Home Building Technology, Part I: Wall Panel Beginnings Joe Kannapell As we start 2025, we have surpassed the 125th year of offsite wall technology, so it seems fitting to return to the beginning and describe its early progression. Surprisingly, this includes the Ready-Frame® technology that is currently being marketed by Builders FirstSource, as well as the... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 10
Building on Better with Advanced Automation Casey Harless The beginning of a new year is a great time to consider optimizing your production line, and Stiles Machinery is here to help. Stiles has been at the forefront of the United States woodworking industry for over six decades, partnering with manufacturers to provide efficiency-focused solutions... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 70
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
Providing a Complete Customer Solution at Spida Wendy Boyd Since Spida Machinery began over 40 years ago, we’ve consistently adapted to ensure our products meet market demands, grown our team and expertise, and focused on ways we can continuously improve. We’ve looked at ourselves and asked hard questions, identified areas that needed... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 17
Nailing Wall Panel Production with Panels Plus Panels Plus Team Imagine transforming your production process with reliable and innovative equipment. Dayspring Construction did just that, and we’re excited to share their success story with you. The Problem Dayspring Construction had a definite need to improve efficiency. The company was using a... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 73
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
Spida’s Personal Approach Brought to Life at BCMC Wendy Boyd We’re now back at work in our facility in Jacksonville, Florida after a positive experience at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Milwaukee. A big thank you to SBCA and all those involved in organizing such an awesome event. An event of this scale is no easy feat to... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 17
Triad Brings AI, and More, to BCMC 2024 TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team For seven consecutive decades, Triad wall panel and component nailing machines have led the industry in meeting the demands and needs of builders in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Today, Triad continues to meet the ever-growing needs of today’s builders by providing... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 64
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
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