Happy New Year! We hope that 2021 sees you and your loved ones safe and happy, and your business increasing in output while maintaining your quality. We’re starting off this new year by continuing our conversation around Stiles’ partnerships and how you benefit from them. A close...

Lumber properties are influenced by species and growing region. Species with similar design properties are combined into species groups, as shown in Tables 4A, 4B, and 4F of the NDS Supplement[1]. For example, a common species group in the southeastern U.S. is Southern Pine (SP), which includes...

The importance of making changes for Offsite Manufacturing For some it seems like this past year, 2020, has been either a waste or was put on pause. There have been numerous challenges in our businesses, politics, the economy, our homes, and many more all disrupted by the Covid pandemic that...

In our first installment last month, Sharing Information Without Constraint, we explored the constraints around information sharing in today’s rapid-paced construction cycle. Material prices are high, interest rates are low, and business is booming. But, this rapid pace doesn’t...

In the quest for site speed and safety, panelized systems for components, such as roof trusses and floor joists, are the natural progression from installing single frames. In the United Kingdom, these panelized systems are becoming increasingly popular for volume house builders and Social...

As wall panel production techniques evolve, Spida is at the forefront of the industry in offering a range of machines to provide efficiently and accurately built walls. About 3 years ago, we introduced the first of the new generation of Spida wall panel extruders. This new generation is designed...

Our industry has always been heavily reliant on information and details from our customers. Sometimes a customer is a homeowner, building designer, an architect, or even an engineer. A common constraint for many truss fabricators across the country is the lack of accurate or timely information....

Every time a company is ready to manufacture a wall panel project, they need to ensure the design specifications are reviewed and approved by all parties involved. A large panel project can go through many changes from the original design specifications. A gap in communication between invested...

Many of you reading this may already be familiar with our Strong-Wall site-built portal frame system, or PFS for short. Simpson Strong-Tie launched the PFS last spring to provide designers, builders and contractors in prescriptive markets with a simple and cost-effective solution to meet...

The global pandemic has changed the way we work and do business. MiTek knows that many of our customers – and much of the industry – had to adapt to virtual work and new safety measures. But we also know that the demand for innovative advanced components isn’t slowing down, and...