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Component manufaCturing A dverti $ er

Serving the Structural Building componentS induStry

MEP Racks

Overall, MEP racks are an essential component in modular construction, contributing to faster, safer, and more efficient building processes.

As you know, Triad MEP Racks (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing racks) are used in modular construction to streamline and organize the installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Here are some key functions and benefits of Triad MEP racks:

Efficiency: By organizing the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems into a single, coordinated rack, installation becomes more efficient. This can lead to significant time savings on the construction site.

Space Optimization: MEP racks are designed to optimize the use of space within a building. They allow for the systematic placement of pipes, conduits, and ducts, reducing the need for additional adjustments and rework.

Coordination: MEP racks ensure better coordination among the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, reducing conflicts and interference between them. This coordinated approach helps in avoiding is.sues during installation and operation.

Safety: Making use of MEP racks in a controlled environment reduces on-site risks, such as accidents and exposure to hazardous materials, leading to a safer construction site.

Quality Control: Manufacturing MEP racks off-site allows for stringent quality control measures, ensuring that all components meet the required standards before being installed in the building.

A higher-end MEP Rack: 8 wall bays - 9 hydraulic work platforms (each 72 feet long)

A dverti $ er Component manufaCturing

Anna Stamm – Advertiser Forum: Tenacity and Job Skills

Joe Kannapell: Robotics and Engineering Updates from Seattle

Glenn Traylor: Are You Sawing Smarter, Not Harder?

Wendy Boyd – Spida Machinery: When Predictability Disappears, Adaptability Becomes the Advantage

Ed Lim – LimTek Solutions: Tuning NEXPLATE for Maximum Velocity

Thomas McAnally: Spotlight on The Hain Company

Michael Bell – Enventek: NexPlate: The Next Step in Truss-ByTruss Plate Picking

Todd Drummond Consulting, LLC: Make It Better, Then Make It Better Again

Kathryn Pedde –JAX The Wood Retriever: Automating Lumberyards with JAX-XL

Garry Roehr – AMT Robotics: Continuum Dual Coil Vertical Articulating Nails Heads = Solving a Maddening Problem

Carl Villella – Acceptance Leasing: Preparing for the Future: How the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Impacts Component Manufacturers

Thomas McAnally – TheJobLine: Are You Choosing a Job or Being Sold One?

Geordie Secord – Design Connections: The “Ghost” Designer and Offshoring Your Secret Sauce

MSR Lunber Producers Council: Where Connections Create Value: Highlights from the 2026 MSR Workshop

MiTek Staff: ANSI/TPI 1-2022 – Person Load in MiTek Engineering Software

Simpson Strong-Tie Staff: BCMC 2026 Preview: Equipment Solutions from Simpson Strong-Tie®

Christine Wagner – SBCA: Building a Culture of Quality

Wood Tech Systems: Halteman quietly led out to pasture under guise that it’s a promising site for a truss plant

Joe Kannapell – The Last Word: Tracking Labor After Houlihan

A dverti $ er Component manufaCturing

Serving the Structural Building componentS induStry

New & Used Equipment

Saws

Truss Equipment

Panel Equipment

Trucks & Trailers

Misc. Equipment

Door | Stair | Window Equipment

Calendar of Events

Safety First

TheJobLine - Jobs & Candidates

Industry News

Published Monthly

Publisher

Thomas McAnally twm@componentadvertiser.org

Editor Anna L. Stamm 800-289-5627 x 3 anna@componentadvertiser.org

Distributed FREE Via e-mail subscription Download PDF or Read on line at www.componentadvertiser.com

News of Interest and Advertising inquiries can be submitted to: anna@componentadvertiser.org

An Open Forum for many sources.

Deadline 20th of each month. Articles, Trade Names, and Logos are the property of their respective owner or creator unless otherwise noted

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement or material that we deem not in the interest of the industry or the Advertiser. Permission to use content is the responsibility of the contributor including permissions to use any likeness of persons.

The Advertiser is provided “As Is” including typographical errors, omissions, and mistakes both intentional and unintentional.

Component Manufacturing Advertiser

The Advertiser 7586 Becks Grove Road Freetown, Indiana 47235 no reproduction in whole or in part without permission from the component manufacturing advertiser

Archive Copies Available On Line www.componentadvertiser.com

Anna L. Stamm Director of Communications and Marketing Component Manufacturing Advertiser.

Advertiser Forum

Tenacity and Job Skills

Every so often, we get a reminder that even smart people can be stupid. It can be amusing to see, or frustrating, or perhaps no one even notices. But we’re allowed to notice, and harmlessly mock if appropriate, as long as we don’t take ourselves too seriously in the process.

Pronouncing “Tenacious” (and Knowing What It Means)

Picture it, a local news broadcast has reached the segment listing events happening around town that weekend. But then comes a pesky word. I honestly do not remember the full name of the group or what they were doing that weekend, but dang, the woman reading the list had no idea what to do with “Tenacious.” That word was part of the group’s name, but no, this poor woman didn’t know what it was and tried twice, unsuccessfully, to read it off the teleprompter. She knew she had it wrong (really wrong), but after two tries just pretended she had said it correctly and moved on to the next group on the list.

Obviously, this local newscaster has met certain job qualifications and has some amount of education, and she also has some experience reading the news on live TV. But none of her job skills could help her that day. One word was all she needed to stumble.

Making Mistakes and Being Human

It’s funny that I cannot remember the group or event, but I cannot forget the mistake. I wonder if the newscaster figured it out later, or if someone told her (tə-ˈnā-shəs) so she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Looking forward, I’m betting it will happen again some day, with a different word but the same confusion and pronunciation failure.

It also makes me wonder what dumb thing will be next on my faux pas list. Regardless of our education, skills, experience, and on-thejob training, we all do stupid things eventually. After all, we’re only human.

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Monet DeSauw FWA 500 Floor Web Cutter

• Push Button Powered Blade Angulations

• Single Push Button Setting for 2 Blades per Side

• Electronic Digital Readouts

• Backup Mechanical Indicators

• Cuts 4 Angle Webs, Cantilever Webs (2 piece webs) & Square Blocks

• Magazine Lumber Feed for 3x2, 4x2 and 6x2 Lumber 12 1/2” to 48 1/2” Length Capacity (7” Minimum on Square Blocks)

• 60 Pieces per Minute

• (4) Internal 16” Blades & (1) External 16” Cut-Off Blade

• Pneumatic Blade Brake on External Blade

• Dust Hoods

• Belt Waste Conveyor (under saw)

• Add $4,300 for 12’ Incline Waste Conveyor (adjacent to saw)

• Add $2,100 for Extra Set of Blades

• 480 Volt / 3 Phase FOBMO Call For Pricing

• Automated (Truss Design Software Download) or SemiAutomated (Touch Screen Entry) Operation

• All Movements are Computer & PLC Controlled

• Comprehensive Setup Screens Display Each Piece with Setup Data

• 22” x 40 Tooth Blade on PAE Cut 1 or 2 Boards up to 20’ (2 Second Plunge Cut)

• Cut Chords, Webs, Rafters, Wedges & Stair Stringers

• Cut Long Scarfs by MultiPlunging

• Servo Positioning on Infeed, Angle & Outfeed Pusher

• Over Travel Protection

• Ink Jet Printer

• Lumber Optimization Program

• Belt Waste Conveyor

• 480 Volt / 3 Phase / 60 Amp

• Includes 5 Day Onsite Installation & Training

• Optional Monet DeSauw Live Deck, Bunk Feeder & Incline Belt Waste Conveyor FOB MO Call For Pricing

• Touch Screen User Interface with Backup Mechanical Controls

• 3 Operating Modes: Auto, SemiAuto & Manual

• All 20 Axes of Movements are Computer & PLC Controlled

• Comprehensive Setup Screens Display Each Piece with Setup Data

• Anti-Collision & Optimizing Programming

• Auto Calibration Productivity & Time Tracking

• Maintenance Diagnostics

• Variable Speed Conveyor (0-50 Flights per Minute)with Powered Hold Downs

• (1) 30” x 80 Tooth Blade (27 3/4” Scarf on PAE)

• (4) 16” x 40 Tooth Blades (13 1/2” Scarf on Centerline)

• Pneumatic Blade Brakes on all 5 Blades

• 16 1/2” to 20’ Length Capacity (11” Minimum on Square End Blocks)

• Vibrating Waste Conveyor Under Saw

• 480 Volt / 3 Phase

• Includes 4 Day Onsite Installation & Training

• Add $2,900 for Extra Set of Blades

• Optional Live Deck, Label Printer, Ink Jet Printer, Catcher Display & Incline Belt Waste Conveyor.

Monet DeSauw DeRobo Linear Saw

Monet DeSauw DeSawyer 2000 Automated Saw

By Joe Kannapell

Robotics and Engineering Updates from Seattle

At the June SBCA Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM), we had the opportunity to see the latest in truss robotics and hear about a formerly overlooked engineering issue. While both experiences were worth the trip to Seattle, it was equally rewarding learning about an unfamiliar market and meeting many new people. Only a few weeks after the event, I’ve already been able to put to work some of what I’ve learned.

The Burgeoning Use of Robotics

Two of the 10 North American robotic truss systems have been installed in the Seattle metro area, which seems to bode well for its long-term prospects. Recent data, though, shows a precipitous drop from Seattle’s average level of housing starts. This accords with a similar trend that was in play in the housing markets in Austin, TX and Washington, D.C., where last year’s OQMs were held. Seattle, like Austin and Washington, typically ranks in the top 15% of the nation in housing starts, so it will be good to find out how local component manufacturers (CMs) are handling their current downturn.

On my first stop in Seattle at Louws Truss, I found that B.J. Louws was continuing his aggressive pursuit of labor-saving technology despite the market. Ever since B.J. took over the business from his father in 2011, he has consistently sought the best equipment and its best arrangement within his plant. He was among the first to achieve considerable success by feeding a gantry line directly from the outfeed conveyors of three linear saws. Yet, when the House of Design (HoD) robotic line was introduced, B.J. didn’t hesitate to upend his operation to accommodate it. And when HoD fell on hard times, B.J. again revamped his production process with the help of Sawtooth Robotics. Next up, B.J. is in the process of reworking his junk table to take advantage of pre-plating.

The Overlooked Engineering Issue

For the first time, the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) has addressed the connection of guard assemblies to floor framing members, which had previously been left to the builder or his framer. Typically, these are handrails that border stair openings that must be designed to withstand a concentrated load of 200 pounds applied vertically downward and horizontally outward, which may apply a torsion to floor framing underneath these railings. While this code concern may seem inconsequential to many, it suddenly confronted Howard Gauger, SBCA Board Member and VP of Component Design for R&D Thiel, now part of QXO. Howard explained that his Chicago market was among the first to enforce this provision of the 2024 Code. When the new code is adopted in other large metro areas like Chicago, CMs will likely see similar enforcement challenges.

While stairwell railings can occur in nearly any dwelling, they generally occur more often in townhomes, which now account for nearly half of housing starts in many markets. New townhomes typically have three or even four staircases stacked on top of one another in units as narrow as 16’ in width. In order to provide more openness in these units, the tops of stairs may be left open or partially open as shown. However, builders have generally worked around this provision by providing knee walls or only short sections of railing, and have attached handrails to the party walls. Nevertheless, the knee walls still must be properly strapped to the framing below, which usually consists of LVL beams.

Fortunately, the professional engineers from our two industry associations were well prepared to assist in complying with this issue: SBCA’s Technical Director, Greg Greenlee and TPI’s Executive Director, Jay Jones. At our previous OQMs, both described the challenging consensus-driven code change process that they monitor continually. These new guard rail attachment provisions were first introduced in 2021, went through code hearings throughout 2022, and were basically solidified in late 2022. Not long after Howard confronted the issue, SBCA issued Code Summary Report (CSR) No. 2601. This helpful and thorough document provides details to address the most common framing issues, such as this detail to address floor trusses bearing on an LVL beam.

