When the Going Gets Tough, Innovate! Edmond Lim, P.Eng. In 2013, I launched LimTek Solutions with a clear mission: to promote, market, and sell Enventek’s groundbreaking truss manufacturing technology, first developed in 2007. For over a decade, it’s been full steam ahead and we have cultivated an impressive Feed the Beast! customer base.... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 48
A Fable For Our Time Charlie Vaccaro Chapter I: The Idea One day a certain builder had an idea for a spec house that would be a sure winner. So, he got together with the best architect in the area and began to describe what he wanted. “Mr. Architect,” he said, “I want the house to have a studio... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 50
The OODA Loop and the New Reality of the Truss and Wall Panel Industry Todd Drummond The OODA Loop, developed by U.S. Air Force Colonel John Boyd, stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. While often discussed as a tactical framework, its real value lies at the organizational level. The OODA Loop describes how companies perceive reality, interpret information, make decisions,... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 62
Finding the Common Chord Paragon Team Most people assume the hardest problems they deal with are theirs alone. That assumption quietly shapes how work gets done. You fix the issue in front of you, adjust a process, add another spreadsheet, or patch a handoff between design and production, then move on. Rarely do you pause to ask... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 75
Why the Future of the Truss Industry Belongs to Teams With Visibility Kenneth Sewell Every truss manufacturer knows this moment. A job should be moving forward, but it isn’t. Sales thinks design has it. Design is waiting on information. Production is asking for answers. Someone opens a file only to realize it is outdated. Nobody feels negligent, yet nothing is... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 84
A 2025 Recap and a Look at 2026 Carl Villella In 2025, the building component manufacturing industry navigated a landscape defined by paradox: record-breaking investment in high-tech infrastructure alongside sharp contractions in traditional residential segments. As the industry pivots toward 2026, the focus is shifting from... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 95
New Fire-Rated One- and Two-Hour Wall Assemblies Paul Schmidt Have you heard the big news? In December, TechWood unveiled two new fire-rated wall assemblies that not only meet IBC/IRC code-compliant fire protection for residential and commercial construction, but exceed code, adding exclusive protections against mold, rot, and termites while stabilizing... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 102
When Meetings Get in the Way of Work Meetings are a necessary part of running any business. They can align teams, solve problems, and move projects forward. But in many organizations, meetings have quietly grown out of control. What once served a clear purpose has, over time, turned into a standing calendar block that exists simply... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 110
Design Connections: AI in Truss Design: Opportunity or Long-Term Risk? Geordie Secord Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept—it’s here, and it’s reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. For component manufacturers, AI promises efficiency, speed, and cost savings. For years now, we’ve been promised that one day we would be able to... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 118
All Things Wood: 2026 Wood Construction Course: Wood Design, Loads, Disaster Mitigation, and Ethics Frank Woeste As you’re building your 2026 calendar, be sure to block in time for our next wood construction course sponsored by the Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education program. Co-sponsored by the International Code Council, this spring we’re offering “Wood Design, Loads,... Read More January 2026 Issue #18318 Page 126