The Development of the Truss Plate, Part III: The Ingenuity of Carol Sanford and Cal Jureit Joe Kannapell Carol Sanford’s invention didn’t equal Cal Jureit’s, but he made up for it with his head start and his aggressive marketing. Sanford had filed for his patent in March 1954, two years ahead of Jureit’s September 1956 filing, and had a plate design that was relatively... Read More October 2022 Issue #14279 Page 10
Perseverance and Success in the Components Industry Tracy Roe Having just returned from the best BCMC in almost two decades, I want to share some reflection. Our industry was deemed essential during the pandemic, and we outperformed many other sectors. Demand for wood components continued to stay strong through it all. Today, defeating the odds of... Read More October 2022 Issue #14279 Page 42
Because Good Ingredients Matter MSR Lumber Producers Council Since the 1960s, fabricators have used machine stress rated (MSR) lumber of all species to improve the performance and reliability of their engineered components and structures. Nowadays, you don’t have to look far to find a successful component manufacturer who relies heavily on MSR... Read More October 2022 Issue #14279 Page 90
Design Connections: Are We Selling Trusses or Lumber? Geordie Secord It is common for truss plants to be owned at least in part by a lumber yard. This relationship should, at least in theory, provide for a great business relationship. The lumber yard can focus on relationships with the builders, home owners, and developers knowing that they have a dedicated... Read More October 2022 Issue #14279 Page 98
Hurricane Andrew — a 30-Year-Old Learning Experience Randy Shackelford This August marked the 30th anniversary of the Florida landfall of Hurricane Andrew, one of the most damaging, and influential, hurricanes ever to hit the United States. Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida with Category 5 winds early on the morning of August 24, 1992. Andrew caused damages of $25... Read More October 2022 Issue #14279 Page 122
The Development of the Truss Plate, Part II: Cal Jureit’s Invention Joe Kannapell Civil engineer Cal Jureit had moved on from wood structures to concrete foundations, but not completely. While he was engaged with the problem of building houses on Miami’s marshes near the Everglades, he had left the problem of wood connections unresolved. Perhaps his ongoing work on Dade... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 10
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
Design Connections: Design: Software Power or Brain Power? Geordie Secord I sometimes wonder if I am at risk of becoming the truss designer version of the grouchy old man that sits on the front porch yelling at the neighborhood kids to “get off my lawn.” When I hear some newer designer criticize the limitations of today’s truss layout and design... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 86
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 Development of the Truss Plate, Part I: The Perfect Storm Joe Kannapell A nearly perfect confluence of circumstances combined to create the truss plate in South Florida. The wartime home-building hiatus, the post-war baby boom, and the northward (from Cuba) and southward (snowbird) migration to Florida all combined to skyrocket the demand for new housing. But what... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 10