The Sales Team’s Number One Time-Wasting Activity Todd Drummond When it comes to the sales team, the very group that provides the lifeblood of the entire company, there is often one blind spot for wasted efforts. Why do so many companies allow their sales team to jump through so many hoops to find need-to-know-right-now information? Why must the sales... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 28
The Digital Revolution in Offsite Construction and Manufacturing Ben Hershey and Thomas Griffin The offsite construction industry is undergoing a transformative era, driven by the advent of digital technologies. This evolution is not only revolutionizing how projects are managed but also addressing fundamental industry challenges. As more firms embrace digitization, understanding its... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 60
A Case for Manufacturing Execution Software (MES) Dario Schmidt Before we jump right to the point, please, imagine your own shop. Do you ever get frustrated by the lack of organization in your office? Do you feel like you’ve got the right people, and maybe the right equipment, but you’re just not getting as much production as you feel you should?... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 68
Scabs on Webs & Parapets Simpson Strong-Tie Staff To strengthen a truss member or web, add a scab to reinforce it. For example, if you have a point load in the middle of a panel, one or two scabs may be used instead of increasing the grade or size of the member or using a multi-ply truss. Scabs reinforce overhangs by enhancing bending and... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 136
Does Your Design Software Always Make the Best Selection of Materials to Use? Glenn Traylor Truss design software simply uses the lumber inventory to determine the least expensive solution when designing a truss simply based on price. Although this is a convenient function, there are several issues the software does not consider – and for these issues a designer should be making... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 37
Wall Panel Technology, Part IX: More Panel Automation From American Suppliers Joe Kannapell, PE Handling studs and plates to build walls is easy, but handling oversized sheets of OSB and sheathed wall panels is not. Fortunately, two inventors in the Midwest have lightened the load. Automated Sheathing Saw: Since he began his career at Monet DeSauw 30 years ago, David Ohnesorge has been... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 10
Following the Flow with JAX-UC Richard Pedde The flow of lumber through the plant is the lifeblood of a component manufacturing business, so taking steps to protect and improve that flow is essential for keeping your business healthy. This is an objective we took to heart when creating our JAX system. With JAX, The Wood Retriever, a... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 90
Wall Panel Technology, Part VIII: Panel Automation From American Suppliers Joe Kannapell, PE Plate markers, single tool bridges, and automated saws were just a few of the enhancements that filtered into wall panel shops at the Millennium. Their adoption was quickened by the consolidation of component manufacturers (CMs) and by the increasing pressure on all CMs by busy builders.... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 10
Triad Brings AI, and More, to BCMC 2024 TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team For seven consecutive decades, Triad wall panel and component nailing machines have led the industry in meeting the demands and needs of builders in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Today, Triad continues to meet the ever-growing needs of today’s builders by providing... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 64
Wall Panel Technology, Part VII: A Deeper Dive into Automation Joe Kannapell, PE 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