Planning for the Triad National Trade Show TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team As Triad celebrates 65 years in this great industry, we’re finalizing the plans for our 16th Annual Trade Show! The event is being held on April 9–10 at Merrick Machine Company in Alda, Nebraska. Our product showcase will feature our latest machines, including the PreStage Framing... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 55
Getting Up to Speed at Hundegger: The Future of Automation is Here Steve Shrader This is set to be a groundbreaking year for Hundegger as we continue to lead the charge in automation and smart manufacturing solutions. With innovation accelerating across the wood processing industry, Hundegger remains at the forefront—delivering intelligent, high-precision systems that... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 60
An Ink-redible Advantage: The Vekta P3 Revolutionizes Frame and Truss Printing Ed Serrano Pssst...do you want to know a secret? Not all printers (and their ink) are created equal. If you are struggling with inaccurate or incomplete printing on your production line, you’re missing out on a crucial efficiency boost. The Vekta P3 printer is THE industry-shaking, custom-built... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 66
5 Reasons Why Your Wall Panel Production is Underwhelming Darrin Schramm Any given fall Sunday, we get to watch our favorite football team and, if we understand the sport, we can see what they do well and where they are lacking. Each game is full of statistics, and the statistics tell us where our team ranks in relation to previous games, other teams, past years, and... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 72
Navigating the Workforce Shortage: How Technology and Equipment Financing Can Help Carl Villella The year 2025 sees businesses across industries grappling with a persistent workforce shortage. Finding and retaining qualified employees is a major challenge, impacting productivity and growth. However, technology offers a powerful solution, and equipment financing can make it more accessible... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 83
The Benefits of a 32-Hour Workweek for Truss Designers Truss manufacturers looking to attract younger truss designers might want to think outside of the box. We have found one key issue affecting many Gen-Z truss designers and have a solution that may help entice them to your company—offering a Gen-Z-preferred workweek. Consider this: Gen-Z... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 100
Design Connections: Addressing the Truss Designer Shortage Geordie Secord For many years, there has been a great deal of discussion at industry events, in component industry board rooms, and even in this publication about a looming shortage of design technicians. So, what is behind the wood truss designer shortage and why is it such a pressing issue? And, how can we... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 108
What the Latest ANSI/TPI-1 Updates Mean for Truss Designs Jay Jones, P.E. The ANSI/TPI 1 standard is a critical document that governs the design and quality criteria for metal plate-connected wood trusses. It serves as a guideline for truss manufacturers and engineers alike, providing the technical framework to design and construct reliable and code-compliant trusses... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 116
Existing Deck Inspection—A Must for Springtime Celebrations Frank Woeste and Joseph Loferski A common denominator for deck collapses is a special family event, such as a graduation, wedding, birthday party, or family reunion. A properly designed and constructed 14-ft x 24-ft residential deck floor, designed for a 40 psf uniform live load, should safely support 84 occupants based on an... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 124
MSR Workshop Heads West for Valuable Learning Opportunity at Resort Destination MSR Lumber Producers Council In 1995, the MSR Workshop was born out of one man’s commitment to fulfilling what he saw as a real need to bring together those who produce MSR lumber, those who sell MSR lumber, and those who use MSR lumber, in order to develop a better understanding of each other’s challenges and... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 132