Networking and Tours

On Wednesday, attendees were given the unique opportunity to see inside the Builders FirstSource’s (BFS) plant in Arlington, WA. This open-sided, well-equipped plant with large paved yard surely has solidified BFS’s capabilities in the minds of its competitors. The most eye-opening experience for many was seeing several crane-equipped trucks in their yard, each costing about $200,000, and learning the ongoing challenge of timing their arrival with framing crews.

Learning that BFS operates four plants in the region, and that The Truss Company operates three, with most of these seven sites having been acquisitions, points to the great potential that this area has for these companies and for our industry. Likewise, this explains the considerable investment both B.J. Louws and The Truss Company have made in upgrading their robotic truss systems, and why visiting this venue is also a good investment for the 100+ industry associates who traveled to this location. Yet, we also learned that these local CMs currently face a very challenging near-term market and they did not gain much solace from Wednesday’s economic forecast. But the consensus of the Seattle market seemed to accord with that of many of the 40 CM attendees. However, discovering the state of the component industry, and learning how to deal with it, is the main reason to attend the SBCA OQMs.

Software. Equipment. Hardware. Service.

Transform your truss operation with an integrated solution from Simpson Strong-Tie. The industry leader in truss plates now brings you a full suite of software, equipment, hardware and services to drive truss component manufacturing from idea to installation. Start with CS Director™, CS Truss Studio™, CS EWP Studio ™ and CS Producer™ for design, layout, production and project management. Use our powerful Monet DeSauw industrial saws to cut webs, chords, stair stringers, rafters and wedges with speed and precision. Specify the optimal connectors, anchors and Strong-Drive ® structural fasteners for every project. You can also complement your team with our professional truss design services at any time. Altogether, you have a smart solution made to increase productivity, ensure high quality and take your business to the next level.

To learn more, contact

– Bill McAlpine, Co-founder of Alpine

In 1966, we designed 200 trusses for three customers. Since then, our team has helped build millions of homes in North America through high-quality component manufacturing.

A lot has changed in 60 years, but our commitment to partnership has always been at the core of what we do.

At Alpine, our team fosters lasting relationships with customers and collaborates on solutions. Our industry innovations have been driven by challenges we’ve seen component manufacturers face. We truly want to see everyone succeed.

Like the plaque in our Orlando office reads, “Find good people and grow old with them.” So here’s to six decades of innovative, solution-forward component manufacturing—all thanks to our team members and customers who made it possible.

Elevate Your Wall Panel, Floor Truss or Roof Truss Manufacturing with 4Ward Design Solutions’ Precision Component Design Services!

Extend your existing capabilities with 4Ward’s design expertise. Without the hassle and expense of training your own designers, partnering with us guarantees that each wall panel, floor truss or roof truss will be designed for structural integrity and production and field efficiency.

Achieve cost efficiency without compromising on excellence.

Our cost sensitive approach ensures maximum value for your investment.

Build Smarter

Leverage our expertise, ensuring every component is attentively designed for optimal performance and durability.

Sub Component Nailer

Speed Up Your Production of wall panels, windows, doors, and other sub components

Block Sizes: 2x4 & 2x6 framing lumber, any length

Nail Cycle Time: 1 nail 1 sec; 2 nail 2 sec; 3 nail 3 sec

Machine Set Up Time: 1 sec from any prior set up

Air Supply: 125 psi at 30 CFM, nothing less

Electrical Supply: 120 VAC

Frame: 1/4” steel plates mounted to heavy duty roll top tables and 2x2 skids mounted no install

Transfer System: Pneumatic transfer for finished sub

Covers: 3/16” thick aluminum

Shipping

The truss industry relies on 3rd party quality assurance services to provide random visits to review the plants Quality Assurance program along with their operations. If your plant needs to comply with the IRC, IBC and to those who depend on solid, experienced QA expertise, we ask you to consider selecting Timber Products Inspection, Inc. (TP) as your choice for 3rd party inspections.

Proudly serving the forest products industry for over 50 years, TP brings the expertise you need to ensure your business is successful. As a responsible partner, TP delivers to clients, employees, and the industries we serve the confidence to drive value through the effective use of our diverse professional team.

TP would like to welcome the following authorized agents to our inspection team, each of whom have many years of experience in the truss industry!

• Al Coffman

• Jean Hart • Curt Holler • Chuck Ray

Glenn Traylor • Elliot Wilson

If you have questions about how you can make this selection, please contact your authorized agent above or Glenn Traylor at 919-280-5905 or trusguy@gmail.com. https://www.tpinspection.com/ https://www.tpinspection.com/auditing-services/truss

By Glenn Traylor

DAre You Sawing Smarter, Not Harder?

o you prefer using a linear saw or a component saw? Both saws can cut lumber cleanly, so other factors need to be considered, especially when batching your cutting.

Often, batching decisions are made solely on cutting quantity. While this is a very important factor, the decision is more complex. Given the option of either type of saw, decisions based on quality are impactful. Component saws require changes in set up, but so do linear saws. The difference is linear saws are a lot faster at making this happen. Things like bottom chord scissor, butt cuts, and heels can be greatly enhanced using linear saws instead of component saws. Sometimes, quality is compromised by speed. So, how do you decide what saw(s) you need? Let’s consider some pros and cons.

Component Saw: Strengths

Component saws cut fast and can be laterally loaded making up to six single individual cuts at one time. Filling dog after dog, the component saw can blister through a unit of lumber in no time…if you are making the same cuts.

Component saws can be more versatile in operations. If push comes to shove, most are programable, but many also can be run manually. Some computerized component saws can be run in manual, semi-manual, and automatic modes with the flip of a switch.

With a component saw, it’s possible to rerun a cut that was originally cut too long. If your cut is too short though, neither saw can help you (we are still looking for an industry board fixer).

Component saws were originally designed for high-volume repetitive production projects. They are still king at cutting these jobs.

RetroC photo courtesy of LimTek Solutions

Component Saw: Weaknesses

Lumber feed clamping is limited and is not possible on shallow angle cuts on component saws. This includes low-pitch truss configurations such as 1/12 to 3/12 pitch. Component saws struggle with wide boards and require significant skill, experience, and training to achieve accuracy.

With a component saw, a large area is needed on both the in-feed and out-feed side.

Cutting needs to be optimized before sending jobs to the saw to help limit lumber drop. This needs to be done during the design process. Optimizing the locations of splices and re-webbing the shorter webs is a long-lost skill that used to be the hallmark of an experienced designer.

The design of component saws is why cutting short pieces is so difficult. Component saws fail miserably when attempting to cut short parts.

With component saws, lumber defects are amplified, especially lumber bows and twists, which create inaccurate cuts and can even appear to change lengths.

Linear Saw: Strengths

Complex cuts can be made with a linear saw that are not available to the component saw, an extreme example of which would be stair runners.

Linear saws can be installed in longer, narrower areas, which is a benefit when building footprints are limited.

Linear saws have the ability to cut extremely long scarf cuts accurately.

Linear saws are able to cut close to the clamping mechanism holding lumber, thereby helping to improve cutting accuracy. This is a significant quality attribute.

Linear saws can sometimes accommodate for twisting and bows in lumber.

Nesting, when utilized on a linear saw, can help optimize the amount of wood fiber used by cutting in a pattern that utilizes the previous cut.

Linear Saw: Weaknesses

Linear saws must be run in a semi-automated mode or automated mode, eliminating interaction of the sawyer.

Some linear saws simply reject lumber that has significant bows and twist, not giving the sawyer the choice.

Clean-up cuts cannot be made once the material is cut on a linear saw.

On the linear saw, all lumber must be feed through the saw in a linear manner. Long-length cuts take more time than short-length cuts, which adds production time and reduces capacity.

Linear saws can cut short pieces, but they need to be cut off a longer board.

Though linear saws fit into narrower buildings than component saws, they still typically require 20 feet of clearance on each side.

The Bottom Line

Neither saw holds the title of best selection. If the size of your manufacturing plant supports both, then consider having both saws available in your operations. As Todd Drummond has written, “Beware of One Size Fits All Solutions.” Each type of saw will offer solutions the other cannot.

Likewise, you’ll also need to use the saws properly to take full advantage of their benefits. When used properly, linear saws will save lumber…but only if plant processes are adjusted so that a new linear saw is not simply dropped into the role of the component saw it is replacing. When plants fail to make adjustments, they squander the lumber savings benefits. Making the smart decisions is the first step — implementing them properly is the next step when you want to saw smarter, not harder.

An ANSI/TPI 1 3rd Party Quality Assurance Authorized Agent covering the Southeastern United States, Glenn Traylor is an independent consultant with over four decades of experience in the structural building components industry. Glenn serves as a trainer-evaluator-auditor covering sales, design, PM, QA, customer service, and production elements of the truss industry. He also provides project management specifically pertaining to structural building components, including on-site inspections, expert witness and ANSI/TPI 1 compliance assessments. Glenn provides new plant and retrofit designs, equipment evaluations, ROI, capacity analysis, and CPM analysis.

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INNOVATION FOR TRADE STORES & FABRICATION PLANTS

Slowly gathering and organizing loose lumber manually is now a thing of the past. Stand-alone automated picking is here!

With a compact footprint and newly developed software, Vekta’s fully customizable PickFeeder system is built to fit your needs

It intelligently scans, selects, and delivers lumber to the stack at lightning speed – eliminating downtime, fatigue, and costly errors.

You can even combine multiple PackFeeders into your PickFeeder system to increase volume or range of product.

2002 Monet B500 five-blade component saw – Single Sided Setup includes digital readouts, push-button movement controls for angles, manual movement for length, mechanical backup counters, (1) 30″ diameter blade, (2) 18″ diameter blades, (2) 16″ diameter blades, powered chain infeed with upper hold-downs and shaker pan waste conveyor. Cuts angles from 8 to 115 degree angles. Minimum 90/90 cut is 10 inches and shortest angle cut is 18 inches. Cuts 2×4 through 2×12 lumber up to 20 feet in length. Includes horizontal shaker-pan waste conveyor, spare set of blades, any available spare parts. 480 V, 3 Ph, 100 Amp electrical.

Ensure your truss production runs at peak efficiency with our line of Field Service Solutions. From onsite repairs to equipment removal, installation, and operator training; we’ve got you covered. Our skilled technicians minimize downtime and keep your machinery in optimal condition.

Need to expand or upgrade your line? We handle everything from material handling installations to table retrofits, ensuring perfect integration with your existing systems. Trust our dedicated team to keep your operations smooth, efficient, and ready for growth.

2005 Alpine ALS 276C Linear Saw

2005 Alpine ALS 276C Linear Saw: Cuts wall and truss parts from lumber depths 2×4 through 2×12, 60”+ scarf cuts, internally optimizes material (up to 11 7/8″ x 1.5″ EWP) Includes 20 foot idler roller infeed conveyor and 15 foot idler roller outfeed conveyor, and under-saw scrap conveyor with belt-type incline. All servo controlled functions, Microsoft Windows 10 Pro o/s (can be upgraded to Windows 10 LTSC for additional cost), 7.5 HP motor with 20” carbide tipped blade. Includes digital manual and Zebra brand label maker, model 105SL. No ink printer is included. 220 volt, 3 phase, 100 Amp electrical required. 125 PSI air required.

