Equipment Finance Companies to the Rescue Carl Villella Many companies took advantage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021 by bidding on projects to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and broadband networks. But the economic climate of 2021 when the bids were placed was much different than the... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 65
Harnessing Data: The Key to Advancements in the Structural Building Industry Ben Hershey In the building industry generally and industrialized construction specifically, the utilization of data has become increasingly pivotal. This trend parallels the data-driven advancements seen in Formula 1, where precision, speed, and strategic insights derived from data have revolutionized the... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 71
Innovation Through Legacy: Transforming Truss Design with Paragon John Holland What if the future of truss design isn’t just about developing better tools, but redefining the entire process from the ground up? On August 15, we publicly announced Paragon — a product that will change the way trusses are designed and built. A product that took years of... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 80
Insights and Innovations in Component Manufacturing Greg Bates The component manufacturing industry, specifically of roof and floor trusses, is undergoing significant transformation. To delve deeper, we spoke with Todd Drummond, a seasoned expert and long-time consultant with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of truss manufacturing. You can... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 88
Is Customer Service Still Important? In the past, businesses prided themselves on exceptional customer service, especially in addressing warranty claims and service lapses promptly and effectively. Unfortunately, recent years, particularly since COVID, have seen a significant decline in this vital aspect of business. Take, for... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 98
Design Connections: The JobLine in Canada, eh Geordie Secord Since I began my column here in July 2022, you’ve gotten to know me as a truss and component designer who happens to live in Canada. Over the months since then, I’ve focused on many design considerations, including “Cost-Saving Measures and Memorable Debacles,”... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 106
Allowable Plate Embedment Tolerance MiTek Staff Oftentimes, MiTek engineers are asked what plate embedment tolerance is allowed for metal connector plates in wood trusses. Chapter 3 of the ANSI/TPI 1 (National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction) addresses the tolerance for metal connector plate tooth... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 114
Celebrating Do What You Can Day: Our Partnership with ACE Mentorship Karissa Louie We’re thrilled to announce another successful Do What You Can Day, our annual companywide event dedicated to giving back to our communities. This year, we’re especially excited about our partnership with the ACE Mentor Program of America, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 122
The Last Word: Material Handling Bunk-to-Table Joe Kannapell, PE Adding the last links to the chain of material handling – bunk-to-saw and saw-to-table – is intricately executed by Hundegger at Sunpro’s major expansion in St. George, Utah – and it’s cool! Yes, here in the northeastern-most part of the Mojave Desert, the Clyde... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 154
Advertiser Forum: Correlation, Causation, or Coincidence Anna Stamm Determining a genuine cause and effect relationship can be tricker than it seems. Some situations are obvious, but others may be only coincidental. How do we know for certain? When Causation is Obvious Thankfully, some cause and effect relationships are easy to prove. You fall down and... Read More August 2024 Issue #16301 Page 6