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
When Saws Go Rogue Erin Ohnesorge Forget about “Rogue One,” ROGworx Automation has three heads that are better than one! If you haven’t met the guys yet, then you need to come by the ROGworx booth at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) in Milwaukee, WI this month. So, who are the R-O-G in... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 53
The Emerging Significance of EPDs in Building Construction MiTek Staff Sustainable building materials and methods are top-of-mind in today’s construction industry. While there are many sustainable building materials to choose from during design, wood is naturally a superior choice for developers, designers, and builders interested in lowering the... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 122
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
MiTek to Showcase Innovative Solutions at BCMC | FS 2024 MiTek Staff As a global pioneer in the building components industry, we’re looking forward to presenting our integrated solutions suite at the upcoming Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) | Framer’s Summit 2024. Our booth at the event will feature best-in-class software, automated... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 52
Innovation Through Legacy: Transforming Truss Design with Paragon John Holland What if the future of truss design isn’t just about developing better tools, but redefining the entire process from the ground up? On August 15, we publicly announced Paragon — a product that will change the way trusses are designed and built. A product that took years of... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 80
Insights and Innovations in Component Manufacturing Greg Bates The component manufacturing industry, specifically of roof and floor trusses, is undergoing significant transformation. To delve deeper, we spoke with Todd Drummond, a seasoned expert and long-time consultant with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of truss manufacturing. You can... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 88
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
Wall Panel Technology, Part V: Whole House Evolution Joe Kannapell The dream of having a single person model an entire structure was admirable, but developing the software to do that turned into a decade-long struggle. Five years ago, I chronicled the development saga in my series on Fifty Years of Truss Design, Parts XI – XV. As the story told, the... Read More August 2024 Issue #16301 Page 10