EZ-SET AUTO JIGGING EXCLUSIVE & PATENTED DESIGN

Automatic Truss Jigging System to drastically reduce setup times. Allows for 100% embedment on the table, with top & bottom chord pucks in the same slot. TopSider or standard configurations available for conventional kick-leg, walk-thru, or our new trackless 8' and 10' continuous table systems. Systems for other roller & hydraulic gantries are coming soon. Available in new machine installations or for retro-fitting your existing table. The TopSider is exclusively applicable for “kick or flip leg” style truss presses such as the Tri-Axis & Lumbermater®

FEATURES / APPLICATIONS

• Capable of 100% On-Table Nail Plate Embedment

• Two Pucks Per Slot

• 24", 26", and/or 30" Spacing

• Compatible with all current major design software

• Multiple Simultaneous Layouts

13 1/2” Capacity

• Foot Pedal Operation

• Dust Outlet

• TigerStop 16’ Programmable Stop

• Automatic Positioning of Stop via Simple and Intuitive Controls

• Infeed/Outfeed Plastic Top Tables with stands

• Excludes: Dust Collector and Adjacent Computer in Orange Cabinet $13,500 NOW $10,900 FOB NE Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Software That Works For You!

Our tailor-made suite of software supports every step of the frame and truss manufacturing process.

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Wendy Boyd Chief Customer Officer Machinery Group Spida Machinery

When Predictability Disappears, Adaptability Becomes the Advantage

For years, I’ve seen efficiency in component manufacturing judged by how well a plant performs when conditions are stable — consistent orders, familiar product mix, reliable labor, and enough lead time to keep work flowing. But stability is not always guaranteed, and I believe that changes what operational strength really looks like.

The harder question now, in my view, is not how fast a plant can run when everything goes to plan. The real question is: How well will a plant perform when the market stops cooperating? When volumes shift, labor is stretched, job mix changes, and customers still expect speed without accepting disruption, then the old definition of efficiency will fall short.

An Uneven Market Changes the Rules

This matters because the North American housing market is not simply slow or strong right now — it is uneven, with affordability pressure persisting in many areas while activity, labor, pricing, and supply conditions vary significantly by region.

For component manufacturers, that means demand can become less consistent, product mix can shift more quickly, and production planning has less room for error. In that environment, operational discipline matters not only when work is steady, but when conditions change faster than the plant was originally set up to absorb.

Throughput is Not the Same as Adaptability

That is why I think this moment is revealing something more fundamental: many plants are built to maximize throughput, but not always to maintain performance when labor availability, job mix, or scheduling conditions become less stable.

A frame and truss plant can look highly efficient when the workflow is repetitive, the team is experienced, and the production schedule is familiar and consistent. The real test comes when those conditions shift. Can production absorb labor gaps without slipping? Can it move between different job types without friction multiplying across the plant? Can it protect margin when demand becomes stop-start instead of steady?

To me, that is where the next competitive advantage is taking shape.

In an uneven market, capacity alone is not the differentiator. The manufacturers that stand out will be the ones that can adapt without giving back margin, quality, or lead-time performance every time conditions shift.

Where Margin Gets Exposed

There is also a financial side to this that deserves more attention. Variability does not just create scheduling pressure — it reveals where margin is most exposed. It shows where manual steps still interrupt flow, where training takes too long, where changeovers carry hidden cost, and where too much production knowledge still depends on a small number of experienced people.

From my perspective, the issue is not simply whether automation is present. It is whether the production model can absorb change without becoming slower, more expensive, or harder to manage.

Rethinking Production for a Tighter Labor Market

That is where I believe the investment conversation needs to evolve. For frame and truss manufacturers, labor pressure is not just a hiring issue — it directly affects throughput, training time, production consistency, and the ability to respond when demand shifts. In that environment, caution around major capital decisions is understandable. But, when labor constraints are becoming more common, the more important question is: How can production systems reduce dependency on scarce skills and make it easier for plants to perform well even when experienced labor is harder to secure?

Practical Investment in an Uncertain Market

For me, this is where practical, scalable change matters most.

Not every manufacturer needs to pursue transformation in one large step. But many do need production systems that are easier to run, easier to train on, and better able to cope with demand variability without introducing more complexity. The most effective changes are often the ones that remove friction at key points in the process, reduce dependency on hard-to-find skills, and make performance more repeatable across the plant.

How Spida Can Help

This is also where Spida can play a constructive role — not by offering a one-size-fits-all answer, but by helping frame and truss manufacturers put in place simple systems that are easier to adjust as conditions change. That can include modular automation, flexible production lines, and intuitive software and controls that make day-to-day operation easier to manage. It can also mean faster onboarding for new team members, smoother transitions between jobs or product types, and right-sized upgrades that reduce risk when conditions are uncertain.

In my view, that is the real value: practical improvements that strengthen responsiveness without adding unnecessary complexity.

That may be the more useful way to think about investment right now. The goal is not only to increase maximum output, but to build a production environment that can hold performance across a wider range of conditions.

When predictability disappears, the plants that perform best may not be the ones designed only for steady conditions. They may be the ones built to keep performing when those conditions begin to shift.

If these challenges feel familiar, I’d be happy to continue the conversation. In my experience, meaningful progress often starts with a clearer view of where variability is creating the most pressure — and where practical changes can make day-to-day performance more consistent.

$118,997 FOB GA

2014 Monet DeSawyer 2000

(Non-servo) five-blade, automated component saw using a touch screen interface and Windows 10 OS for direct input. Operates in automated or manual input mode. (1) 10 h.p., 30″ diameter blade with PAE setup & (4) 5 h.p. 16″ diameter blades with center line setup. 16″ blades cut angles from 3º to 115º, 30″ blade from 3º to 100º . Minimum 90/90 cut is 10 inches and shortest 4-angle cut is 18 inches. Cuts 2×4 through 2×12 lumber up to 20 feet in length.

2018 Spida Plate Marker with DeWalt Saw

• 20' of Steel Framed Table with Plastic Top

• Spida Automated 20' Length Stop/ Plate Positioner

• Auto Plate Positioning with Manual Marking

• Control Cabinet Enclosure with Touch Screen Computer

• DeWalt Model DWS780 Miter Saw

• Support Table for DeWalt Saw

• 10' Infeed Roller Conveyor

• Excludes Dust Collector & Spida Annual Support Fee

$19,900 NOW $18,900 FOB ND Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

2024 ASI Chop Saw Automation

Wall panel cutting station with conveyors. Cuts and marks wall panel pieces up to (2) 2x-boards high. Includes a DeWalt 12″ dia. blade mitre saw, 20-ft long length measure, 16-ft long outfeed conveyor, ASI “Basic” wall panel cutting software with Lenovo PC, plate marker on two 1.5″ edges/1 edge per board and manual. Software reads EHX, TRS, Sapphire XML, EZY, CYB, WCD, ASI, BTL & BTLx files. HMI display available in English, Spanish & French. 120 volt, 1 phase electrical required.

$39,997 FOB NY Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

1994 Timbermill Model MH5G-20

Component Saw

Five blades cut lumber from 2″ x 4″ through 2″ x 12″, 4″ x 2″ lengths from 12 inches to 20 feet, including four-angle floor webs from 18 inches. All powered movements. Saw includes (1) 30″, (2) 20″ and (2) 14″ blades, analog scales, chain-drag scrap conveyor with chain-drag scrap incline, and an extra set of blades. Additionally this saw includes an extensive spare parts inventory including: Contacts/Starters, fuses, push buttons, limit switches, crank handles, scales/rulers/dials, angulation, conveyor, and saw motors, universal joints, and arms for outfeeds. 480 volt, 3 phase electrical required.

$17-924 FOB NC Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

1994 Holtec Bunk Saw Station 20-ft long fixed frame with steel alignment stands, and rough-top waste conveyor belt. Cuts bunks of lumber up to 16-ft long with a 40″ x 44″ cross-section, in a single pass. Includes guide frame, manual / analog length measurement, manual rack & pinion gantry movement, an automated oiler (has a leak that needs repair) for the saw bar, one 0.404″ pitch chain, and OEM “longlife” saw bar. Also includes a flat conveyor under saw & an incline. (NOTE: This saw is not best suited for PET studs, instead great for precut bunks, and nominal cut EWP).

$19,897 FOB GA

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

$48,900 FOB BC

2019 Spida Automated Apollo Saw

• Automated Length Stop and Automated Saw Angulation as directed by Truss Design Software Output

• Touch Screen Computer with Truss Cutting Operating Software (GEN 8)

• Direct Drive 7.5 HP Motor (460 Volt / 3 Phase) with 18" Blade

• Automated 160 Degree Angular Movement

• Minumum Angle of 10 Degrees with 36" Stroke for Long Scarf Cuts

• Variable Stroke Limiter, Plexiglass Shield & Laser Pointer for Operator Safety

• 20' of Steel Framed/Plastic Top Table with Automated 20' Length Stop

• 10' Infeed Roller Conveyor

• Dust Collection System

• Excludes: Installation/Training & Annual Technical Support Fee

• Video available upon request

• Price in US Dollars

Alpine ALS 276C Linear Saw $39,990 FOB OH

Cuts wall and truss parts from lumber depths 2×4 through 2×12, 60”+ scarf cuts, internally optimizes material (up to 11 7/8″ x 1.5″ EWP) Includes 20 foot OEM auto-infeed conveyor and 15 foot OEM outfeed conveyor, and under-saw scrap conveyor with belt-type incline. All servo controlled functions, Microsoft Windows XP OS, 7.5 hp motor with 20” carbide tipped blade. Includes spare infeed/outfeed belt and any available spare parts. No printer is included. The door latch needs to be repaired. 220v / 3 ph power, 125 PSI air required.

Edmond Lim, P.Eng. LimTek Solutions Inc.

Tuning NEXPLATE for Maximum Velocity

In last month’s article, “NEXPLATE: Achieving F1 Pit-Stop Speed in Truss Production,” we analyzed a production run of 80 long-span agricultural trusses using an “all-or-nothing” approach to automated plate distribution. We demonstrated how Enventek’s NEXPLATE system delivers a next-gen solution that smashes the hidden automation bottleneck plaguing million-dollar truss tables. Expensive investments in advanced auto-jigging setups and precision laser projection have been neutralized by inefficient manual distribution of truss plates. By replacing outdated manual plate gathering with high-velocity, automated plate sequencing, component manufacturers can finally unlock the true ROI of their table automation. Maintaining a clean, uncluttered work surface facilitates more efficient and safe table operations, allowing for optimized crew re-balancing and superior production sequencing. With NEXPLATE, there is a hybrid plate picking scheme that yields even higher efficiency.

The Hybrid Plate Picking Strategy

In any complex setup — such as a long-span Ag truss run — certain plates are simply too large to be physically dispensed from the NEXPLATE machine’s hopper magazines. The NEXPLATE operator has to manually gather these oversized, non-stocked plates and place them on top of the NEXPLATE automatically dispensed plates.

But the hybrid scheme eliminates this step entirely. As always, NEXPLATE will automatically dispense all standard truss plates into the bins, “one truss per bin,” but the bin doesn’t need the non-stocked plates added on top. Instead, your team will pre-stage the oversized nonstocked bulk plates ahead of time directly at the truss build table near their corresponding joint locations.

By positioning these oversized plates right where they are needed before the cycle begins, you reduce bin sorting complexity, eliminate operator search-and-select time, and significantly accelerate assembly times for the truss builders.

As shown in the images, the plates circled in red are too large to be dispensed automatically by the NEXPLATE machine. Instead of the NEXPLATE operator manually placing these oversized, nonstocked plates into the NEXPLATE dispensed bins (as detailed in last month’s workflow), the hybrid scheme stages them directly at the truss build table. By positioning these non-stocked plates near their respective joints ahead of time, you eliminate unnecessary handling complexity and significantly accelerate assembly times for the truss builders.

