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Every day, component manufacturers are dealing with the entire spectrum of traditional and engineered wood products. In fact, educating your customers may be a key factor in your sales and services. Like you, the American Wood Council (AWC) sees how important education on wood can be to...

The lumber industry knows me as an outspoken, opinionated lumber market analyst and forecaster. This month, I would like to introduce you to Matt Layman, part-time remodeling contractor. I am now beginning my 7th month of total rehab of my wife’s 70-year old 3 BR, 2 BA family home. Her...

The Simpson Strong-Tie® 2019–2020 Wood Construction Connectors catalog is the first in the industry with updated connector allowable load tables to meet the new ASTM test standards required by the 2015 and 2018 International Building Code® (IBC®). It is designed to...

To grow closer to your customers is the reason to attend the International Builders Show (IBS). If you coordinate in advance with your local builders and pay attention to the educational sessions, you may not be overwhelmed amongst the 100,000 attendees. You may also witness the latest...

It’s February, so we’re going to be seeing hearts everywhere for the next few weeks. Valentine’s Day is an excellent opportunity to sell/buy greeting cards, candy, and flowers. But the holiday doesn’t have to be limited to your sweetheart. Consider it an opportunity to...

Part VII: A Computer for Every Designer In 1980, for the first time, I witnessed the PC doing trusses. Then, over the next 10 years, I watched that machine take over every designer’s desktop. Getting to that end, though, wasn’t easy. Unprecedented technological change roiled our...

It was many months ago that I decided to conduct this 12-part series of product comparisons, and now we are in the final stretch! Last time, we compared Automated Saws, High End. This time, we’re taking a look at the lower end of the cost spectrum. When I refer to low end saws, I do so...

A statement far too managers make is that they are not able to get their employees to embrace change. If your company struggles with making changes in any given area, just keep in mind that real change always comes from the top down. If your company is struggling with change and you are the top...

In my career, I have done about everything imaginable when it comes to post frame (pole) building trusses. I have been blessed to have been able to spend a better portion of over two decades working within or owning prefabricated MPCWT (metal plate connected wood truss) manufacturing facilities....

When a 3rd party inspector inspects a licensed plant, what exactly are the auditors looking for? And what can the fabricator get from the experience? What the inspection is NOT, and why that matters: The part 1 audit of the in-house paperwork is not a grade on neatness. It’s an...