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
Taking Advantage of Lower Rates Carl Villella The Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a percent in September, and our funding banks have also lowered their rates in response. This is great news for the economy as a whole, as interest rates are now lower for all forms of credit, including mortgages. From a macroeconomic... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 77
The Last Word: Rural Cousins in the Truss Business — Making a Mark Joe Kannapell, PE One of the strangest twists of fate in the truss business was initiated by Larry Rogers, and fortunately it boosted his career and that of his replacement, Dickie Vail. Out of this occurrence, both men launched successful startup companies. However, there was also a flood and more than one... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 164
Wall Panel Technology, Part VII: A Deeper Dive into Automation Joe Kannapell, PE 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
How Service and Support Can Make a Difference Wendy Boyd When it comes to investing in machinery and equipment for your frame or truss production, a number of factors are normally part of the decision making – what efficiencies will this product provide, what pain points does it need to alleviate, how will it aid my growth or overall profits,... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 17
F1 Pit Stop Each Truss Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Performing an F1 pit stop for each truss is how to Feed the Beast! Truss builders know that assembling each truss on the truss tables is just like what an F1 pit stop crew does. Both F1 pit stop crews and truss assembly crews strive for efficiency, quality, safety, and teamwork, with a shared... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 44
When Saws Go Rogue Erin Ohnesorge Forget about “Rogue One,” ROGworx Automation has three heads that are better than one! If you haven’t met the guys yet, then you need to come by the ROGworx booth at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Milwaukee, WI this month. So, who are the R-O-G in... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 53
Fixed Rate Drops Below Prime…Just in Time for BCMC! Carl Villella On September 18th, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percent, the first cut in four years. It was a welcome development, and one that should have a positive outcome for the economy. Lower interest rates stimulate economic growth, and make lending of all types less... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 67
The Last Word: BCMC Hits & Misses Joe Kannapell, PE Some surprises are in store at the BCMC Show this year, especially the stunning news that the biggest robotics maker won’t be there and won’t be showing up anywhere. But, the demise of House of Design (HoD) wasn’t because of their equipment, which worked serviceably (for more... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 158
Wall Panel Technology, Part VI: Panel Equipment Innovations Joe Kannapell, PE 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