Separating non-stocked bulk plates from the NEXPLATE automated stream reduces bin complexity, minimizes NEXPLATE operator search-and-select time, and maintains maximum velocity at the truss assembly table.

NEXPLATE Space and Safety Considerations

To fully leverage NEXPLATE's F1-style velocity, the physical placement of the machine must balance material flow with strict forklift safety rules. Much like a traditional lumber PickLine, plants will discover that NEXPLATE automation enhances overall warehouse space utilization by cleanly separating active “picking stock” from dense bulk storage.

The Ideal Footprint (44ft x 44ft Layout)

For plants looking to integrate the system into an open layout, a minimum warehouse floor area of 44 ft x 44 ft provides an optimal, highly lean workflow footprint. Maintaining a clear 3-foot access aisle on both sides of the NEXPLATE machine provides ample clearance for the operator to safely replenish the hoppers with tooth-to-tooth truss plates. Plate pallet racks should be positioned directly adjacent to these 3-foot aisles. The bottom row of pallets is used exclusively for immediate hopper refilling (staging cartons, trays, or active pallets).

Forklift and Operator Isolation

The upper tiers of the racking should be reserved strictly for dense bulk storage. Forklifts should replenish the bottom active rows exclusively from behind the racking. This completely isolates the machine operator from forklift traffic.

The 3D layout rendering highlights the physical separation between the forklift and the safe operator zone. Similar to an Enventek Lumber PickLine, implementing NEXPLATE automation optimizes warehouse space utilization by cleanly separating active “picking stock” from dense bulk storage. The NEXPLATE system significantly improves both facility safety and enhances warehouse space.

Not every plant has a blank canvas. In more compact facilities, the system can be adapted successfully to tighter configurations. The plant shown here has successfully integrated their NEXPLATE machine into an existing warehouse nook. The operator currently manages picking stock along both walls using hand carts. Future facility plans include installing lowprofile shelving directly alongside the NEXPLATE for fast replenishment, leaving the dense storage racks outside the nook area.

Whether your plant integrates the system into a dedicated 44 ft x 44 ft cellular layout or adapts it into an existing warehouse nook, the goal remains the same: eliminating unnecessary material handling. By pairing automated plate sequencing with a smart hybrid picking scheme for oversized plates, component manufacturers can eliminate the final bottleneck on the production floor and achieve true Formula 1 velocity at the truss assembly tables.

When you’re ready to Feed Your Beast and see these efficient and effective systems for yourself, let us know! Inside and out, LimTek Process Organization Technology will help you squeeze out more truss production and deliver quality trusses with shorter lead times to better service your customers by organizing your truss fabrication processes to maximize your investment in automation. https:// limteksolutions.com/#solutions

• Servo Controlled Linear Saw

• Touch Screen Computer (Windows XP)

• Automated Infeed Deck

• Infeed/Outfeed Roller Tables

• Outfeed Queue Rollers

• Ink Jet Printer

• Belt Waste Conveyor

• 230 Volt / 3 Phase

• Available March 2026

• V ideo available upon request

• Facilities tailored to your operation and equipment

• Smarter layouts for safer load-ins and faster turns

• Integrated storage and optimized SKU management

With nearly 40 years of LBM experience and more than 4,500 completed projects, we build turnkey truss facilities designed to perform from day one.

HUNDEGGER

lnnovationen fur den Holzbau

HUNDEGGER

Hundegger leads the way in automation innovation for the truss component industry. Our advanced CAMBIUM software offers cutting-edge automation and digitalization solutions, revolutionizing operations, boosting productivity, and driving sustainable growth for manufacturers like you.

We go beyond standard mechanization; we champion true Automation. The Hundegger TD-II isn't just a saw-it's a transformative, comprehensive solution designed to streamline your production process. From retrieving lumber to optimizing, nesting, stacking, destacking, sorting, buffering, and precise delivery, our system ensures peak efficiency and productivity, tailored specifically to truss component manufacturing.

REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR TRUSS MANUFACTURING WITH THE HUNDEGGER TD-II

Harness the power of data with Hundegger's advanced CAMBIUM TACTICAL software. It meticulously tracks and optimizes your production, ensuring more automated operations and significant productivity gains.

We provide state-of-the-art automation and control solutions that set the industry standard. Our focus on industrial automation and robotics positions Hundegger as the leader in enhancing performance and efficiency in truss component manufacturing and beyond.

Hundegger products are essential for future-proofing your business. Elevate your productivity and secure your competitive edge with our advanced technologies and automation solutions, meticulously designed to meet the unique demands of component manufacturers today and tomorrow.

Don't get left behind. Invest in the future with true automation from Hundegger and see your business thrive.

New Monet DeSawyer ESC (Servo Controlled) Component Saw

Monet DeSauw model Desawyer ESC enhanced servo-controlled ( ESC) component saw with touch screen user interface with backup mechanical controls. Includes three operating modes: Auto (download setups from LAN or USB), Semi-auto (touch screen setup entry), and Manual (backup push-button switches for powering all movements). Includes over-travel protection, comprehensive setup screens, auto sequencing, auto-calibration and pneumatic brakes on all five () blades. One (1) 30” blade and four (4) 16” blades. Manual cut limits are 18” min., 11” min. square edge blocks, 20’ max cut. Belt under-saw waste conveyor. Voltage: 480 volt/3 phase/60 Amp. Air: 50 PSI at 5 CFM. One-year warranty included. Can be paired with a model PD-6 lumber feed system at an additional cost. Heavy duty 80 RIV chain feed system. 16’ wide x 20’ long x 36” deck height. Transfers 3’ to 20’ lumber. Includes auto-feed control, foot pedal override, forward & reverse, variable speed control with HD double-bearing construction. Other additional-cost options include, inkjet marking, label printing, backside screen display, spare blades and incline scrap conveyor.

$386,000 FOB MO

ACTUALLY, WE CAN SAY QUITE A LOT WITH LASER ACCURACY.

To see meaningful labor savings, quality improvement and production gains, SL Lasers with their easy-to-see green light are nothing short of illuminating. They enhance worker accuracy and productivity, regardless of experience or primary language. They can reduce tedious setup time by up to 70%. No complex training or costly service agreements are required. And SL Lasers integrate seamlessly with any component design software and are quickly installed over existing equipment. We’ve been trailblazers in wood component laser projection since its very beginning, and we’re still delivering more rapid ROI for roof truss, wall and floor panel producers every day. Contact our enlightening team at Wood Tech Systems to see how SL Laser can deliver for you.

productivity of any

Hain Systems Framer

The Hain Systems Framer (HSF) will help you build square and accurate wall panels for residential or commercial construction applications. It will help you cut building costs by saving time and improving your quality. It’s a reliable, efficient and proven system that features a ruggedly simple design. The HSF is based on a proven design with over 20 years of actual production use and maintenance experience. It comes fully assembled and is designed for portable job site framing or in-plant permanent installation. The table has many optional attachments and will support Mylar Tape wall layout or any other type of layout. The optional gun rails can also be retro-fit to any table.

Details:

Table Construction: Thick-wall Structural Steel Tubing, Jig Welded for Accuracy

Height: 12 inches

feet (720”)

Air Supply: 90 psi (10 CFM Air Flow Recommended)

Depth: 12 inches

Electrical Supply: 120 VAC

Powder Coat: Industrial Gray

Dimensions: Height: 43”

Length: 16’ or 20’

Width: Adjustable 8’ to 10’ or 8’ to 12’

Shipping Weight: 3000 lbs

If you are looking for the fastest, most consistent way to measure and cut your product, then the Hain Measuring System (MEA) is your answer. The MEA changes from one length t any length instantly, up to 60’, without changing the operator’s position on the line. It is also highly accurate (+/- .010) and quickly moves from one length to the next in seconds. The MEA is designed for quick and easy setup and is simple to use. Even a first time user will be productive with little or no training required. It can adapt to any saw and can be mounted to any surface so that you can integrate the MEA with your existing setup. The MEA is versatile allowing “left” or “right” handed operation and measurement in “feet and inches” or “inches” depending on your preference. The MEA is also available in a “Skid Mounted” version.

Faster plates More Trusses

Click Here to see the Plate Picker™ in action!

Or visit our website at www.trussmachineworks.com

Robotic placement insures no wasted space in bins

Integrates with skate-wheel receiver or conveyor to table

The Plate Picker™ uses a nesting algorithm to tightly pack and sequence plates in the exact order needed for assembly.

Sorting schemes include truss type, per truss, dense pack, and more

Magazine system covers 95-99% of plate sizes needed

Modular design sized for your plant

A dverti $ er

Striebig Optisaw, model

Optisaw Automatic (Type # 5164) vertical panel saw station, with angled frame supporting material being cut: Max. cutting height (vertical) 5′-4″, max. cutting length (horizontal) 15′-1″, max. cutting thickness 2.36″. Both vertical and horizontal analog measuring scales on frame. Cutting head manually rotates from vertically to horizontally for rip vs. cross-cutting, adjustable spacers for repetitive cuts, 5.25 HP saw motor, 9.84″ diameter blade, guide bearings for travel , push button controls, e-stop button and dust extraction hose (no vacuum included). Overall footprint of station 19′-1″ wide x 4′7″ deep x 7′-10″ height. Sold for $36,000 new. 208 volt, 3 phase electrical required.

$14,490 FOB AZ Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

• Model 349A

• Automated Setup via Download or SemiAutomated Setup via Touch Screen

• Servo Controlled Saw

• 23 Axes of Automation

• Typical setup time is less than 14 Seconds

• Five Blades (3-18", 1-20" and 1-32") with Blade Brakes

• Cut 2x3 thru 2x12 from 2'-6" to 20'

• Waste Conveyor (under saw)

• Spare Parts: Danaher S1808 Module and Fox Drive Six Pack

• 480 Volt / 3 Phase

• E xcludes Incline Waste Conveyor (adjacent to saw)

• Video available upon request

• Price is US Dollars

FOB AB

2000 Alpine AutoMill Component Saw 2000 Alpine AutoMill model 343H, (5) blade component saw, cuts lumber from 2×3 through 2×12, from 18″ to 20′, 4-angle floor webs from 18″. Includes powered length and angulation, digital readouts, (1) 32″, (3) 18″ & (1) 20″ blade, shaker under-saw scrap conveyor, incline, PC with Windows 98 o/s, and outfeed conveyor. Decommissioned in 2018. Stored indoors. 480 volt ,3 phase electrical required.

$10,497 NOW $5,997 FOB ON Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

Alpine AutoMill RS Parts

Alpine AutoMill RS Parts per Uploaded PDF

$23,500 NOW $19,500 FOB GA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

NEW Hain 20' Powered Measuring System

Adapts to Any Saw. Left or Right Hand Operation. Feet & Inches System (Stops at 12” Centers) or Inches System (Stops at 10” Centers). Motor: 1/4 HP Linear Actuator (110 Volt). Stop Rail: 2 x 4 x 1/4” Aluminum Extrusion. Stops: Jig Bored Steel. Stop Blocks: Machine Billet Aluminum. Optional Lengths from 5’ to 60’. Optional Gang Stop. Add $890 per 10’ Section of Heavy Duty Roller Conveyor with Stands

$8,990

Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

Spotlight on The Hain Company

TheJobLine.com

Hiring-Zone.com

The Advertiser

As discussed in “Rediscovering Automated Builder“ in March, I’m working to build a comprehensive Automated Builder archive website. As a lifelong fan, I’ve come to realize that we need to recapture this great legacy before it’s lost to the digital age. While I am a long way from having a live website, I am working behind the scenes to organize and rebuild as many past issues of Automated Builder as possible. The goal is not simply to preserve old magazines. It is to preserve the history, ingenuity, and problemsolving spirit that helped build the component manufacturing industry we know today.

