Why We Treat Software as Core Engineering Brett Kinny 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... Read More June 2026 Issue #18323 Page 29
NEXPLATE: Achieving F1 Pit-Stop Speed in Truss Production Edmond Lim, P.Eng. 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... Read More June 2026 Issue #18323 Page 38
Recognizing Achievements at the Triad/Ruvo Annual National Trade Show TRIAD / Merrick Machine Company Team Approximately 50 companies again made the trip this year, from across the US, Canada, and Brazil, to view Triad wall panel, sub-component, and stair manufacturing equipment as well as the Ruvo line of interior pre-hung door equipment at the Triad/Ruvo (Merrick Machine Company) National Trade... Read More June 2026 Issue #18323 Page 48
How Fast Does a Wall Panel Factory Need to Be in North America? Garry Roehr How fast should a wall panel line be? A lot faster than it takes to frame on site. Sure, if the framing and sheathing speed is the same as on site there are still savings in reducing overall build time and the accompanying finance and insurance costs. But, framing on site doesn’t require... Read More June 2026 Issue #18323
Strategic Finance for Modern Manufacturers Carl Villella For component manufacturers, maintaining a competitive edge requires a delicate balance between engineering excellence and savvy capital deployment. High-precision machinery and automated lines are the lifeblood of our shops, but acquiring them demands significant capital. That’s why... Read More June 2026 Issue #18323 Page 93
Incredible Value Awaits You in Columbus at BCMC 2026 Sean Shields We all know how fast this industry moves, and how hard it can be to stay ahead. That’s exactly why you need to begin planning to attend BCMC 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, September 14–18. If you’re serious about improving your operation, strengthening your team, and finding better... Read More June 2026 Issue #18323 Page 164
From Blade to Data: Can Cutting Become a Measurable, Optimized System? Wendy Boyd Walk into most structural component manufacturing facilities across North America and you’ll see a familiar contrast: highly sophisticated design software upstream, increasingly automated assembly downstream — and somewhere in the middle, cutting processes that still rely heavily on... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 29
Find Good People and Grow Old With Them Alpine Team Six decades of partnership, practical innovation, and growth: That is the legacy Alpine® celebrates as it marks its 60th anniversary. Turning the big 6-0 is something that hits some people hard, while others consider themselves lucky to reach that milestone. But a business in a competitive... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 48
Dump and Chase is Just-in-Time Edmond Lim, P.Eng. In hockey, “Dump and Chase” is highly effective depending on how deep the puck is dumped into the opposing team’s defensive zone, and how hard the dumping team will chase and fight to get back possession of the puck. The strategy is to physically punish the defending team and... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 58
Come Meet the ROGworx Badger ROGworx Team We know how great the Badger EWP Processing Center is, and now you can come see it in action too. We’re pleased to offer LIVE demos in Emporia, VA, Lavonia, GA, and Columbia, MO. Just contact us to schedule a tour. Here are a few reasons why you should check it out: The Badger... Read More May 2026 Issue #18322 Page 67