Home Building Technology, Part IV: The $6,000 Question Joe Kannapell, PE Unions opposed it, builders dismissed it, but the American homebuyer would embrace prefabricated housing as soon as they could afford it. Despite fierce opposition, the government made it a reality by allowing FHA financing on prefabricated homes with loans of $6,000 or less. In announcing this... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 10
Constructing a Safer Tomorrow: The Safety Advantages of Off-Site Framing Jesse Southard In the construction industry, safety is a paramount concern no matter what task is being completed. For years, traditional on-site framing and assembly have exposed workers to significant risks, including falls, heavy lifting injuries, and adverse weather conditions. As construction elements... Read More April 2025 Issue #17309 Page 78
5 Reasons Why Your Wall Panel Production is Underwhelming Darrin Schramm Any given fall Sunday, we get to watch our favorite football team and, if we understand the sport, we can see what they do well and where they are lacking. Each game is full of statistics, and the statistics tell us where our team ranks in relation to previous games, other teams, past years, and... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 72
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
Nailing Wall Panel Production with Panels Plus Panels Plus Team Imagine transforming your production process with reliable and innovative equipment. Dayspring Construction did just that, and we’re excited to share their success story with you. The Problem Dayspring Construction had a definite need to improve efficiency. The company was using a... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 73
Design Connections: Finding Opportunities in the Mass Timber Movement Geordie Secord In my previous article, “Making the Most of Mass Timber,” I discuss what mass timber entails and why it may not be a good add-on for your existing light-frame component business. Even so, component manufacturers (CMs) need not be completely shut out of the benefits of the burgeoning... Read More December 2024 Issue #16305 Page 104
Optimize Offsite Production by Optimizing Lumber Costs Valerie Hansen Lumber is mission-critical to every component manufacturer (CM). On average, it represents two-thirds of your cost-of-goods (CoG), roughly half of the value of your product (Revenue – Pretax Profit). So, what are the market dynamics that surround the purchase of lumber? And how can your... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 73
Harnessing Data: The Key to Advancements in the Structural Building Industry Ben Hershey In the building industry generally and industrialized construction specifically, the utilization of data has become increasingly pivotal. This trend parallels the data-driven advancements seen in Formula 1, where precision, speed, and strategic insights derived from data have revolutionized the... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 71
Glued Trussed Floor Joists Tuomo Poutanen In this publication, I reviewed glued parallel chord truss joists (or glued-joint open web wood trusses) in the August 2021 issue and glued roof trusses in the April 2023 issue. This article focuses on parallel chord glued trussed floor joists utilizing the new G-technology,... Read More August 2024 Issue #16301 Page 84