One of the unexpected rewards of this project has been rediscovering companies whose innovations have quietly stood the test of time. Some names have disappeared from the industry. Others have been absorbed into larger organizations. A few remain as relevant today as they were decades ago.

The Hain Company falls squarely into that last category.

While reviewing a March 2001 issue of Automated Builder, I came across this profile of Leonard Hain and his company. What struck me was not the age of the article but how current it still felt.

The challenges manufacturers faced then are remarkably similar to the challenges they face today: labor shortages, production bottlenecks, quality control, efficiency improvements, and the constant need to do more with fewer resources.

Leonard Hain understood those challenges long before they became industry buzzwords.

Throughout his career, Hain has focused on identifying repetitive tasks that slowed production and finding practical ways to perform them faster, safer, and more accurately. His approach is not based on complicated theories or expensive technology, but on observing how component plants actually work and then designing equipment that solves real-world problems. That philosophy helped create a line of machines that many manufacturers use today.

The Hain System Framer (see page 45) is perhaps one of the most familiar examples. For decades, it has helped wall panel manufacturers improve production speed while maintaining consistency and accuracy. The concept is straightforward, but its impact has been significant. By creating a more efficient framing process, manufacturers can increase throughput without sacrificing quality.

The same can be said for the Hain Measuring System (see page 155). Every component manufacturer understands that accuracy matters. A small measurement error can create costly downstream problems. How many of us have experienced “block creep” when using a radial arm or chop saw and a clamp on a block? Over multiple cuts, the block will creep, making the batch of cuts uneven. The Hain Measuring System helps reduce those errors while speeding up production, proving once again that efficiency and quality do not have to be competing goals.

More recent innovations such as the Hain Sub Component Nailer (see page 17) and the Hain Stud Driller (see page 63) demonstrate that the company has never stopped looking for opportunities to improve manufacturing processes. Each machine addresses a specific production challenge. Each reflects the same mindset that guided Leonard Hain from the beginning: identify wasted motion, reduce unnecessary labor, and help manufacturers produce more with the workforce available to them.

What makes these machines especially noteworthy is their longevity. In an era when technology changes almost overnight, many manufacturing innovations have a surprisingly short lifespan. Equipment is introduced with great excitement, only to disappear a few years later. The Hain products highlighted in that article remain relevant because they solve fundamental production problems that have not changed.

I’ll be writing about other things in the pages of Automated Builder from time to time. If you have issues of Automated Builder, Automation in Housing and Systems Builder News, or any of Don Carlson’s stand-alone publications, like How and Why to Build a Factory Built Home or any edition of the Dictionary/Encyclopedia of Systems Built Housing, please contact me.

2016 Alpine AutoMill HP Component Saw

Alpine AutoMill HP, model 349C component saw. Servo controlled computerized saw sets up in 2 to 19 seconds and downloads from a network, or by using a touch screen for ease of operation. Five-head automated component saw works in both automated (downloading files), semiautomated control (via touch-screen input) or manual mode. It has (23) axes of automated movement, enhanced diagnostics, and auto management reporting.

The HP cuts from 2′-6″ to 20′-0″ long material in size range from 2×3″ through 2×12″, and 4-angle floor webs from 2′-0″. Includes [3] 18″, [1] 20″ and [1] 30″ blades with air brakes, Windows 7 o/s and under-saw scrap conveyor. The Windows 7 o/s can be upgraded to a version of Windows 10 that will be supported until 2032, at an additional expense.

Also includes over $8,000 in spare parts. 480 volt, 3 phase, 100 Amp electrical required. 90 PSI @ 69 SCFM air required.

Sub Component Nailer

Speed Up Your Production of wall panels, windows, doors, and other sub components

Block Sizes: 2x4 & 2x6 framing lumber, any length

Nail Cycle Time: 1 nail 1 sec; 2 nail 2 sec; 3 nail 3 sec

Machine Set Up Time: 1 sec from any prior set up

Air Supply: 125 psi at 30 CFM, nothing less

Electrical Supply: 120 VAC

Frame: 1/4” steel plates mounted to heavy duty roll top tables and 2x2 skids mounted no install

Transfer System: Pneumatic transfer for

Covers: 3/16” thick

Shipping

2019 Spida Gen 8 Apollo Saw with Automation Saw with automation features a 17″ touch screen, with Win.7 O/S for truss cutting software. Cuts automated angles from 10 to 170 degrees, cross-cut maximum depth of up to 5.9 inches, with scarf cuts of up to 36 inches long. Automated turntable for setting angles and length stop/pusher. Saw features a 7.5 HP, 3ph motor, with direct drive of its 17.7-inch diameter blade, includes stroke limiter, plexiglass cutting shield, MDF profiled cutting bench top with a dust collection port. 48″ x 72″ tubular steel saw frame. Includes 20-ft. in-feed, 10-ft. outfeed roller conveyor, material in from the left to right outfeed of cut material. 230 / 460 volt, 3 phase electric required.

$49,490 FOB BC

Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

2006 Monet B500 XE Component Saw

Includes analog readouts, push-button movement controls for angles, manual movement for length, mechanical backup counters, (1) 30″ diameter blade, (4) 16″ diameter blades, powered chain infeed with upper hold-downs and shaker pan waste conveyor. Cuts angles from 8 to 115-degree angles. Minimum 90/90 cut is 10 inches and shortest angle cut is 18 inches. Cuts 2×4 through 2×12 lumber up to 20 feet in length. Includes horizontal shaker-pan waste conveyor (needs a bracket support repair), one spare set of blades, one incline conveyor and any available spare parts. Blade 2 sometimes has a vibration issue. 480 volt, 3 Phase, 60 Amp electrical required.

$31,997 FOB WA

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

Hundegger

• Serial #9029

• Servo Driven Single Blade Linear Saw

• Automated Cutting with Software Download to Operator Console

• 20' Capacity Loading Conveyor Systems

• Automated Infeed Wheel

• Automated Clamping & Positioning System

• Angle & Bevel Drive for Roof Truss, Floor Truss & Wall Panel Cutting

• 20' Capacity Outfeed Table with Ink Jet Printer

• 5 Arm Storage Deck (adjacent to saw outfeed table)

• Waste Conveyor (under saw, parts to the rear)

• A/C System for Control Cabinet

• 480 Volt / 3 Phase

• Excludes Incline Waste Conveyor & Dust Collector

2020 Spida Sprint S600 Wall Panel Saw

• Automated Wall Panel Component Cutting & Marking as directed by your Wall Panel Design Software

• S600 Up-Cut Saw (Square Cut Only)

• 7.5 HP / 3 Phase Braked Saw Motor with 24" Blade

• Enclosed Hood & 2 Hand Control for Operator Safety

• 20' of Steel Framed/Plastic Top Table with Automated Length Stop/Plate Positioner

• 10' Infeed Steel Framed/Plastic Top Table

• 24" Industrial Touch Screen Computer

• Ink Jet Printer marks Wall Member Locations, Wall ID & Job Name

• Dust Collector

• Current use is a low volume shop

• Excludes: Installation/Training & Annual Technical Support Fee

$79,000 NOW 67,500 FOB MO

New Simpson Strong-Tie EasyFrame Saws

A fast method for cutting and marking structural wood components for use in wall panels and trusses. It features high resolution printing on the dimensional lumber and an internal optimization program to reduce waste. The marking system marks the framing layout in sequence using InkJet printing. There are three models available: the EasyCut Angle 24, EasyCut Straight 24, and the Chop Saw version. All three models provide high-resolution printing and optimization. Each comes with an EasyFrame infeed and outfeed, which can be adjusted in length to fit your needs using 2-ft and 6-ft modules.

By Michael Bell

NexPlate: The Next Step in Truss-By-Truss Plate Picking

At a high-volume truss plant just outside Denver, Colorado, one person now keeps 14 build stations supplied with plates — truss by truss, across six tables. Not long ago, that same job meant carts of partial plates scattered across the floor, boxes and totes stacked wherever space was available, and extra plates ending up on random skids with no clear place to go. Today, a single NexPlate system can supply the plant’s roof manufacturing lines, and the results have been hard to ignore.

Plate picking has always been one of those necessary support jobs in truss manufacturing. It may take only one or two people, but production depends on them keeping the tables supplied accurately and on time. The idea behind NexPlate was simple: automate the work so it’s faster, more consistent, and less dependent on skilled labor. But over the ten years it took to move from concept to reality, a bigger question emerged — what if automation could do more than speed up picking? What if it could help plants build trusses more efficiently, with fewer interruptions and fewer errors?

Traditionally, plates are picked and delivered to the table in batches — often in cardboard boxes or totes labeled with a handwritten job number on a scrap of paper or scrawled on the side of the box. From there, the team still has to dig through the plates, open packaging, cut straps, pull off plastic wrap, and clear the waste piling up around the table during assembly. For a process that lives or dies on speed, accuracy, and consistency, there had to be a better way.

That is where truss-by-truss picking changes the conversation. Instead of a batch, NexPlate stages one truss in one bin, organized layer by layer. Workers pull from the top and work their way down as they move around the table — no searching, no sorting, no guesswork.

Going in, we were hoping for even a modest gain in productivity at the table — anything measurable would have been a win. The only way to find out was to put the system into a real production environment. In Denver, the answer came fast.

What made the install remarkable wasn’t just that a single operator could feed 14 stations across six tables. It was that the system did it one truss at a time — a workflow that had always been too labor-intensive to attempt by hand.

Speed was never the challenge. NexPlate runs more than 2,500 plates per hour and can send a full job to the floor as soon as it starts, keeping tables supplied without waiting. But throughput is only part of the value. The bigger improvement is accuracy: because plates are staged by truss, crews are no longer picking from a mixed batch where wrong sizes, wrong counts, and missed plates can easily slip through.

The gain in production was real and immediate — but the bigger story was the order NexPlate brought to the floor. Before NexPlate, boxes, totes, and partial plate returns were spread throughout the table area. Extra plates could end up on random skids, in different totes, or wherever there was open space, making it hard to know what belonged where and what was safe to use. That constant delivering, returning, and re-sorting created clutter, confusion, and wasted movement.

The reaction on the floor said the rest. Assembly crews found their jobs easier and less frustrating, while plant management saw something it had been chasing for years: more trusses out the door with the same crew.

At Enventek, we build more than equipment — we build better production processes. Our products increase output, reduce cost, and make the work easier, but the process they bring to the floor often delivers just as much value.

NexPlate is that kind of solution. It doesn’t just move plates faster; it changes how plates flow through the plant. In the Denver facility, that meant more production, better organization, and a cleaner, more repeatable process.

To learn more about NexPlate, visit www.nexplate.com or call 269-815-4150 to speak with our team about purchasing a NexPlate for your facility.

NEW!

Terminailer

Price: $237,900

FOB: ND

The Terminailer all but shatters the stereotypical myth that sub-component equipment is essentially peripheral – unimportant. And it does so by quickly and accurately driving far more framing nails in your wall panel jobs than ever before. Whether in your shop or in the field, one operator sets the pace for production and quality, which reduces labor costs and other aspects of overhead.

The new Terminailer V.8 improves on the previous generation Terminailer in several key ways:

All new HMI/Software

• Siemens Pivoting HMI Touchscreen display to operate from either side

• On-screen tutorial for all menu items

• Operator now controls functions such as process speed, nail spacing, nail patterns, etc.

• Simplified input commands

Nail Feed Complete Redesign

• All new frame to allow for redesigned nail coil placement with direct feed path

• EverWin PN90-PAL industrial tools now standard equipment

• New nail guides with spring-loaded tensioners

• Nail coils move with vertical travel of the nail guns

Reengineered air system

• SMC “Soft–Start” Pneumatics

• Simplified air for control to all components: lift–cylinders, triggers, stop–gate, etc.

