For the nearly 1,500 attendees at the 2017 BCMC, a clear majority perused the Square 1 Design booth. Witnessing a more efficient way an individual person could stack more than four roof truss setups, or could produce more than 1,250 lineal feet of wall panels. It took considerable effort to...

A current trend in our industry is that the component manufacturers are being advised that one should have a fully automated lumber retrieval system linked to an automated linear saw that pushes the cut lumber directly to the assembly table with an auto puck system. This type of setup is often...

Every organization chooses to partner with another organization. Whether it is for branding, complimentary products, or even a dealership license, making the correct choice can be challenging, rewarding, or even catastrophic. From choosing an equipment supplier, lumber supplier, or yet a copy...

Trade shows are a great way to demonstrate products and to meet people face-to-face. They are very useful when you want to see products that require a demonstration or, as my brother Keith would say, “where you want to put your hand on the machine.” But there are even more reasons to...

This year’s BCMC is going to be unparalleled to any other trade show for Square 1 Design & Manufacture Inc. With over 5,000 square feet of floor space, we have decided to bring the manufacturing to you. LIVE WALL PANEL MANUFACTURING ON THE SHOW FLOOR! The Spida Wall Panel Extruder will...

Have you have taken the time to consider some of the most innovative machinery for building walls on the market today? The Spida wall extruder is not just a machine, it is a shift in the way we think about how walls are prefabricated in the industry. The production line has been around for a...

The long overdue rebirth of domestic wall panel technology is finally upon us, as U.S. manufacturers have begun to innovate. For the last 30 years, they ceded the upper end of the market to the Europeans, and focused on manual framing and sheathing solutions. For the last 10 years, they have...

Automation is advancing around the world, but will it yield the quantum leap promised? And how big a margin will it provide over conventional processes? Let’s first assess how various systems affect non-direct-labor inputs to the production process. Later we’ll balance these against...

I have attended my share of trade shows over the years, from work events to leisure activities. Every time I attend, I consider the effort put forth to assemble each booth. Displays range from pop-up displays, while others are thrown together overnight or on strict budgets. Then you come upon...

Too often a repeated mantra within our industry is that everyone sells components at too-low margins. The blame is always on the other guy, meaning the competitor, for selling at a lower margin than what should be market pricing. Well, what can your company do to raise margin pricing? During...