Simplifying the Tough Tasks with JAX Kathryn Pedde In 2013, we took over a plant that ran only component saws with live decks, and we struggled to keep them fed. We arranged full bunks of lumber close to the feed decks, but that necessitated moving several bunks when we had to replace an interior bunk. When we replaced those saws with two linear... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 94
Continuous Improvement with JAX Kathryn Pedde 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... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 70
Feed 2, 3, 4, or 5 Saws with the JAX Gantry Kathryn Pedde For the first time, a modern machine used in many other industries has proven itself in a truss plant. In other industries where it works in hundreds of plants, the JAX gantry transports tires, crates, and cases of Jack Daniels whiskey. In a truss plant, JAX moves 1 to 13 sticks of lumber from... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 60
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... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 92