When I was notified we’d been selected by Construction Tech Review as the Cloud-Based Lumber Purchasing Platform of the Year 2026, I was very surprised, and I hadn’t even known we were nominated. But, as I thought about this news, I realized how grateful I am for the trust and...

As of January 2026, the component manufacturing sector has transitioned from a period of defensive preservation to one of disciplined modernization. With interest rates stabilizing after the Federal Reserve’s late-2025 cuts, equipment financing has evolved into a strategic lever for...

It was another strong year for markets in 2025, as continued investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, more Fed rate cuts, and stable economic growth offset higher tariff rates and overall economic volatility. The S&P 500 rose to an all-time high in the fourth quarter as new...

In 2025, the building component manufacturing industry navigated a landscape defined by paradox: record-breaking investment in high-tech infrastructure alongside sharp contractions in traditional residential segments. As the industry pivots toward 2026, the focus is shifting from...

For Structural Building Component (SBC) manufacturers, 2025 presents a paradox. Demand for housing and commercial structures remains resilient, yet the cost of doing business is climbing. The resurgence of aggressive tariff policies—specifically on steel, aluminum, and Canadian softwood...

Unlike software or construction projects where scope creep is often tied to timelines, in component manufacturing it usually shows up as added deliverables without added compensation. Here are some common examples: Extra trusses not on the original plans Maybe the framer calls and...

The 2025 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Omaha was an incredible week for the Paragon team. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.] This annual event brings together the heart of our industry – the innovators, the veterans, and the problem-solvers pushing...

The U.S. economy entered the Fourth Quarter of the year with fading momentum and increasing caution signs from some indicators, including a weakening labor market, challenging financial realities, and lingering inflation. Analysts are forecasting GDP growth of only 1.9% for the last three months...

Last month’s article, “Pure Online Magic with Paragon, TDC Time Standards, and AppWright Job Management,”introduced the new and powerful synergy of Paragon and AppWright, which includes the TDC time standards offering. TDC time standards (R.E., S.U., or Man-Hours based on time...

To stay abreast of current trends and future forecasts, I follow many reports and analyses. Most recently, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s September 2025 Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) indicates a continued, albeit slightly tempered, positive outlook for the equipment...