Wall Panel Technology, Part VII: A Deeper Dive into Automation Joe Kannapell Toll Brothers imported an automated panel line commensurate with their luxurious homes, or so they expected. Perhaps because the European economy was ailing in the early 1990s, Randek from Sweden, like the Makron company from Finland before them, offered Toll an excellent deal. But Randek was an... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 10
How Service and Support Can Make a Difference Wendy Boyd When it comes to investing in machinery and equipment for your frame or truss production, a number of factors are normally part of the decision making – what efficiencies will this product provide, what pain points does it need to alleviate, how will it aid my growth or overall profits,... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 17
Automation Worth Considering for the Building Industry Todd Drummond Automation within the building industry has been ongoing for decades but at a slower pace than other industries. So, what do we mean by automation? Let’s focus on two types: automation for building estimation and automation for roof truss manufacturing. Both will be discussed at the... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 26
F1 Pit Stop Each Truss Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Performing an F1 pit stop for each truss is how to Feed the Beast! Truss builders know that assembling each truss on the truss tables is just like what an F1 pit stop crew does. Both F1 pit stop crews and truss assembly crews strive for efficiency, quality, safety, and teamwork, with a shared... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 44
Revolutionizing Frame and Truss Manufacturing: The Power of Real-Time Optimization Ed Serrano In today’s fast-paced frame and truss manufacturing environments, efficiency and waste reduction are paramount. Traditional production methods often fall short in meeting the demands of modern businesses, paving the way for Real-Time Optimization (RTO) and Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery to... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 58
The Last Word: BCMC Hits & Misses Joe Kannapell Some surprises are in store at the BCMC Show this year, especially the stunning news that the biggest robotics maker won’t be there and won’t be showing up anywhere. But, the demise of House of Design (HoD) wasn’t because of their equipment, which worked serviceably (for more... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 158
Wall Panel Technology, Part VI: Panel Equipment Innovations Joe Kannapell As automation and robotics are increasingly embraced, it makes sense to review examples of successful implementations from the pioneers of past systems. Interestingly, the first successful fully automated component assembly in the U.S. involved wall panels rather than trusses. However, in many... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 10
Experience High Output Roof Truss Production with a Roller Plant Wendy Boyd Our robust Roller Plant streamlines the assembly of roof trusses – combining technology, precision, and efficiency to produce high quality trusses! Suitable for any roof truss factory, our Roller Plant is powerful, fast, accurate, and simple to operate with production numbers that will... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 17
To Cull or Not to Cull (at the Saw) Edmond Lim, P.Eng. Should we cull lumber at the saw? That is the question posed by Joe Kannapell, P.E. in The Last Word in the July issue, “Where to Cull Lumber.” As Joe discusses: “So where in the process should we cull lumber? To minimize touches, it can be done when the bands are broken on a... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 44
The Last Word: Material Handling Bunk-to-Table Joe Kannapell Adding the last links to the chain of material handling – bunk-to-saw and saw-to-table – is intricately executed by Hundegger at Sunpro’s major expansion in St. George, Utah – and it’s cool! Yes, here in the northeastern-most part of the Mojave Desert, the Clyde... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 154