• Direct air supply to each nail gun for improved nailing performance

• All pneumatic elements are clearly labeled for EZ service and adjustment

Overall Features

• Pharmaceutical grade assembly, industrial grade durability

• “Block–wheel” redesign for 3X increased applied force

• Approximately 1,200# of applied clamping force resulting in straighter finished

• Subcomponents from even the poorest lumber

• Larger doors for easier access to interior elements including coil–nail spools

Terminailer is an event-driven, sub-component assembler that will quickly and accurately drive 30% to 70% of the framing nails in any wall panel job. In your shop or in the field, one operator sets the pace for production and quality. The Terminailer functions independent of design software, requires zero set-up time when switching between any configuration, and requires no special operator training.

The Terminailer is easy to move around the shop so its location can evolve as your shop evolves. With all of the nailing occurring in the closed main chamber, nail injuries and nail location misfires are eliminated, making your plant that much safer.

With nearly ten years of development from people that know machinery, it is assembled to exacting standards, well supported, and it is easily maintained with shelf-item parts. Terminailer: vetted, tested, and ready to drive maximum productivity for you. Be sure to check out our videos below for a quick review of this revolutionary machine!

208 volt, 3-phase, 21 (full load) Amps, 60 Hz electrical required. 50 SCFM @ 100 PSI air required. Net weight 7,000 lbs..

1999 Alpine SpeedCut

Centerline Pull-Arm Saw

1999 Alpine Metra Cut, model SSA-17, pull arm, centerline saw. 16″ blade, maximum cutting depth of 6″, maximum scarf length of 31″, 164 deg. cutting range and 5 HP motor. Includes push-button on/off controls and analog angle measure on turntable. Need re-assembly. 220/440 volt, 3 phase electrical required.

Call For Pricing, FOB OR Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

New Monet Power Deck Infeed Decks

Heavy-duty, 5-chain feed system to bring material to the infeed of the component saw. 16′ wide x 20′ long x 36″ high. Transfers 6′ to 20′ lumber lengths. Option for 6-arm Power Deck available at an additional cost. Features auto-feed advance, foot pedal override forward and reverse, variable speed control, double bearing construction, softstart and soft-stop and e-stop cable. Base price shown. 480 volt, 3 phase, 15 Amp electrical required. (Prices start at $31,000.) Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

GOOSENECK ROLL OFF TRUSS TRAILERS

Saws

• Automated Component & Linear Saws (2010 & Newer)

• Monet DeSauw or TimberMill Manual Component Saws

• Floor Web Saws

• Spida (Apollo) Saws with Truss Automation

• Bunk Cutters

Truss Equipment

• Roller Gantry & Hydraulic Press Systems

• Finish Rollers

• Truss Stackers

• Floor Truss Machines

• Lumber Splicers

• Jack Tables

• C-Clamp Presses

Trucks & Trailers

• Stretch Roll-Off Trailers

• Go oseneck Roll-Off Trailers

Modular Equipment

• Pacific Automation or MiTek Mobile Home Press

Wasserman &

New, DeRobo linear saw by Monet organizes "fill" boards to increase optimization of each board, can produce unlimited scarf cuts, cuts 1 or 2 boards at a time and cuts webs, chords, wedges, rafters and open-stair stringers. Works with all major connector plate manufacturer's software. Features include 22 inch blade, left-to-right feed direction standard, lumber push and pull grippers for more accuracy, ink marking on the 1 1/2" face of the incoming boards and small piece capture and delivery to the front of the saw for easy access. Infeed deck and bunk feed are shown as options only. 480 volt, 3phase.

OPTIMIZE WITH THE INNOVATORS

REAL-TIME OPTIMIZATION IS HERE

Vekta’s innovative Real-Time Optimization software leverages decades of technology advancements and intelligent algorithm development to provide unparalleled flexibility and control of your cutting and production planning.

RTO is designed specifically to make considerable improvements to operational and material efficiencies in plants with a direct delivery system, but can also benefit smaller setups as well.

KEY FEATURES:

• SIMULTANEOUS OPTIMIZATION – instantly optimize multiple jobs across assembly stations, minimizing waste.

• REAL-TIME ADJUSTMENTS – adapt cutting volumes and flow to meet dynamic point-of-use demand.

• DECENTRALIZED INTERFACE – empower your operators with the ability to schedule zero-disruption recuts directly from the point-of-use. Load, adjust, reorder and reroute in real-time from any network device.

• MULTI-SAW MANAGEMENT – efficient single operator control of multiple saws, reducing labor requirements and costs.

• CONTINUOUS CUTTING LISTS – eliminate end-of-file waste through seamless job transitions, optimizing material usage.

Simply put, RTO is a comprehensive solution to provide significant improvements in productivity and waste reduction.

Used Hain Quick Rafter Cutter

• Reconditioned in December 2020

• Board Sizes: 2x4 and 2x6

• Motors: Two 1 HP / 220 Volt or 440 Volt / 3 Phase

• Saw Blades: 7 1/4" Carbide Tipped (set at 45 degrees)

• Angle Adjustment: Manual Rotation with Air Brake

• Air Supply: 90 PSI

• Carriage: Steel Rails with Steel Dual V Rollers

• Pedestal: 3/16" Formed Steel

• Saw Housing: 1/2" Billet Aluminum

• Covers: 10 Gauge (1/8" thick) Steel

• Fully Enclosed for Safety

$12,500 NOW $9,900 FOB AZ Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

In answer to the demands of high-volume customers comes the Monet DeSauw FWA 500 CA (Automated Controls) floor web saw. The 500 CA is perfect for component manufacturers who routinely run floor trusses in high volumes with variable web geometry. Another primary feature is enhanced safety through automation which eliminates the need to open the saw motor cabinets other than for periodic service. The 500 CA includes automation for all blades, including the fixed cut-off blade for minimal waste. Lumber infeed speed is variable up to sixty (60) boards per minute, while the powered carriage utilizes rack and pinion drive with airlock for set accuracy throughout the production run. Your operator will easily download batches to the 500 CA saw from your design software via an ethernet connection to a MS Windows 10 industrial PC with a 17″ monitor housed in a stand-alone console. If you frequently batch floor web cutting, and if enhanced safety with increased productivity are a concern, then an automated Monet FWA 500 CA may be the right selection for you. More information click Here

Price based on configuration.

todrillstudsforrunningRomexorotherelectricalwireinthewallpanels

Motor: HeavyDuty5HP-3phase-220vor440v(Pleasespecifywhenordering)

MotorcarriagebearingandspindleassemblymountedonBlanchardgroundsteelplate LinealmotionishardenedandgroundVbearingsandrails

BlockSizes: 2x4through2x12infiniteheightsettingtocenter

AirSupply: 100psi10CFM

Drills: 2wing3/4'”CarbideTippedcanaccommodatesmallerorlarger

Spindles: AlloySteelpolishedandgroundprecisionshafting

Frame: 2"SteelWithPowderCoatFinish

Covers: 10Gauge(1/8"Thick)Aluminumremovable

Dimensions: Height-60inches,Width-33inches,Depth-33inches

Shippingweight: 750lbs.-(Includingcrate)

MADEINAMERICABYAMERICANS

Truss solutions from idea to installation.

Transform your truss operation with an integrated solution from Simpson Strong-Tie. The industry leader in truss plates now brings you a full suite of software, equipment, hardware and services to drive truss component manufacturing from idea to installation. Start with CS Director™ , CS Truss Studio™ , CS EWP Studio™ and CS Producer™ for design, layout, production and project management. Use our powerful Monet DeSauw industrial saws to cut webs, chords, stair stringers, rafters and wedges with speed and precision. Specify the optimal connectors, anchors and Strong-Drive ® structural fasteners for every project. You can also complement your team with our professional truss design services at any time. Altogether, you have a smart solution made to increase productivity, ensure high quality and take your business to the next level.

To learn more, contact your representative at (800) 999-5099 or visit us

2012 Vista "Angle Boss" Saw with 20' TigerStop

• 2012 Vista Model M-20 AutoSet Cut-Off Saw

• 0 to 75 Degree Left & Right Blade Rotation

• 10 HP/460 Volt Motor with 20" Blade

• 10' Infeed Roller Conveyor & 20' Outfeed Roller Conveyor

• 2012 TigerStop (250" Cut Length)

• TigerStop Software Version 5.30

• Excludes Dust Collector

• Video available upon request

• Price in US Dollars

$18,880 NOW $17,000 FOB MB Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

2004 Manual Apollo Saw

• 5.5 HP Motor (3 Phase) with 18" Blade

• 6" Maximum Cut Depth with 36" Stroke for Long Scarf Cuts

• Minimum Angle of 10 Degress (160 Degree Angular Movement)

• Turntable Air Brake

• Variable Stroke Limiter & Saw Barrier Guard for Safety

• 15' of Roller Conveyor with Stands

• New Blade Guard (in box)

$11,500 NOW $10,500 FOB NE Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Safety Speed Cut Model 7000 Panel Saw

Safety Speed Manufacturing model 7000, vertical panel saw, 3 HP induction motor, 64 inch crosscut, 2-inch maximum thickness, accuracy within 1/64th of an inch, 96" tall x 10-foot-wide welded steel frame with integrated stand and linear V-guides, enclosed counterweight system, adjustable vertical and horizontal rules. Quick changes from vertical to horizontal cutting. Includes machined aluminum material rollers, hold down bar, wheels, quick stop gauges and material hold downs. Dust collection ready. Options available include lower frame width extension to 13-ft, digital readouts, laser guide, stop bar, vacuum, and midway fence.

Cuts wall and truss parts from lumber depths 2×4 through 2×12, cuts bevels from 90 to 25 degrees, 60”+ scarf cuts, optimizes material, production rates +2000 pieces per 8 hr. shift. Includes 16- foot ICC-brand infeed deck, 20-foot-long infeed roller and 16-foot powered outfeed conveyor, Matthews “Mperia V” series 8000 printer (one 3

½” face) added in 2022, and undersaw belt scrap conveyor. All servo controlled functions. Windows 10 o/s. Includes Servotronix upgrade, recent saw head bushing, bevel motor and gearbox installed in 2024, spare blade, all available spare parts and digital operator’s manual.

• New saw design with double slide minimizing footprint

• Roller slide reducing risks of injury by lowering the effort pulling the saw

• Hybrid aluminum-steel construction combining the robustness of steel for the frame with the lightness of aluminum for the moving head

• High resistance powder coat paint surface finish

• Blade travel adjusts automatically depending on the saw angle

• Saw arbor type 5 HP motor with integrated mechanical brake

• (575 Volts – 3 phases)

• Angles from 10° to 110°

• Head overall travel length of 26in

• 18in saw blade

• 5.5in cutting height

• Complete « wrap-around » blade guard

• 4in dust collector connection

Experience High Output Roof Truss Production with our Roller Plant

The robust Roller Plant streamlines the assembly of roof trusses – combining technology, precision and efficiency to produce high quality trusses!

INCREASED PRODUCTION

EASE OF OPERATION REMOVES MANUAL HANDLING +

With the Roller Plant you’ll gain more than a press, you’ll get a whole truss manufacturing system that will make a world of difference to your production numbers!

• 4.0 kW Motor with 10”

• 230 Volt / 3 Phase

• Cutting Length: 14’ / Cutting Height:

• Automatic Mode: Plunge, Saw & Return with Variable Speed Control

• Top & Bottom Sawing Beams with Pneumatic Arrest

• Digital Horizontal Cutting with Motor-Driven Precision Adjustment

• Digital Longitudinal Stop with Fine Adjustment

• Pneumatic Support Grid

• Dust Extraction Port

• Like New Condition

• A 2016 COIMA FI6000 Dust Collector is available at additonal expense Panel Saw - $21,900 Dust Collector - $7,900 FOB CA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Time To Hire?

