Take a HyperLeap with AMT Robotics Garry Roehr Last month, in “Say Hello to AMT Robotics,” I introduced our Datum Squaring Table. This month, I’d like to focus on our HyperLeap Sheathing Bridge. You’ll find that our modular approach allows you to install the machine that best suits your current needs while giving... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 99
Building Future Builders and Truss Designers Jeff Haider Many of us have sought ways to help grow the next generation of builders, and I’m fortunate to work with a local program doing just that. The Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) in Watford City, ND is committed to empowering individuals through career and technical education, fostering a... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 107
Who’s Ghosting Who? Ghosting has become a common occurrence, but in the hiring world, it carries real consequences. At its core, ghosting happens when one party simply stops responding, even though a level of engagement had been established. In the building components manufacturing industry, and in my role as a... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 114
Design Connections: Is Your Tribal Knowledge Retiring or Expiring? Geordie Secord In my 30+ years in this industry, I’ve seen some of the most sophisticated automation money can buy. We have saws that think faster than humans and auto-jigging systems that move with surgical precision. But here is the cold, hard truth: the most critical piece of infrastructure in your... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 122
Economic Factors in the Second Quarter Lesko Financial Services Team We began the second quarter of the year with a sense of growing tension and uncertainty over the impact of war with Iran. The de facto shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz — through which 20% of the global oil supply is shipped — continued to send oil prices soaring with inflationary... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 132
Celebrating the Lunar New Year with Simpson Strong-Tie Viet Nam Simpson Strong-Tie Staff Lunar New Year has passed, but its meaning continues to guide our work at Simpson Strong-Tie Viet Nam. Tet is a time of renewal, gratitude, and connection. Each year, our Viet Nam branch honors this tradition together in the office, reinforcing shared purpose and commitment. Established in 2012,... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 141
An Industry Best Practice for Informing Installers Sean Shields One of the most effective tools available to component manufacturers to inform installers and framers of the potential hazards associated with the installation of structural building components is the Component Warning Notice (CWN). Developed by the SBCA, the CWN has emerged as an industry best... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 150
The Last Word: John Houlihan’s Contributions Joe Kannapell, PE A quiet and unassuming man, John Houlihan was ushered into our business by the charismatic Dave Chambers, and together they built the foundation for today’s labor management practices. It helped that Chambers’ plant, Imperial Components, was close to the site of the Hawthorne Study,... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 180
Advertiser Forum: The Impact of Budget Cuts Anna Stamm When I’m frustrated by something, I’ll tend to keep thinking about it, like a problem to be solved. If I can figure out why I’m so irritated, then maybe I can learn from it (rather than only complain about it). Fictional Stories and Real-Life Budgets In the past,... Read More April 2026 Issue #18321 Page 6
The New American Home at IBS 2026 Joe Kannapell, PE Will trusses will be part of new American homes in the future? That question has been the reason I keep a close eye on the home built for NAHB’s International Builders Show. Since 1984, this off-site exhibit, “The New American Home” (TNAH), has presented the latest innovations... Read More April 2026 Issue #18321