Simpson Strong-Tie’s Saw Line-up at BCMC Simpson Strong-Tie Staff We are just under two months away from the 2025 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Omaha, Nebraska. Simpson Strong-Tie’s dedicated employees are excited to demonstrate our latest innovations in our booth this year. [For photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] Along... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 59
Future-Proofing Off-Site Construction: Why Flexibility is Key in the Age of Value-Added Manufacturing Dario Schmidt In today’s rapidly evolving construction industry, manufacturers face a growing imperative to do more with less—less labor, less waste, and less downtime. Traditionally, dedicated machines have been used for specific tasks like cutting or marking. While effective for current needs,... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 64
Continuous Improvement with JAX Kathryn Pedde We put our JAX gantry into full operation in late 2023, but we never stopped working to enhance its effectiveness. That’s the advantage of having owner-operators who are hands-on in the plant every day. Fortunately, we began with a proven automated gantry system equipped with a proven... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 70
Celebrating Growth at Element Equipment Marco Gagnon Element Equipment is one component of GOW Group, an end-to-end metal fabrication company that serves several industries. In July, we were thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of our new GOW office! [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] This was a far cry from our humble start in... Read More August 2025 Issue #17313 Page 77
Beyond the Booth: Real Conversations, Real Solutions at BCMC 2025 Wendy Boyd In the world of frame and truss manufacturing, there aren’t many events that gather the industry in quite the same way as the annual Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC). It’s a touchpoint – not just for showcasing machinery and equipment, but for sharing ideas,... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 17
Automation is Here, and It Doesn’t Need a Supervisor to Nudge It Along Steve Shrader In an industry long defined by hard work and incremental improvement, a new chapter is being written. But not everyone seems to realize it. Some are still telling companies to squeeze more productivity out of crews by reorganizing work paths, tracking stopwatch data, and optimizing jobsite... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 48
Precision Equipment Manufacturing Announces New Truss/Wall Panel Step Deck Trailers Bryan Shinn Precision Equipment Manufacturing now offers 46’ Non-hydraulic and 48’ Hydraulic Truss/Wall Panel Step Deck Trailers. These Step Deck Trailers complement our existing Standard, Extendable, and Gooseneck Truss Trailer offerings. From a 26’ Gooseneck to a 53’ Truss Trailer... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 68
Fueling Growth: How Equipment Financing Aligns with U.S. Business Optimism Carl Villella U.S. businesses are feeling optimistic, with nearly half expecting economic improvement in the next 12 months. This four-year high in confidence, despite inflation and tariff concerns, is translating into a strong desire for growth. A remarkable 66% of middle-market companies and 36% of small... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 75
The Last Word: Discovering Excellence in Germany Joe Kannapell, PE In late May, I was fortunate to travel to Germany on a quest to discover processes that could advance the state of the art of component manufacturing. Driving 90 miles from Munich’s 6 million people, I passed several quaint villages with businesses bordering the Autobahn, each separated by... Read More July 2025 Issue #17312 Page 170
Home Building Technology, Part VI: The Original Wood Truss Manufacturers Joe Kannapell, PE Although last month’s article in this series, “Home Building Technology, Part V: Early Truss Connection Innovators,” brought our story up to the post-war time period, we would be remiss without acknowledging the original truss manufacturers in greater detail. A small group of... Read More June 2025 Issue #17311 Page 10