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There is a quiet transformation happening in the backrooms of North American truss plants. Faced with a chronic shortage of experienced local design talent and unyielding demand for faster turnarounds, owners and general managers are turning to overnight, overseas design services. On paper, the...

For component manufacturers who rely on machine stress rated (MSR) lumber in their day-to-day operations, the annual MSR Workshop continues to distinguish itself as one of the most valuable events on the industry calendar. The 2026 Workshop, held at the end of April in Orange Beach, AL, once...

Per ANSI/TPI 1-2022 (National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction), Section 6.2.2.5, trusses with an overall span of 18 ft or greater must be evaluated for a 300 lb concentrated person load applied at the midpoint of any chord panel that is not sheathed with...

Purchasing the correct grade of lumber to match your design drawing requirements is only one step in selecting the right lumber. Previously, we’ve discussed lumber quality in “Who is Responsible for Lumber Quality in Your Trusses?,” but let’s expand that discussion with...

Component manufacturing is a constant balancing act. People, timelines, communication, production realities, and customer expectations, all at once. Estimators are trying to turn quotes around faster, designers are solving problems that keep getting more complex, and production teams are...

Perhaps you’ve seen our company name or maybe you’ve watched my episode of The Common Chord by Paragon, People First Innovation in Truss Design. But if we haven’t met, let me introduce myself. I’m Jarred Frescura, Managing Partner and Director of Design Services for...

After more than 30 years of recruiting in the structural building components industry, along with my own background in offsite manufacturing, I have learned that hiring someone is only the beginning. Keeping them is where many companies struggle. One of the biggest complaints I hear from...

Last month’s article, “Is Your Tribal Knowledge Retiring or Expired?”, addresses the “Single Point of Failure” — the realization that your plant’s most valuable intellectual property is currently walking out the door every day at 5:00 PM in the head of a...

Designing long-span trusses starts with a clear definition. Establishing what constitutes a long-span truss sets expectations early, helping to drive smarter design, manufacturing, and logistics decisions from the outset. [For all figures, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] Defining Long-Span...

Mansard-type trusses are a type of roof truss that extend outward and are supported only on top and bottom of the tall end, allowing it to cantilever out without additional support. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] They are commonly designed with a pin and vertical roller...