Wall frame fabricators across North America are facing tighter timelines, fewer skilled workers, rising material costs, and increasing variation in project build types (from single-family homes to large-scale multi-unit developments). All of this comes while they strive to maintain quality and throughput. And when it comes to raked (or sloped) wall frames? Things can get even more complicated. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
While standard wall panels have benefited from years of automation, raked walls often remain the bottleneck. They can be time-consuming, are highly manual for many, and require a level of precision that many shops struggle to maintain at scale. These factors, alongside the extra complexity, cost, risk, and labor required have resulted in some fabricators limiting the number of raked wall jobs they take on or they avoid them all together.
But what if you didn’t have to choose between precision and efficiency? What if you could produce both standard and raked wall frames on the same line – with one machine?
What are the Challenges with Raked Wall Production Today?
Let’s face it, producing raked wall panels isn’t easy, especially when you’re doing it manually. The non-standard angles mean specialized manual work and constant measuring, and the skilled labor that’s increasingly hard to come by is required. Even with the right team, your output is still limited by how much lumber/stud components the operator can lift and place in a shift. The key issues are:
- Precision and Quality Control: Raked panels demand exacting accuracy, but getting consistent results manually is tough.
- Production Delays: Intricate job files, rework, and material waste can throw off your schedule.
- Labor Shortages: Skilled operators are hard to find and then retaining them can be challenging.
- Space: Often producing raked walls happens on a separate line or separate area of the factory and often causes issues with smooth workflow and material handling.
The result? Missed deadlines, rising costs, and often a lost opportunity. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Meet the Spida Raked Wall Extruder
The Spida Raked Wall Extruder is changing the game for wall frame manufacturers. It’s purpose-built to simplify and streamline the process of producing raked AND standard wall panels – using the same equipment, same line, and the same operator. It’s one machine that produces both wall types, with no extra effort required.
The Raked Wall Extruder works like this:
- Automation: The machine automatically adjusts for differing wall heights to match the design on your job file. No manual measuring or setup needed.
- Two-Handed Freedom: With top and bottom plates clamped securely, the operator is able to position studs and components against the stud pins with precision. Then, the four nail guns automatically nail the studs, up to 8” lumber.
- Dual Functionality: From straight panels to complex rakes, the switch is seamless – load the job file and let the software and machine do the rest.
- Design Integration: The intelligent software reads your job files and builds to spec with unmatched accuracy and consistency. The Raked Wall Extruder supports all major job formats.
- Seamless Workflow: Both wall types run down the same production line. No extra steps, no extra machines, and no rework are required.
Your operator doesn’t need to learn a new process for each wall type either, they simply follow familiar on-screen prompts. It’s the same workflow, just a smarter output. Watch the Spida Raked Wall Extruder in action to learn more.
Built for Fabricators Who Don’t Slow Down
The Spida Raked Wall Extruder is engineered for speed (it’s one of the fastest wall extruders on the market), power, and precision. It supports C, L, and U stud assemblies and the operator can position the different assemblies with confidence. Longer studs for raked walls? No problem. The machine automatically adjusts.
Whether you’re producing walls for residential builds or large-scale commercial jobs, this machine keeps your line running at full tilt – day in, day out. You can move from job to job, without missing a beat.
Why It Matters
Let’s talk bottom line. With the Spida Raked Wall Extruder, you’re not just adding equipment to your shop floor, you’re unlocking serious benefits:
- Increased Efficiency: Keep production moving by removing the raked wall bottleneck.
- Reduced Labor Costs: Less manual handling and fewer skilled hands required – complete raked and standard wall frames with the same extruder operator.
- Consistent Quality: Every wall panel, raked or straight, is built to exacting standards.
- Scalability: One machine allows you to scale up production without adding complexity.
- Cost Effective: No need for multiple extruders or dedicated wall lines because one machine does it all.
Fits Seamlessly in the Spida Frame Line
The Raked Wall Extruder fits seamlessly into our wall frame line too! To achieve even greater efficiencies, increased productivity (without adding extra labor), streamlined processes, and reduced manual handling and worker fatigue, add the Raked Wall Extruder to a line.
From the Stud Extruder (assemble C, L and U studs along with the nailing of fireblocks to studs) through to the Curved Conveyor (transfer studs and minor sub-assemblies from the assembly point to the extruder) and the Wall Stacker Outfeed (accumulate finished frames ready for loading) and everything in between – our Spida wall frame lines are built to meet your manufacturing needs, factory footprint, automation goals, and budget. Learn more about our full wall line solutions on our website.
Don’t Just Keep Up – Get Ahead
At Spida, we believe in simplifying the complex because wall framing doesn’t need to be harder than it has to be. That’s why we’ve engineered solutions like the Raked Wall Extruder to work with your team, not against it.
The Raked Wall Extruder is a game changer – no more lost time switching lines or setting up for unique wall types, no hesitation when a custom rake comes through the door – simply load the job and build.
Talk to Us
If you’re looking to redefine your wall framing process, and finally put raked wall headaches behind you, then please get in touch. Let’s explore how the Spida Raked Wall Extruder can fit seamlessly into your operation and help you build smarter, faster, and safer.