The Panels Plus Promise at BCMC Tim Kaasa Panels Plus is eager to be exhibiting again at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) this September 14th–15th. Stop by Booth #1626 at the show and visit our team. We can demonstrate how our products work, discuss how we can help you achieve your panel production... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 72
Maximizing Profits with Patent Protection James Walker We all know the future belongs to off-site construction and the increasing use of components. Although it’s a small percentage now, it is projected to grow exponentially. It is a more efficient use of materials with less waste and reduces labor requirements – and this adds up to more... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 78
Are You Feeling Lucky? As you can tell from many of the articles in this issue, the BCMC show is a big deal for the structural building components industry. Every year, the trade show brings together exhibitors and manufacturers to hear about the latest and greatest developments. To contribute to the energy and... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 81
Design Connections: Design: Software Power or Brain Power? Geordie Secord I sometimes wonder if I am at risk of becoming the truss designer version of the grouchy old man that sits on the front porch yelling at the neighborhood kids to “get off my lawn.” When I hear some newer designer criticize the limitations of today’s truss layout and design... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 86
Move Over Status Quo, Modular Wants a Seat at the Table Tom Hardiman The modular construction industry is not new. It’s not untried, untested, or untrue. It is a relatively small niche of the construction industry accounting for about 5.5% of all new building construction starts in 2021. And it is a somewhat fragmented industry in terms of the geographic... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 92
A Student’s Perspective: Attending the 2022 Simpson Strong-Tie Scholarship Trip Robert Inman Every year, Simpson Strong-Tie awards scholarships to students in the fields of engineering, architecture and construction management to help them on their educational journey. The company also flies all the scholarship winners out to Northern California to spend a whole week learning about the... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 110
The Last Word: The Last Word on Totally Robotic Joe Kannapell Attendees at BCMC 2019 stood safely right next to an awesome gesticulating robot and became immersed in observing record-breaking truss building – virtually, that is, through a VR headset. Back then, Trussmatic robots hadn’t made it stateside, and hadn’t yet handled our crazy... Read More September 2022 Issue #14278 Page 130
Advertiser Forum: What’s the Rush? Anna Stamm One July evening I was channel surfing and caught a commercial for some (stupid) movie debuting in the fall. They were highlighting cozy sweaters and falling leaves, while I wondered why anyone would be ready for autumn. Why should we be rushing to fall, and why are people always trying to rush... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 6
The Development of the Truss Plate, Part I: The Perfect Storm Joe Kannapell A nearly perfect confluence of circumstances combined to create the truss plate in South Florida. The wartime home-building hiatus, the post-war baby boom, and the northward (from Cuba) and southward (snowbird) migration to Florida all combined to skyrocket the demand for new housing. But what... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 10
Enjoy the Show at BCMC 2022 Wendy Boyd In last month’s article, We’re ‘Not Slowing Down’ Until We Reach BCMC 2022, I talked about many of the reasons why you should come visit our Spida booth in September. This month, I’ll quickly remind everyone of some of the other reasons to attend this year’s... Read More August 2022 Issue #14277 Page 17