To expedite the adoption of pre-built wall panels, shop labor must be significantly lower than site labor. That means replacing hand-nailing, measuring, cutting, and manhandling with practices that have been proven in truss fabrication. In addition, major builders and reluctant framers demand...

This year’s Show, some 45 years after my first, brought some amazing revelations. The most awesome sight was an actual working truss plant on the Show floor. The most intriguing experience was being transported inside a robotic plant. And, the most welcome sounds were good economic...

A current trend in our industry is that the component manufacturers are being advised that one should have a fully automated lumber retrieval system linked to an automated linear saw that pushes the cut lumber directly to the assembly table with an auto puck system. This type of setup is often...

The quickening of innovation will be on display at BCMC this month, and, undoubtedly, so will be the uptake. Suppliers use this platform to launch new products, sometimes rather humbly. Art DePauw sold his prototype “automated” saw to two industry giants, Charlie Barnes and Dave...

The path of factory innovation is leading us to automated systems rather than true robotics. Though industrial robotics has been used for 30 years in our industry, it has served mainly as a forerunner to later systems. Its earliest commercialization, the robotic arms of the Koskovich component...

The differences between high density attached and tract style detached housing extend to the shop floor. Though truss designs may be similar, the project size, location and degree of repetition differs, influencing unit labor costs and material requirements. High density means “maximum...

Day after day we rely heavily on computers, smart phones and tablets. The power of each device makes our jobs faster, more efficient and hopefully easier each day.  Our own corporate policy sets a four year life cycle for each computer. As technological advances in both...

Everyone wants to avoid trouble. We don’t want things to break down, and we don’t want to lose time and money. But sometimes, it’s the actions you can take before something goes wrong that will help you the most. That’s why a preventative maintenance program is important...

That was my reaction when I realized last week that 2016 was right around the corner. Well, actually I hit a stark realization around the middle of December when I had a birthday and could not figure out how I got here. You know, to this place in time. It seems like yesterday that I was a hairy...