We often measure productivity and capacity using units that are readily available. Sometimes this can be described as looking for lost car keys under a streetlamp not because that’s where they were lost but because that’s where the light is better. Examples of readily available units...

Join us at our booth at the BCMC Show in Columbus for a first look at the latest innovations designed to empower component manufacturers. Simpson Strong-Tie is excited to showcase new software, advanced equipment, and personalized services – all engineered to help your business grow. [For...

At the June SBCA Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM), we had the opportunity to see the latest in truss robotics and hear about a formerly overlooked engineering issue. While both experiences were worth the trip to Seattle, it was equally rewarding learning about an unfamiliar market and meeting many...

For years, I’ve seen efficiency in component manufacturing judged by how well a plant performs when conditions are stable — consistent orders, familiar product mix, reliable labor, and enough lead time to keep work flowing. But stability is not always guaranteed, and I believe that...

In last month’s article, “NEXPLATE: Achieving F1 Pit-Stop Speed in Truss Production,” we analyzed a production run of 80 long-span agricultural trusses using an “all-or-nothing” approach to automated plate distribution. We demonstrated how Enventek’s NEXPLATE...

At a high-volume truss plant just outside Denver, Colorado, one person now keeps 14 build stations supplied with plates — truss by truss, across six tables. Not long ago, that same job meant carts of partial plates scattered across the floor, boxes and totes stacked wherever space was...

My previous articles have mentioned this innovative bit of technology, so it’s time to discuss it in more depth. When nailing heads on sheathing bridges run out of nails at different times, it causes multiple stoppages on the line – and it’s maddening to see how these...

The 2026 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) is just around the corner. Our team is eager to present the latest innovations at our booth this year, including cutting-edge equipment, software, and services. This year, we are proud to feature a range of advanced saws, including...

Frame and truss machinery has always competed on mechanical engineering design, and it still does. But, when you ask a plant manager where the day-to-day pain and gains in their plant actually come from, increasingly the answer is software. Throughput, uptime, operator experience — these...

Affectionately dubbed 3.0, the latest generation of Enventek’s NEXPLATE injects Formula 1-style velocity to truss build tables. Building on the foundation of version 2.0 — which debuted last year at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Omaha — NEXPLATE 3.0...