Approximately 50 companies again made the trip this year, from across the US, Canada, and Brazil, to view Triad wall panel, sub-component, and stair manufacturing equipment as well as the Ruvo line of interior pre-hung door equipment at the Triad/Ruvo (Merrick Machine Company) National Trade Show and Product Showcase, April 15–16, 2026, in Alda, NE. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
Highlights of this year’s show included a trophy presentation to the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Merrick Machine Company Lifetime Achievement Award to Jeff Taake, Vice President of Manufacturing & Commercial Sales for Mead Lumber. Jeff is a 34-year veteran of the building materials industry and accepted a position with the Mead Lumber family in October of 2016 to provide leadership and strategy for manufacturing operations and commercial sales across the company footprint. Recipients in previous years have included Greg Griggs of Builders FirstSource in 2025, Fred Schenkel of Builders FirstSource, Joe Reed of NVR Building Products, Ivan Sell of Stock Lumber/Carolina Holdings, Sam Galante of Steel Truss & Panel, and Jack Slaughter of Broad Building Supply.
Additional award winners announced for this year included Chad Zaharik on behalf of Star Building Materials in Calgary, Alberta, for wood wall panel manufacturing productivity and efficiency; Guy Moore on behalf of Magest, Inc, in Stratford, Ontario, for light-gauge steel wall panel manufacturing productivity and efficiency; and Danny Neudorf on behalf of DK Doors in Seminole, Texas, for interior door pre-hanging productivity and efficiency.
Triad Salesman of the Year (sales leader) went to Ben Stephens of JB Stephens Sales. Ruvo Salesmen of the Year (sales leader) went to John DeFrates & Matt Moran of Architectural Sales & Associates.
Triad equipment premiered at the 2026 show included the newly released Triad Knee Wall & Ladder Machine, a third-generation product that has been serving the component industry for over 30 years. New capabilities allow users to build ladders and knee walls from 10” to 60” as well as soffit boxes, accommodates 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 and 4x4, 4x6 material, and handles both vertical and flat oriented rungs/studs. Profiles can be saved via touchscreen and can be replayed to fasten same profiles automatically.
Ruvo equipment premiered at the 2026 show included the newly released 935 Servo Controlled Horizontal Pre-Hung Door Machine to pre-hang doors from 6’8” to 9’0”. Programmable hinge placement, hinge radius, lockbolt and deadbolt diameter and pre-drill patterns were popular features pointed out by attendees. Also, upgraded auto edge prep features on Ruvo’s industry leading 502 and 505 Vertical Door Machines were displayed.
The modular building industry took center stage at this year’s show. Triad displayed a Generation III Framing Table for manufacturing walls AND floors on the same system, with a Combo Router/Trident Nailing Bridge and a Screw Bridge for floor decking application. Also shown was a Bi-Directional Tilt Transfer Station to move walls vertically in plant to multiple MEP racks, which were also shown, with a second generation hydraulic lift system for workers to safely and efficiently work on walls installing mechanical, electrical and plumbing...all of which were there for customers to have hands-on access.
Active, hands-on time was also available on the popular and revolutionary, patent-pending, Triad Ai Component Nailer and the industry-leading Autonomous Triad ProFusion Sheathing Bridge which accepts software from most major design software. Light-gauge steel panelizers could view, and try, the exclusive Triad Specialty Steel Stud Framing Table utilized to produce LGS balloon walls and rake walls.
From customer reviews, it was clear that Triad/Ruvo again hit the mark in anticipating industry needs and came up with economical, common-sense solutions with these products showing why the company has always been Pioneers in the Past...and Leaders into the Future!
During the past seven continuous decades, Triad has been the leading manufacturer of automated, semi-automated, and manual wall panel equipment, sub-component systems, and Floor Builders, as well as automated stair manufacturing equipment and builders of the RUVO line of automated interior and exterior pre-hung door machines.
No matter if you are a high volume or low volume operation, Triad has the experience you need and the right answers to help you grow. For questions, please feel free to call 800-568-7423 (ext. 126).