Is Plate Substitution the Most Common Error By Confused Truss Builders? Glenn Traylor Generally speaking, ANSI/TPI 1 makes common sense and is very logical. However, there are several items that can be a little confusing because they seem to defy logic. When we upgrade lumber per ANSI/TPI 1 Section 3.4.2, we know that lumber strength needs to be maintained in order to meet the... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 39
Component Saws Are Messy Eaters! Edmond Lim, P.Eng. When you’ve got five or six 20” to 32” blades chewing through lumber simultaneously at even just 18 pieces a minute, you’re not just making a lot of truss parts—you’re creating a full-blown localized dust storm. So what do you do when you’ve got to... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 44
Forging the Future: Workforce Development in Offsite Manufacturing Ben Hershey The offsite manufacturing sector stands poised for transformative growth. Innovations in automation, lean manufacturing, and prefabrication are reshaping the way we build. Yet amidst all this change, one critical element demands urgent attention: Our workforce. Across the industry, leaders... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 52
Optimizing Every Inch: Why Space Utilization Matters in Frame & Truss Manufacturing Ed Serrano Imagine a factory floor where every square foot contributes to efficiency and productivity. That’s the power of lean manufacturing: a philosophy centered on maximizing value and eliminating waste. In the fast-paced world of prefabricated frames and trusses, space optimization isn’t... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 62
It’s Not About Layout—It’s About Logic Steve Shrader When companies consider adding automation to their plants, often they’ll focus on certain details and think that’s all there is. But true automation is about more than just reorganization, and it can take your company to a new level of production and success. [For all images, See PDF... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 70
Revolutionizing Construction: The Future of Automation in Off-Site Building Practices Daniel Fothke The construction industry is on the brink of a significant evolution, propelled by the integration of automation in off-site construction practices. This shift is not merely a trend but a necessary response to the growing demands for efficiency, quality, and sustainability in building... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 78
Celebrating Excellence at the Triad/RUVO Annual National Trade Show TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team Approximately 50 companies journeyed to Alda, NE in April for our National Trade Show and Product Showcase hosted by Triad/RUVO (Merrick Machine Company). This “By Invitation Only” event welcomed attendees from across the US, Canada, and Brazil to our manufacturing facility in the... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 86
Setting Our Sights on Innovation and Expansion at Panels Plus Jeff Brown As we move into a new year, I want to take a moment to share what’s been going on at Panels Plus—and what you can expect from us going forward. We’ve always prided ourselves on delivering equipment that works hard and lasts, but we’re not content with standing still. The... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 94
2025 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook Carl Villella As we transition into spring, now is a good time to assess the dynamics of our current economic outlook. Earlier Optimism and Shifting Factors It is important to recall that the initial outlook for 2025 was more optimistic. This earlier sentiment was largely predicated on expectations of... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 103
Tariffs, Countervailing Duties, and More: Optimizing Production Requires Optimizing the Inputs to Production Valerie Hansen On/off tariffs, the pending hike in countervailing duties, and Section 232 National Security Investigation (which designates lumber as a “strategic good” on par with automobiles, steel, and aluminum) stalk the wood frame construction industry. Collectively and individually, these... Read More May 2025 Issue #17310 Page 112