, PE

Unions opposed it, builders dismissed it, but the American homebuyer would embrace prefabricated housing as soon as they could afford it. Despite fierce opposition, the government made it a reality by allowing FHA financing on prefabricated homes with loans of $6,000 or less. In announcing this...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 10
Ed Serrano

A Fork in the Road

Ed Serrano

“My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.” (— You, probably) It’s a common refrain from recent automation adopters, and you might just find yourself saying it one day. So, what makes that initial step feel like such a big leap and not just another step...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 54
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
Joe Kannapell, PE

The Last Word: Material Handling, Saw to Table

Joe Kannapell, PE

What’s inside your home today, and what will be on top of your house in the future, was or will have been handled by Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These are the small under-riding robots that carry all sorts of items from point A to B in plants or warehouses, eliminating manual...

#17309 Cover image
April 2025
Issue #17309
Page 176
Joe Kannapell, PE

Home Building Technology, Part III: Overcoming the Prefab Stigma

Joe Kannapell, PE

Even though 500,000 prefab homes were built for World War II, builders were not committed to the prefabrication approach. But why not? These homes should have served as an entré to the future use of components by the hundreds of builders who constructed government housing in hundreds of...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 10
Steve Shrader

Getting Up to Speed at Hundegger: The Future of Automation is Here

Steve Shrader

This is set to be a groundbreaking year for Hundegger as we continue to lead the charge in automation and smart manufacturing solutions. With innovation accelerating across the wood processing industry, Hundegger remains at the forefront—delivering intelligent, high-precision systems that...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 60
Carl Villella

Navigating the Workforce Shortage: How Technology and Equipment Financing Can Help

Carl Villella

The year 2025 sees businesses across industries grappling with a persistent workforce shortage. Finding and retaining qualified employees is a major challenge, impacting productivity and growth. However, technology offers a powerful solution, and equipment financing can make it more accessible...

#17308 Cover image
March 2025
Issue #17308
Page 83
Joe Kannapell, PE

Home Building Technology, Part II: Mass Production Technology

Joe Kannapell, PE

While Sears had stolen the spotlight on precut technology, their lesser-known rival, Aladdin Homes, helped usher in prefabrication, but not initially. For many years, Aladdin fought the concept of pre-assembling parts of homes in their factory, asserting that their precut packages took...

#17307 Cover image
February 2025
Issue #17307
Page 10
Ben Hershey and Thomas Griffin

The Digital Revolution in Offsite Construction and Manufacturing

Ben Hershey and Thomas Griffin

The offsite construction industry is undergoing a transformative era, driven by the advent of digital technologies. This evolution is not only revolutionizing how projects are managed but also addressing fundamental industry challenges. As more firms embrace digitization, understanding its...

#17307 Cover image
February 2025
Issue #17307
Page 60
Dario Schmidt

A Case for Manufacturing Execution Software (MES)

Dario Schmidt

Before we jump right to the point, please, imagine your own shop. Do you ever get frustrated by the lack of organization in your office? Do you feel like you’ve got the right people, and maybe the right equipment, but you’re just not getting as much production as you feel you should?...

#17307 Cover image
February 2025
Issue #17307
Page 68
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