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When I joined Precision Equipment Manufacturing in May of this year as their new Sales Manager, I knew I had my work cut out for me trying to fill the shoes of the late, great Terry Metzger. Everyone has spoken so highly of Terry that I know I can’t replace him but I intend to live up to...

The flow of lumber through the plant is the lifeblood of a component manufacturing business, so taking steps to protect and improve that flow is essential for keeping your business healthy. This is an objective we took to heart when creating our JAX system. With JAX, The Wood Retriever, a...

Design teams are made up of people, and as we know, people can drive profits or create costly errors. When your design team is a mix of seasoned and newer individuals, and you add off-shore or subcontract service providers, understanding their individual skill levels becomes essential. Do you...

In my previous article, “Making the Most of Mass Timber,” I discuss what mass timber entails and why it may not be a good add-on for your existing light-frame component business. Even so, component manufacturers (CMs) need not be completely shut out of the benefits of the burgeoning...

The National Lumber Grading Authority (NLGA) is the grading agency having authority over establishing lumber design values for Hem-Fir (North) lumber and conducting on-going testing to verify the design values. The NLGA follows inspection and grading rules approved by the American Lumber...

The Earliest Moment Frame Connections Approximately 150 years ago, steel framing revolutionized how buildings were constructed.[1] The proportionately strong material compared to its weight and size led to larger and taller “high-rise” buildings. Initially rivet and angle...

During the challenging 1980s, gutsy cousins Larry Rogers and Dickie Vail tackled truss plant ownership. Larry put his savings on the line in 1981 and with an SBA loan began Rogers Manufacturing Co. (RMC), not far from where he had worked in northeast Louisiana. Dickie relied mostly on backing...

The industry was on display at the 2024 Building Component Manufacturers Conference in Milwaukee last month, and by all accounts it was a great show. From what I’ve heard, the venue was welcoming, the attendees enthusiastic, and the exhibitors eager to show what they have to offer. Many...

Plate markers, single tool bridges, and automated saws were just a few of the enhancements that filtered into wall panel shops at the Millennium. Their adoption was quickened by the consolidation of component manufacturers (CMs) and by the increasing pressure on all CMs by busy builders....

We’re now back at work in our facility in Jacksonville, Florida after a positive experience at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Milwaukee. A big thank you to SBCA and all those involved in organizing such an awesome event. An event of this scale is no easy feat to...