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Jeff Brown

Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage: How Semi-Automated Equipment is Rebuilding the Construction Workforce

Jeff Brown

Panels Plus is helping companies do more with less — safely, consistently, and efficiently. The Construction Labor Crisis: Fewer Hands on Deck The construction industry is in the middle of a critical workforce challenge. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 82
Carl Villella

Market Confidence and the Building Component Industry

Carl Villella

To stay abreast of current trends and future forecasts, I follow many reports and analyses. Most recently, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s September 2025 Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) indicates a continued, albeit slightly tempered, positive outlook for the equipment...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 95
Thom McAnally

Hiring-Zone.com: A New Platform Connecting Employers, Job Seekers, and Contractors in the Building Components Industry

The building components industry has always relied on people—skilled truss designers, estimators, plant managers, contractors, and subcontractors who understand the pace and complexity of modern construction. Finding those people, however, has often been a challenge. Generic job boards are...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 104
Geordie Secord

Design Connections: Training vs. Experience: What Really Builds a Great Designer?

Geordie Secord

When it comes to building a strong component design team, there’s always a debate: is it better to hire someone inexperienced but with some formal training such as college or technical school, or someone with years of hands-on experience? The truth is, both matter—but not always in...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 110
MiTek Staff

Solid Blocking Requirement for Truss Joints

MiTek Staff

MiTek engineers frequently receive questions on why the note “Solid blocking is required on both sides of the truss at joints…” appears on an engineering drawing and how to address it. This often arises at the high heel joints. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 117
Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

CS Producer™ – A Modern Approach to Truss Production & Management

Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

We live in a world of ever-changing schedules and demands. Nowhere is this truer than in truss production and management. Tracking each phase of production is critical to success. Enter CS Producer™, a new cloud-based application that gives floor and roof truss manufacturers powerful tools...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 124
Joe Kannapell, PE

The Last Word: Housing and Components on the National Mall

Joe Kannapell, PE

Our industry has much to gain from our participation in the Innovative Housing Showcase in Washington, D.C. This year, one of our main goals was to lobby government officials to stimulate housing construction. In effect, the 27 exhibitors were saying right in front of the seat of government,...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 170
Anna Stamm

Advertiser Forum: Knowing the Rules

Anna Stamm

What never ceases to amaze me is how things can be completely obvious but still dependent on you knowing the “rules.” The problem is figuring out if you know the rules or if the rules have changed. That was Then, This is Now I remember very clearly, after my sister and I moved...

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September 2025
Issue #17314
Page 6
Joe Kannapell, PE

Home Building Technology, Part IX: The Great Connector

Joe Kannapell, PE

Cal Jureit’s truss testing experience was but the first of three consequential steps that led him to invent the modern truss connector plate. Jureit’s second step was joining Truss Fabrications, Inc. (TFI), which furthered his knowledge of truss manufacturing, and focused his efforts...

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September 2025
Issue #17314
Page 10
Wendy Boyd

Truss Cutting Transformed: Integrated, Automated, and Labor-Light

Wendy Boyd

In today’s truss plants, the cutting stage plays a more critical role than ever. What was once predominantly a repetitive, manual task has become a central driver of speed, accuracy, consistency, and efficiency across the entire operation. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full...

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September 2025
Issue #17314
Page 17
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