Safety Speed Manufacturing Model 7400 XL Panel Saw

Ready for long hours of accurately cutting OSB, fiberglass reinforced sheathing, and virtually any other sheathing material specified. The 7400 XL features a quiet 3 HP induction motor, 64 inch crosscut, 2 1/8″ maximum thickness, accuracy within 0.005 inches, 96" tall x 13-foot-wide welded steel frame with integrated stand and linear V-guides, enclosed counterweight system, adjustable vertical and horizontal rules. Quick changes from vertical to horizontal cutting. Includes machined aluminum material rollers, hold down bar, wheels, quick stop gauges and material hold downs. The 7400 XL is dust-collection-ready for easy connection. Options available include digital readouts for vertical cuts, laser guide, stop bar, dust vacuum and midway fence.

Todd Drummond

Make It Better, Then Make It Better Again

By July, most manufacturing leaders already have a good idea how the year is going. They know where orders are strong. They know where labor is tight. They know which customers are creating pressure. They know which departments are struggling to keep up.

But the more important question is not whether people are busy. Most are. The better question is this: are your current processes helping people produce faster, with fewer errors, and better quality? Or are your people still overcoming the same weak systems every day through effort, memory, overtime, and workarounds?

That is where many companies lose money. Not because people do not care. Not because employees refuse to work hard. Not because supervisors are foolish. The real cost is often hidden inside process time, repeated mistakes, unclear handoffs, rework, and quality issues that slowly become normal.

This is the heart of continuous improvement. Improvement is not a one-time event. It is not a slogan. It is not something a company does only when business slows down or when a customer complains. Real improvement is the habit of always asking: how can we make this work easier to understand, faster to complete, less likely to create errors, and more consistent in quality?

In Lean Manufacturing Made Obvious for Leaders, I wrote one of Granny’s simplest reminders:

Granny Quip: “Sugar, make it clear first. Then, make it better.”

That is the right order. Too many companies try to improve work before they have made it clear. They push people to go faster when the process is still confusing. They ask for fewer mistakes while still relying on memory. They demand better quality while the standard is unclear, hard to find, or interpreted differently from one person to another.

You cannot consistently improve what people cannot clearly see.

The first area leaders should always review is process time. Not just the touch time, but the total time from request to completion. Many companies focus only on how long someone is physically working on the task. That matters, but it is not the whole story. A job may only need a few minutes of actual work but sit for hours or days waiting for information, approval, material, drawings, clarification, or the right person to make a decision.

That waiting is process time. Searching is process time. Restarting is process time. Rechecking because the current version is unclear is process time. Walking across the plant for something that should have been at the point of use is process time. Starting work before it is truly ready and then stopping later is process time.

Leaders who want better results should walk the process and ask where the work stops. Where does the quote wait? Where does the design package pause? Where does production wait for material, information, tools, or a decision? Where does shipping lose time because something upstream was unclear? Where does the office answer the same question repeatedly because the system did not answer it first?

These are not small issues. Every delay weakens capacity. Every restart consumes labor. Every extra handoff creates a chance for mistakes. If a company can reduce process time without rushing people, it becomes more responsive, more competitive, and usually more profitable.

The second area leaders should always review is error prevention. Many errors are not caused by bad attitudes. They are caused by poor process design. If people must remember too many details, errors will happen. If information has more than one home, errors will happen. If labels are small, inconsistent, or unclear, errors will happen. If the current version is not obvious, errors will happen. If the quality standard lives in someone’s head instead of at the point of use, errors will happen.

Telling people to “be more careful” is not a process. It may sound responsible, but it does not remove the cause of the mistake. A better question is: what allowed the error to happen in the first place?

Could the wrong material be selected because two items look too similar? Could the wrong document be used because multiple versions exist? Could the wrong work be started because readiness was not defined? Could a new employee make the same mistake because the station does not teach the work clearly enough?

Good systems do not depend on perfect memory. Good systems make the right action obvious and the wrong action harder to do. That is how errors are reduced. Not by pressure, but by design.

The third area leaders should always review is quality. Quality should not be treated as something inspected at the end. By then, the company has already spent the labor, used the material, consumed the capacity, and possibly delayed the customer. Inspection is important, but inspection alone is not quality control. It is quality detection.

Better quality comes from better process control. The standard must be clear before the work begins. The material must be correct before it is used. The handoff must be complete before the next step starts. The employee must be able to see what good looks like without needing a long explanation. When the process is clear, quality becomes more predictable. When the process is unclear, quality depends too much on experience, memory, and personal judgment.

That is why improvement must be constant. A company should always be looking for small practical ways to reduce process time, reduce errors, and improve quality. The goal is not to change everything at once. That is how improvement efforts become too large, too slow, and too easy to abandon.

Another Granny Quip from the book says it well. Granny Quip: “Sugar, don’t get stuck trying to make it perfect. Make it better. Then make it better again.”

That is how real improvement works. Find one common problem. Make it clearer. Remove the biggest waste. Standardize the better way. Then look again.

If quotes are taking too long, do not start with a company-wide overhaul. Follow one common quote from request to completion. Watch where it waits. Find the missing information. Define what “ready” means before the quote begins. Give the current quote one clear home. Remove the duplicate paths.

If production is making avoidable mistakes, do not start by blaming the crew. Watch the station. Look at the labels. Look at the tools. Look at the material flow. Look at how a new person has to determine what to do next. Then make the correct action obvious at the point of use.

If quality problems keep repeating, do not accept them as part of the business. Ask what the process is teaching people to do. Ask whether the standard is visible. Ask whether the defect is being caught too late. Ask whether the same problem is being corrected over and over without removing the cause.

This kind of improvement does not require complicated language. It requires discipline. It requires leaders to go see the work, listen carefully, ask better questions, and protect the changes once they are made.

The bad news is that many companies are paying for waste every day. They are paying for waiting, searching, rework, expediting, poor handoffs, avoidable errors, and quality problems that should have been designed out of the process.

The good news is that much of this waste can be reduced when leaders make improvement part of how the company works. Not once a year. Not only after a crisis. Not only when margins are under pressure. Every month. Every week. In every department.

Pick one area where the work feels harder than it should. It may be scheduling, quoting, design release, material staging, saw setup, table flow, shipping, billing, customer service, or new employee training. Then ask three questions.

• Where is process time being lost?

• Where are errors being allowed?

• Where is quality depending too much on memory instead of the system?

Start there. Make the work clear. Make it better. Then make it better again. That is how companies reduce wasted time, prevent repeated mistakes, improve quality, and protect profit without burning out good people.

Sometimes the most valuable improvement step is having a review of the operation by someone without the same daily habits, internal pressure, or built-in bias. Fresh eyes can see what has become too familiar to question. For decades, my professional Lean consulting work has focused on helping companies make their operations clearer, faster, more accurate, and more profitable without blaming good people. The goal is to help leaders see the process as it really works, identify where time and quality are being lost, and build practical improvements that can be understood, taught, and sustained.

Todd Drummond Consulting helps manufacturers identify what is limiting performance, whether it begins with workflow, labor visibility, capacity planning, training, scheduling, handoffs, or leadership decisions. With nearly 40 years of manufacturing experience and almost 25 years as a full-time consultant, I provide practical guidance that helps leaders simplify work, improve flow, reduce waste, protect margins, and move forward with confidence. Review my client testimonials to see what other manufacturers have said about working with Todd Drummond Consulting.

2023 Northfield Model 410 Upcut Saw

NEW 2023 Northfield model 410 upcut saw available for immediate shipment. 90/90 degree cuts to 4″ x 10″ capacity (fence forward position) to 2″ x 14″ (fence rearward position). Saw is configured for material from left to right, with 3″ x 6″ air operated cylinder, filter, regulator, lubricator, 10 HP motor, enclosed steel base with cast iron table, magnetic starter and adjustable operating speed from 20 to 60 CPM. Includes optional two-palm controls, additional 4″ dust outlet, NEMA 12 electrics with fused disconnect and two 18″ diameter 60 tooth blades with 1″ diameter bore. 460 volt, 3 phase electrical required.

$18,630 FOB MN Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

2005 Alpine ALS 276C Linear Saw

2005 Alpine ALS 276C linear-feed saw (Refurbished in 2015). Cuts wall and truss parts from lumber depths 2×4 through 2×12, 60”+ scarf cuts, internally optimizes material (up to 11 7/8″ x 1.5″ EWP). Includes 15-foot idler roller infeed conveyor, 15-foot idler roller outfeed conveyor, and under-saw scrap conveyor with belt-type incline. All servo-controlled functions, Microsoft Windows 10 OS, 7.5 hp motor with 20” carbide tipped blade. Includes any available spare parts. No printer is included. 230v, 3 ph power, 70A electrical required. Includes step-down transformer. 125 PSI air required.

$39,991 NOW $35,997 FOB OR Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

2022 Spida Sprint S600 Wall Panel Saw

• Automated Wall Panel Component Cutting & Marking as directed by your Wall Panel Design Software

• S600 Up-Cut Saw (Square Cut Only)

• 7.5 HP / 3 Phase Braked Saw Motor with 24" Blade

• Enclosed Hood & 2 Hand Control for Operator Safety

• 20' of Steel Framed/Plastic Top Table with Automated Length Stop/Plate Positioner

• 20' Infeed Steel Framed/Plastic Top Table

• Industrial Touch Screen Computer

• Ink Jet Printer marks Wall Member Locations, Wall ID & Job Name

• Spare Parts

• Excludes: Dust Collector, Installation/ Training & Annual Technical Support Fee

$60,000 FOB WI

Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

Used TCT EZ Trimmer

• Model CT041-2000

• 2x3, 2x4 & 2x6 Capacity

• Double 45 Degree Bevels on Pitches from 0/12 thru 12/12

• Cycle Time: 15 Pieces / Minute

• Air: 9 CFM at 80 PSI

• Electrical: 230 Volt / 3 Phase /20 Amp / 5 HP Motor

$11,500 FOB AZ

Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

2006 Alpine Speed Rafter Cutter

• Simplified compound cutting for hip, valley and jack rafters (double & single compound cuts)

• Two Worm-Drive Circular Saws (110 Volt / 30 Amps)

• Saw Turntable (for angle cutting)

• Saw Carriage (for up to 45 degree bevel cutting)

• Infeed & Outfeed Roller Conveyor with Stands

$4,900 NOW $4,250 FOB CA Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

Price Reduction!

2003 Koskovich Auto Omni Component Saw

• 5 Blade Automated Component Saw

• Cuts 2x3 through 2x12 from 11" to 20'-0"

• Computer, Enclosure & Stand

• Waste Conveyor (under saw)

• E xcludes Incline Waste Conveyor (adjacent to saw)

• Video available upon request

• Add $12,500 for 6 Chain Live Deck $16,500 NOW $14,900 FOB ND Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Used - 2005 Model 305 Infeed Conveyor Designed for use with all component saws. To include: Soft Start ~ Soft Stop Inverter System. Programmable load sensing; Overload / Jamb sensing shut down feature. Gear motor providing conveyor speed of 36' per minute. Forward and reversing controls for location at both ends of conveyor unit. Material capacity range - 4' through 24' lumber. Chain deck pedestals 20' long with cross bracing. Staging area at the saw independent of the live deck system. 30,000lb. Deck capacity. Call for pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

Safety Speed Manufacturing

Gypsum Cutter

Lose the dust and noise for processing material such as DensGlass®, or other gypsum products with the Safety Speed model VGC 515 cartridge cutting system. Easily process full sheets of gypsum wall panel sheathing of material in widths up to 64". Fully portable, and with NO power or air required, the VGC 515 is dust and noise free to easily score gypsum material that rolls effortlessly to an integral edge used for breaking scored material. Features blade cartridges for quick exchange in less than a minute and uses off-the-shelf utility knife blades. Includes two cutting/scoring cartridges, removable clamping bar, integral counterweight, both left & right measuring tapes, wheels for portability, free-standing 90" tall x 10-ft wide frame and 5-foot Quick Stop system for accurate, repetitive cutting.$6,399 FOB MN Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

NWH 76" Finish Roller

• 76" Long x 24" Diameter Rollers

• Throat Opening is adjustable from 1 1/2" to 5 1/2" (currently set at 1 1/2")

• Front & Rear Safety Bars

• Dual 5 HP Gear Motors with Brakes (3 Phase)

• Excludes Roller Conveyor in Photos $26,900 FOB TX Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

NEW!

