The 2020 World of Modular The Modular Building Institute's 37th Annual Convention & Tradeshow at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida The Modular Building Institute graciously allowed The Advertiser to cover its 37th Annual World of Modular Convention and Tradeshow held March 9-12, 2020 in Orlando,... Read More April 2020 Issue #12249 Page 102
Lumber Briefs: Lumber Market Quarantine? Matt Layman March 29, 2020 We are just days away from the sharpest lumber market price reversal ever experienced. It began last week with unreasonable mill panic selling in an attempt to secure short-term operational cash and a $50 drop. Next week and the following week, there will government mandated... Read More April 2020 Issue #12249 Page 110
The Last Word: Not My Last Word Joe Kannapell From four stories up, I realized how far wood components have come. I was atop 170,000 sq. ft. of trusses, viewing the Minneapolis Basilica, and couldn’t help thinking back 47 years to my first jobsite visit. [See PDF or View in Full Issue for photos.] Back then, floor trusses were brand... Read More April 2020 Issue #12249 Page 145
This Chart Helps Spur Mega-Millions in Off-Site Construction Investments—But Can It Be Trusted? Craig Webb Go to a meeting about modular construction, mass timber, and other off-site components manufacturing and odds are one of the speakers will show this chart [See PDF or View in Full Issue]. I’ve been to events where four consecutive speakers showcased it in their presentations. Some of these... Read More March 2020 Issue #12248 Page 90
Millennials Creating a Modular Housing Evolution Gary Fleisher Contrary to what we Boomers think, Millennials are no longer children. Born between 1981 and 1996, they are in their twenties, or even late thirties, and already entering the single family home market. Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers in 2020 and they’re a market segment... Read More March 2020 Issue #12248 Page 105
Lumber Briefs: How To Beat the Lumber Market Matt Layman The words “panic attack” in our social sphere imply being attacked by panic. It can be debilitating. Put in another context, panic can lead to the action of attacking, typically defensively. Being attacked by panic and attacking in response to panic are positions of weakness that... Read More March 2020 Issue #12248 Page 112
2020 Preview Chris Scott It’s been the time of year for reflection and forecasting, thinking about what can be learned from last year and what should be expected from the new year to come. The most successful of us are the best at applying those lessons learned and having the ability to anticipate upcoming changes... Read More February 2020 Issue #12247 Page 17
Sixty Years of Machines, Part II: A Pressing Issue Joe Kannapell Why reflect on the oft-derided C-Clamp as it fades into truss industry oblivion? Because it holds the world record for truss production, unmatched yet, even by robots. And although it debuted half a century ago, its design has never been equaled. And remarkably, this deceptively simple machine... Read More January 2020 Issue #12246 Page 10
The Hiring Zone: Not Another Recession! I am not talking about stocks, bonds, markets, or even finance. Speaking from experience as a recruiter for over 27 years, I see signs that 2020 is probably going to be OK as far as the building components manufacturing job market goes. My employers are saying they don’t see growth like in... Read More January 2020 Issue #12246 Page 90
Lumber & Housing Market Forecast—Buy Expectation, Sell Reality Matt Layman In our lumber market, when presented with a disruptive opportunity that appears to create a supply shortage or demand surge, buyers increase inventory on the expectation of higher prices; then, once we realize our over-zealous preparation, we liquidate those excessive positions, crashing prices.... Read More January 2020 Issue #12246 Page 100