Triad’s ProFusion Sheathing Bridge at BCMC TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team What will you see when you enter the show floor at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) this month? Well, you are certain to see the Triad ProFusion Sheathing Bridge! We’ll be in Booth #1301, which is near the show floor entrance. ProFusion features an unmanned... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 50
Incremental CapEx ROI and Plant Tours Edmond Lim, P.Eng. With the forecasted housing backlog and ongoing tight labor market, shouldn’t all truss plants be modernizing by investing in automation? That is easier said than done. One strategy to modernize is to automate with incremental investments. In my experience, the best way to get over the... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 62
Maximizing Profits with Patent Protection James Walker We all know the future belongs to off-site construction and the increasing use of components. Although it’s a small percentage now, it is projected to grow exponentially. It is a more efficient use of materials with less waste and reduces labor requirements – and this adds up to more... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 78
Move Over Status Quo, Modular Wants a Seat at the Table Tom Hardiman The modular construction industry is not new. It’s not untried, untested, or untrue. It is a relatively small niche of the construction industry accounting for about 5.5% of all new building construction starts in 2021. And it is a somewhat fragmented industry in terms of the geographic... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 92
The Last Word: The Last Word on Totally Robotic Joe Kannapell Attendees at BCMC 2019 stood safely right next to an awesome gesticulating robot and became immersed in observing record-breaking truss building – virtually, that is, through a VR headset. Back then, Trussmatic robots hadn’t made it stateside, and hadn’t yet handled our crazy... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 130
Here is What Happens When Continuous Improvement is More than a Slogan Todd Drummond As a change agent for lean manufacturing best practices, it is extremely satisfying when I see a company embrace best practices despite their challenges. Too often, it is stated, “we (I) cannot implement or do the suggested improvement practice because _____” from so many claiming to... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 22
How to Rev Up During a Long Lead Time Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Just when you have calculated your traditional CapEx ROI saying “Yes,” you cannot pass “Go” until 2023 because your new machinery lead time is a year away. Now what? Now you should prepare for it! Instead of focusing on the wait, get better organized before your... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 50
Maximizing Lumber, Space, and Speed with Vekta Rob Bellian The most common cause of downtime for an automated saw is a lack of lumber on the infeed conveyors. Feeding a linear saw can be a very labor-intensive process. Operators will fatigue and naturally slow down over the day and loading mistakes can cost a plant significantly in lost productivity.... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 56
8 Reasons Building Materials Companies Need to Pay Attention to Offsite Construction Mark Mitchell Is offsite construction just a fad or is it going to become the new normal for the construction industry? Is it an untapped market for manufacturers and suppliers? If your business is selling building materials, does it even matter whether you sell to offsite facilities or companies that... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 82
Standards Ensure Off-site Built Tiny Homes Deliver Safety and Efficiency Ryan Colker As many communities and potential homeowners struggle with housing affordability, tiny houses have emerged as part of the solution. Assuring these tiny houses deliver the same level of safety and efficiency of other permanent housing solutions is essential. Local building codes and the... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 96