Home Building Technology, Part III: Overcoming the Prefab Stigma Joe Kannapell, PE Even though 500,000 prefab homes were built for World War II, builders were not committed to the prefabrication approach. But why not? These homes should have served as an entré to the future use of components by the hundreds of builders who constructed government housing in hundreds of... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 10
Getting Up to Speed at Hundegger: The Future of Automation is Here Steve Shrader This is set to be a groundbreaking year for Hundegger as we continue to lead the charge in automation and smart manufacturing solutions. With innovation accelerating across the wood processing industry, Hundegger remains at the forefront—delivering intelligent, high-precision systems that... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 60
Navigating the Workforce Shortage: How Technology and Equipment Financing Can Help Carl Villella The year 2025 sees businesses across industries grappling with a persistent workforce shortage. Finding and retaining qualified employees is a major challenge, impacting productivity and growth. However, technology offers a powerful solution, and equipment financing can make it more accessible... Read More March 2025 Issue #17308 Page 83
Home Building Technology, Part II: Mass Production Technology Joe Kannapell, PE While Sears had stolen the spotlight on precut technology, their lesser-known rival, Aladdin Homes, helped usher in prefabrication, but not initially. For many years, Aladdin fought the concept of pre-assembling parts of homes in their factory, asserting that their precut packages took... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 10
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
Roof Truss Industry Outlook: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities Carl Villella The roof truss industry faces a complex landscape in the coming year. Challenges include supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, and economic uncertainty. However, opportunities abound. Technological advancements like automation and software are driving efficiency.... Read More February 2025 Issue #17307 Page 83
Home Building Technology, Part I: Wall Panel Beginnings Joe Kannapell, PE As we start 2025, we have surpassed the 125th year of offsite wall technology, so it seems fitting to return to the beginning and describe its early progression. Surprisingly, this includes the Ready-Frame® technology that is currently being marketed by Builders FirstSource, as well as the... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 10
Building on Better with Advanced Automation Casey Harless The beginning of a new year is a great time to consider optimizing your production line, and Stiles Machinery is here to help. Stiles has been at the forefront of the United States woodworking industry for over six decades, partnering with manufacturers to provide efficiency-focused solutions... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 70
Artificial Intelligence in the Equipment Finance Industry Carl Villella Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been getting a lot of attention lately. While many of us are still trying to wrap our hands around its many pros and cons, we would like to let you know how it’s affecting our business specifically. Improving Customer Service—The AI chatbots can... Read More January 2025 Issue #17306 Page 79