There is a quiet transformation happening in the backrooms of North American truss plants. Faced with a chronic shortage of experienced local design talent and unyielding demand for faster turnarounds, owners and general managers are turning to overnight, overseas design services. On paper, the...

Perhaps you’ve seen our company name or maybe you’ve watched my episode of The Common Chord by Paragon, People First Innovation in Truss Design. But if we haven’t met, let me introduce myself. I’m Jarred Frescura, Managing Partner and Director of Design Services for...

It’s the middle of summer at a jobsite for a new school in the South and construction workers are on scaffolding to install windows on the second floor. Outside temperatures are topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity is unbearable. Yet, the project must be completed in time for...

I had a chance not long ago to grab coffee with an old college roommate. We’re both engineers by trade, but our careers took different paths — he went into structural consulting, while I went into component design, working with wood trusses. As often happens, the conversation quickly...

Many of us have sought ways to help grow the next generation of builders, and I’m fortunate to work with a local program doing just that. The Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) in Watford City, ND is committed to empowering individuals through career and technical education, fostering a...

One of the most effective tools available to component manufacturers to inform installers and framers of the potential hazards associated with the installation of structural building components is the Component Warning Notice (CWN). Developed by the SBCA, the CWN has emerged as an industry best...

In the middle of the largest residential construction show in the world, wedged between estimating software and the kitchen and bath aisle, our small booth was focused on one question: where do structural components truly fit in the future of homebuilding? The International Builders Show...

For decades, Automated Builder was more than a trade magazine. It was “The Source” for industrialized, off-site, and systems-built housing, linking manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators across the country. Longtime readers will remember that the publication began under the earlier...

As we close the books on 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a year defined by innovation, adaptability, and forward momentum in the world of off-site construction and component manufacturing. Throughout the past twelve months, our editorial team has explored the trends,...

In modular and off-site construction, productivity gains rarely come from dramatic changes in framing or sheathing techniques. Instead, the biggest improvements often occur at transition points and especially end-of-the-line material handling. Moving completed wall panels safely, efficiently,...