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... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 82
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... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 95
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... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 104
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... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 110
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... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 117
CS Producerâ„¢ – 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... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 124
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,... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 170
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... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 6
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... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 10
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... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 17