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Alpine Team

Alpine Linear Saw 5.0: A New Standard in Small Parts Handling

Alpine Team

Building on the legacy of over two decades of proven reliability and precision, the latest version of the Alpine Linear Saw (ALS) continues Alpine’s proud tradition of innovation. Designed and engineered to optimize cutting and material handling workflow, the ALS introduces a key...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 57
Jesse Southard

From Sketch to the Production Floor: How Prefabricated Construction Elements Become Reality with WEINMANN Machines

Jesse Southard

With my background working with woodworking manufacturers and the construction industry, I have always joked that a construction building is not that different from a cabinet: it is just a lot bigger and has many more parts and pieces that go into it. The truth is it is not that far from...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 62
Marco Gagnon

From Idea to Market: The Journey of Building a New Machine

Marco Gagnon

Every piece of innovative equipment starts the same way — with an idea. But between that first spark of inspiration and the day the machine hits the market lies a long, intricate path of research, design, problem solving, and teamwork. At Element Equipment, part of the GOW Group, we are...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 75
Jeff Brown

Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage: How Semi-Automated Equipment is Rebuilding the Construction Workforce

Jeff Brown

Panels Plus is helping companies do more with less — safely, consistently, and efficiently. The Construction Labor Crisis: Fewer Hands on Deck The construction industry is in the middle of a critical workforce challenge. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 82
Carl Villella

Market Confidence and the Building Component Industry

Carl Villella

To stay abreast of current trends and future forecasts, I follow many reports and analyses. Most recently, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s September 2025 Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) indicates a continued, albeit slightly tempered, positive outlook for the equipment...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 95
Thom McAnally

Hiring-Zone.com: A New Platform Connecting Employers, Job Seekers, and Contractors in the Building Components Industry

The building components industry has always relied on people—skilled truss designers, estimators, plant managers, contractors, and subcontractors who understand the pace and complexity of modern construction. Finding those people, however, has often been a challenge. Generic job boards are...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 104
Geordie Secord

Design Connections: Training vs. Experience: What Really Builds a Great Designer?

Geordie Secord

When it comes to building a strong component design team, there’s always a debate: is it better to hire someone inexperienced but with some formal training such as college or technical school, or someone with years of hands-on experience? The truth is, both matter—but not always in...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 110
MiTek Staff

Solid Blocking Requirement for Truss Joints

MiTek Staff

MiTek engineers frequently receive questions on why the note “Solid blocking is required on both sides of the truss at joints…” appears on an engineering drawing and how to address it. This often arises at the high heel joints. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 117
Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

CS Producer™ – A Modern Approach to Truss Production & Management

Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

We live in a world of ever-changing schedules and demands. Nowhere is this truer than in truss production and management. Tracking each phase of production is critical to success. Enter CS Producer™, a new cloud-based application that gives floor and roof truss manufacturers powerful tools...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 124
Joe Kannapell, PE

The Last Word: Housing and Components on the National Mall

Joe Kannapell, PE

Our industry has much to gain from our participation in the Innovative Housing Showcase in Washington, D.C. This year, one of our main goals was to lobby government officials to stimulate housing construction. In effect, the 27 exhibitors were saying right in front of the seat of government,...

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October 2025
Issue #17315
Page 170
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