Custom Equipment for Any Project Marco Gagnon At Element Equipment, we pride ourselves in our custom machinery solutions. Since entering the market in 2021, we’ve made it our mission to look for additions to our equipment offerings that will add more automation to ease the pain of assembling building components. We are committed to... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 70
Hardware + Software Integration with JAX, The Wood Retriever Kathryn Pedde When we started down the path of creating the JAX automated retrieval system, it had to work with our existing saws from three different suppliers. So, one of our first tasks was to bring their disparate cutting files into a common format to feed JAX. We also had to bring the sequence of jobs... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 92
Design Connections: Fewer Inspections = Better Quality? Geordie Secord “What do you mean you are stopping the QC inspections?” I could not believe what the operations manager was telling me when it was decided that we would no longer have each truss inspected at completion. Our truss company had always prided itself on delivering the highest quality... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 124
The Last Word: Material Handling, Saw to Table Joe Kannapell, PE What’s inside your home today, and what will be on top of your house in the future, was or will have been handled by Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). These are the small under-riding robots that carry all sorts of items from point A to B in plants or warehouses, eliminating manual... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 176
Machinery Software That Works For You! Wendy Boyd Looking at the year ahead, a number of predictions have said the manufacturing landscape in the US is set to grow. This is being driven by several factors including advances in technology, increasing use of automation, and changes within the economy, as well as changes to the workforce with a... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 19
Leadership in Challenging Times Todd Drummond As the competition gets more aggressive and the markets have slowed, your company’s sales are inevitably slowing, and margins are dropping. Let us face the fact that these are now becoming challenging times, and leaders must face these challenges in a healthy way. Whether you are a line... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 28
Planning for the Triad National Trade Show TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team As Triad celebrates 65 years in this great industry, we’re finalizing the plans for our 16th Annual Trade Show! The event is being held on April 9–10 at Merrick Machine Company in Alda, Nebraska. Our product showcase will feature our latest machines, including the PreStage Framing... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 55
Benefit from a Wall Line Solution That Fits Your Business! Wendy Boyd When it comes to wall frame lines, they aren’t all made equally. At Spida Machinery, we pride ourselves on providing solutions that are comprehensive, innovative, and most importantly, designed for your manufacturing needs and budget. The beginning of the year is often a time to reflect... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 17
The Digital Revolution in Offsite Construction and Manufacturing Ben Hershey and Thomas Griffin The offsite construction industry is undergoing a transformative era, driven by the advent of digital technologies. This evolution is not only revolutionizing how projects are managed but also addressing fundamental industry challenges. As more firms embrace digitization, understanding its... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 60
A Case for Manufacturing Execution Software (MES) Dario Schmidt Before we jump right to the point, please, imagine your own shop. Do you ever get frustrated by the lack of organization in your office? Do you feel like you’ve got the right people, and maybe the right equipment, but you’re just not getting as much production as you feel you should?... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 68