Looking Toward the Future with Safe Arbor at BCMC Anna Stamm We all know that the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) is THE place to go when you want to see the latest and greatest from suppliers to the structural building components industry. Now that BCMC has been combined with the annual Framer’s Summit, the resulting BCMC | FS... Read More November 2025 Issue #17316 Page 84
The Last Word: How Moehlenpah Revolutionized Pressing Joe Kannapell, PE Before there were truss machines, how did fabricators press plates? They were able to use hammers and nails on the Grip-Plate, but when they started using the plates that didn’t need extra nailing, they had a nearly impossible time getting them pressed. When they went to their local... Read More November 2025 Issue #17316 Page 184
Home Building Technology, Part X: Competing Connectors Joe Kannapell, PE In multiple jurisdictions across the country, building code authorities questioned the viability of the curiously shaped metal plates being used on trusses during the last half of the 1950s. In South Florida, for example, four radically different looking plates appeared, with different... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 10
Alpine Linear Saw 5.0: A New Standard in Small Parts Handling Alpine Team Building on the legacy of over two decades of proven reliability and precision, the latest version of the Alpine Linear Saw (ALS) continues Alpine’s proud tradition of innovation. Designed and engineered to optimize cutting and material handling workflow, the ALS introduces a key... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 57
From Sketch to the Production Floor: How Prefabricated Construction Elements Become Reality with WEINMANN Machines Jesse Southard With my background working with woodworking manufacturers and the construction industry, I have always joked that a construction building is not that different from a cabinet: it is just a lot bigger and has many more parts and pieces that go into it. The truth is it is not that far from... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 62
From Idea to Market: The Journey of Building a New Machine Marco Gagnon Every piece of innovative equipment starts the same way — with an idea. But between that first spark of inspiration and the day the machine hits the market lies a long, intricate path of research, design, problem solving, and teamwork. At Element Equipment, part of the GOW Group, we are... Read More October 2025 Issue #17315 Page 75
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
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
MiTek to Showcase Innovative Solutions at BCMC 2025 MiTek Staff Get ready to see our integrated solutions at the upcoming Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) 2025 in Omaha, NE. Our booth will feature industry-leading software, automated production equipment, engineered systems and products, and service capabilities that empower component... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 48
Where Innovation Meets Industry: Simpson Strong-Tie at BCMC Simpson Strong-Tie Staff It’s almost show time and we cannot wait to share with you all of the innovative solutions we are working on at this year’s BCMC show in Omaha. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] Innovative Software We are excited to announce our newest addition to our Component... Read More September 2025 Issue #17314 Page 54