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Todd Drummond

Before You Invest in Automation

Todd Drummond

Elon Musk’s five rules for improving a process end with automation. That order deserves attention from every executive considering new equipment or software. When labor is difficult to find, costs are rising, and customer commitments are harder to meet, technology can look like the obvious...

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November 2026
Issue #18328
Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

From Chaos to Cut Lists: How Truss Manufacturers are Using AI to Optimize Plant Operations

Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

Need to improve your truss plant production? AI may be the answer for you. Using information and knowledge you already have, you can work with AI to streamline your production workflow with a few basic prompts. One of the best things about using AI is that no prior training is required....

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November 2026
Issue #18328
Cullen Ellis

Resilience, Innovation and Connection at BCMC

Cullen Ellis

It was great to attend another BCMC this year in Columbus, reconnect with so many incredible people from across the country and around the world, and see the projects and innovations that continue to drive our industry forward. For nearly two decades, I have attended this show in a variety of...

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October 2026
Issue #18327
Page 29
Edmond Lim, P.Eng.

The Robots are Coming!

Edmond Lim, P.Eng.

If you visited our BCMC booth in Columbus this year, then you got a close-up look at NEXBOT, an optional autonomous mobile robot (AMR) upgrade for NEXPLATE. Enventek has joined the growing list of suppliers bringing robotics to component plants, continuing our tradition of delivering practical,...

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October 2026
Issue #18327
Page 48
Eide Machinery Sales Team

Bringing More to the Table at BCMC 2026

Eide Machinery Sales Team

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit us at BCMC 2026! It was another great show, and we enjoyed the opportunity to connect with component manufacturers and showcase equipment and automation solutions designed to improve cutting, jigging, and truss production. [For all photos, See...

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October 2026
Issue #18327
Page 66
Garry Roehr

Bauhaus Philosophy

Garry Roehr

In 1919, Walter Gropius founded an art and design school in Germany that merged fine arts with craftsmanship and mass production. He established a cross-disciplinary approach and a philosophy that form follows function which has shaped modern architecture, furniture, and graphic design. An...

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October 2026
Issue #18327
Page 109
Wendy Boyd

Truss Production, Reimagined

Wendy Boyd

Truss production has changed dramatically over the past few decades. What once relied heavily on manual jig systems, operator experience, and physically demanding processes has steadily evolved into a more connected, automated, and data-driven environment. Today, elements such as software,...

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September 2026
Issue #18326
Page 29
Kathryn Pedde

Let’s Talk JAX at BCMC

Kathryn Pedde

Are you ready to see JAX-XL retrieve materials for a lumberyard the way JAX retrieves lumber for a truss plant? In our BCMC booth, you’ll be able to track the movement of lumber and sheet goods from bunks to staging areas live on a monitor via 3D digital twin technology, all without manual...

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September 2026
Issue #18326
Page 88
Garry Roehr

Affordable Options for a Resilient Supply Chain

Garry Roehr

Those of us who have spent decades in our industry know it is one characterized by seasonal and cyclical fluctuations. Living through multiple downturns and periods of growth forces us to refine our thought processes and shapes our character. When times are tough, we need to question previous...

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September 2026
Issue #18326
Page 99
Alpine Team

Boosting Small Component Production Efficiency

Alpine Team

Delivering insight, accuracy, and increased throughput for small but crucial assemblies. As offsite construction advances in efficiency, data visibility, and precision, component manufacturers (CMs) are reassessing each production stage’s impact on throughput. And small truss and hip...

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September 2026
Issue #18326
Page 108
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