A Lumber PickLine Buys Time Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Another BCMC is a wrap and it is clear that pent-up demand remains in the component industry for new automated saws. Longer than one-year machinery lead times are still with us, so what can be done in the meantime to mitigate the long lead times? Take a look at your existing automated saws and... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 40
Truss Plants Meet 90’s Rap – Welcome to Hammer Time! Ed Serrano To meet the demands of modern construction, lumber frame and truss manufacturers are embracing automation solutions. The automation revolution started with CNC linear saws for cutting and has now extended to the infeed of raw materials, the placing and nailing of plates, and even stacking... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 47
The Game Changer for Wall Panels—Triad’s Ai Sub-Component Nailer TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team If you were able to attend this fall’s Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Indianapolis, then you may have gotten your first look at the latest game changer in wall panel manufacturing—Triad’s Ai Sub-Component Nailer. [For photos, See PDF or View in Full... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 54
Are Current Interest Rates Affecting Business? Carl Villella Over the last few months, we’ve been adjusting the rates on our factor sheet upwards as the Fed continued to raise interest rates. The Fed has now raised its target rate to the highest level in 22 years, to 5.50%. Despite the higher rates, we have not seen the demand for funding slowing... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 61
Job Site 101 Landon Boucher This short article is dedicated to all those in our industry who must occasionally visit a job site but maybe it’s not a part of their everyday function or maybe it is, but it’s new to you. Our industry has an incredible number of people and companies involved with bringing a project... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 66
ROI: Turn Your Largest COST (Lumber) into a Profit Driver Valerie Hansen Lumber is mission-critical to every component manufacturer (CM). On average, it represents two-thirds of your cost-of-goods (CoG), roughly half of the value of your product (Revenue – Pretax Profit). So, what are the market dynamics that surround the purchase of lumber? And how/why can CMs... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 72
Surprising Resilience Tempered By Lingering Pressures in Quarter 4 Lesko Financial Services Team As the Fourth Quarter got underway, there were strong signs that the U.S. economy remains resilient, despite stock market volatility and consumers beginning to express some wobbles in confidence. But the crisis in the Middle East, political divisiveness in the U.S., and chaotic developments... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 78
Building Your Own Home, Part VIX: The Home Stretch – It’s a Wrap! As we approach the finish line of our construction journey, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the final touches that will bring our home to life. We’re thrilled to share the latest updates on our project, which has been a labor of love every step... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 84
Design Connections: Investing in Your Success Goes Beyond Your Equipment Geordie Secord I’m sure we have all been guilty of being bowled over by the latest new and improved gadget, whether in our personal lives or in our company. A new coffee maker promises the best cup you’ve ever had, a new set of golf clubs promises to immediately shave strokes off your game, and the... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 90
Information Needed to Provide Efficient Truss Design Repairs MiTek Staff Metal plate connected roof and floor trusses are used widely in residential single family, multi- family, commercial, and agricultural construction. They provide design flexibility, span greater distances than traditional “stick framing,” and allow faster erection of the roof system... Read More November 2023 Issue #15292 Page 97