New SpeedWorx Automated Sheathing Station

Reduce labor and operator fatigue by taking advantage of the SpeedWorx automated vertical panel saw. This one-person station cuts wood sheathing sheets up to 50 inches x 10 feet, and up to 2-inch thickness, using a fast 1-button cutting setup with CNC accuracy to 1/32 of an inch (0.03125″). The usage of each sheet is optimized through automated sequencing. The photos of raw materials illustrate the drastic reduction of scrap material thanks to implementing the Rogworx saw station.

Visual user interface with standard ‘Auto Fill’ feature makes choosing the job and sheet-cutting order easy to determine. Files are downloadable allowing for minimum waste. Saw station reads WBX file format (Alpine) or EHX file format (MiTek) or CSV files with manipulation. System offers full optimization and sequence panel parts, looking ahead through the job based on your specification. The cutting chamber automatically switches from rip to cross-cutting. All this in a 100-square-foot footprint, approximately 25′ long x 4′ deep, so it can fit within existing facilities. Includes advanced dust collection. Integrated printing for labeling parts is available as an option (additional $14,000).

$143,500 (Base)

FOB MN

The Auto-Feeding RetroC

The Amazing RetroC by Enventek

A complete wood processing system proven to profitably feed cut lumber to truss plants of all sizes.

Easy to use, simple robust automation that is scalable with less labor. A RetroC holds calibration.

Out Produces Any Saw in Batch Cut or Cut by Truss Mode

Auto-Feeding, no upper hold-downs (just 15 automation axes) with electronic braking. Efficient material handling that will significantly increase cut piece production with reduced operating costs and improve truss build times with consistently accurate cut pieces.

The Magic of SpeedCatch - No Catching Labor

Catching labor is eliminated with our optional SpeedCatch cart system. Sophisticated SpeedCatch software enhances the efficiency of truss production by effectively collating and organizing the lumber at the truss tables. SpeedCatch upgrades the RetroC to a comprehensive one-person (sawyer) wood processing system.

$355,000 Location: MO

New, Monet DeSawyer 2000, computerized, five-bladed component saw, sets up in 15 to 17 seconds, can run in manual mode, downloads projects from a network or manually using display screen controls. Features all powered movements, cuts from 15" 90/90 cuts to 20 foot length, 2 x 3" to 2 x 12" lumber depths and internal brakes are standard. Options include enhanced servo controls featuring autocalibration, catcher's display and either shaker or belt scrap conveyor and incline. 440 volt, 3 phase electrical.

• High Performance Linear Feed Saw (Non-Beveling)

• H igh Performance L1 & L2 Motors and Gear Boxes

• Servo Blade Motor with 20.5" Blade

• Blade Motor was replaced in Late 2024

• Touchscreen Monitor

• Mattthews Ink Jet Printer

• 8' Automated Live Deck

• Outfeed Queue System

• Waste Conveyor

• 230 Volt / 3 Phase

• Excludes Dust Collector

• V ideo available upon request

• Price in in US Dollars

Can produce unlimited scarf cuts, webs, chords, wedges, rafters and open-stair stringers from up to 20′ material including 2×4 through 2×12. Two operating modes “Auto” and “Semi-Auto” via touch-screen interface. The system includes a 20’ Monet infeed deck and outfeed with an OEM conveyor. Saw is a Z-CONFIGURATION, left-in (front-side) to right-out (back-side), and can be reconfigured to a more common U-configuration at OEM’s facility. Features a 5-HP, 22-inch blade, positive lumber push and pull grippers for improved accuracy, and multi-plunge action for long scarf cuts. Includes Matthews ink marking on the 1 1/2″ edge, small-piece capture and delivery to the front of the saw for easy access, a belt-type scrap conveyor, and all available spares.

New Monet 5-head, floor truss web saw, cuts 4-angle, 4×2 floor truss webs from 13 inches and 90-90 blocks from 7 inches, to 4 foot long maximum length. Features 10-board magazine feed, powered, fixedquadrant angulation, manual carriage standard, scrap conveyor and cut-off blade. Options available for longer carriage length, incline scrap conveyor, and choice of shaker or belt scrap conveyor. 440 volt, 3 phase, 60 Amp electrical. 50 PSI air at 5 CFM required. $83,000 FOB MO

www.woodtechsystems.com New Monet FWA 500 Floor Web Saw

• 10 Each - Standard 20 Ton Track Mounted Heads with 10" x 10" Platens (refurbished in 2011)

• 6 Each - 2011 Double 40 Ton Track Mounted Heads with 10" x 15" Platens

• 2 Each - 2021 Double 40 Ton Track Mounted Heads with 10" x 15" Platens

• 2 Each - 10 HP Two Stage Hydraulic Systems with Controls (230 Volt / 3 Phase)

• Track System for 55' Scissor & Flat Bottom Trusses

• 1 Each - Peak Head Track (perpendicular to base line)

• 2 Each - Movable Bottom Chord Tracks (to adjust for pitch)

• 8 Each - Floating Tracks for Top Chord Head

• Clamping Package: Peak, End Stop, Camber Stops & Air Clamps

• Air & Hydraulic Manifolds with Quick Connectors for Heads

• Pn eumatic Pop-Up Skatewheel Ejectors (for truss removal)

• 56' Powered Transfer Roller with Stands

• 26 Each - 14' Powered & Idle Exiting Rollers with Stands $89,900 NOW $59,900 FOB AR

By Kathryn Pedde

Automating Lumberyards with JAX-XL

When one of the largest truss companies came to see JAX The Wood Retriever picking for three saws, they asked, “Why not five saws?”

Watching our one gantry doing a good job, it became obvious that the JAX system could operate with more than one JAX gantry, like a roof truss gantry, with each one working independently of the others. For example, while gantry #1 is traversing to pick from bunk 6, gantry #2 can be delivering boards on the conveyor leading to saw #3.

When we visited our guest’s plant and observed the sun bearing down on his pickers, we saw that JAX would be able to replace them with one part-time associate who will not have to work in the heat of direct summer sun. So, we drew a new plant layout, positioning his five saws and arranging his lumber SKUs as he requested. We returned with several days of their cut lists, which validated the need for a second gantry to keep up with his five saws, for a system we plan on installing for him soon.

Introducing JAX-XL at BCMC

After visiting truss plants that were part of lumberyards, we noticed all the bunks of materials spread across large expanses of their yards, with forklifts constantly moving among them. We saw that their picking labor for a given residential house, for example, far exceeds that of their truss plants, and that they have many more SKUs to pick from. This is a task that begs to be automated, and we realized that the proven JAX material handling technology is ideally suited to the task.

To validate that assessment, we created a virtual lumberyard, with the requisite SKUs, laid out in a tight grid pattern, with a JAX gantry spanning over the entire layout. Sheet goods are stored on the perimeter of the layout, so that they can be accessed by a lift with 6’ forks.

We believe this arrangement can elevate lumberyard material handling closer to the efficiency levels of an Amazon fulfillment warehouse, and in a drastically reduced footprint. Our virtual 3D model is fully functional, from restocking SKUs to picking sticks or sheet goods, and bringing them together, ready-to-load. When you’d like to learn more about what JAX can do for your operation, please call me or Richard Pedde at 980-404-0209, and come see us at BCMC in September!

Existing WizardPDS® Retrofit Klaisler Recessed Tables

–Available for No Rail, Track on Floor, & Recessed Track

–WizardPDS® Ready with 24” OC Spacing

–92” Table Width x Your Table Length

–Works with ALL Tables & Gantry types, even discontinued models –Ejector Postions at Center or Side of Table –Side or End Eject

• 14’ x 24” Diameter Gantry Roller (Model 14RT)

• 7 1/2 HP Motor (208 Volt / 3 Phase)

• 14’ x 64’ Steel Slotted Top Table with End Eject Rollers (Raised Track)

• Park Section and Uplift Ramp Section

• Wizard (GEN 1) Automated Jigging (32 Rails)

• Add $40,000 2005 Pacific Automation 14’ Finish Roller

• Prices are in US Dollars

251,997 FOB

70-ft Robbins Roof Gantry with Wizard PDS Automation

70-ft working length, side-eject gantry featuring nine (9) 72-inch-wide x 14-ft slotted steel (+ 2′ steel aisle infills) continuous top tables with (28) 2017 Wizard PDS Gen.2 channels covering a 56′ automated production area at 24″ on-center spacing. System is complete with Robbins 24″ diameter gantry head with pendant controls, driving on floormounted crane-rail. Includes one Super-Torque 14-ft finish roller press with 24-inch diameter rolls, full-length powered transfer conveyor, and 82′ of idle/powered inside conveyor to 71′ of idle/powered outside conveyor. System includes a Wizard PC workstation and all available jig hardware. 460 volt, 3 phase, electrical required. 120 PSI air required.

Price Reduction!

Baumeister Lumber Splicer

• Vertical Hydraulic Press with 3"x 12" Platen Size

• 2x3 and 2x4 Lumber Material (3" x 10" maximum plate size)

• Magnetic Platens to hold plates in the correct position

• Working Pressure: 1600 PSI

• Dual press cycle activation for safety

• 208, 240 or 480 Volt / 3 Phase (10 HP)

• Video available upon request

• Excludes: Infeed/O utfeed Roller Conveyor

• Optional 2x6 Capacity (up to 16" long plate) Splicer is available

Call for pricing FOB PA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Commercial Machinery Fabricators 12' Finish Roller

• 12’ Long x 18” Diameter Rollers

• Front and Rear Safety Bars

• Adjustable Roller Height (1 1/2” and 3 1/2”)

$14,900 NOW $13,900 FOB IA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

EMSI Field Repair Press

EMSI 10 Ton Field Repair Truss Press

System. Complete with: 1/2 HP, 115 Volt, 50/60 Cycle Universal Motor – Operates at voltage as low as 60 volts. 10,000 PSI Portable Power Pack with Two Speed Operation – 200 cu in/min @ 0–200 psi, 20 cu in/min @ 200–10,000 psi and Externally Adjustable Relief Valve (unit weight 55 lbs.). C-Clamp Assembly with 8" Maximum Reach, 4" x 5" Pressing Platen (optional platen available for 4” x 2”). Independent 10 Ton Hydraulic Cylinder. 10’ Hydraulic Hose Assembly with Quick Disconnect Coupling. Handle with 24 Volt Remote Electrical Pendant.

Call for Price Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193 www.eidemachinery.com Four Eagle Production Presses with Jig Table

• (4) Eagle Production Presses (1 new in 2023, 2 with new pumps within the last 3 years, 1 with older Simplex motor)

• (2) TP300 C-Clamps (Roof & Floor Trusses)

• (2) TP600 C-Clamps (Extra Throat Depth for 2x8 & 2x10 Roof Trusses)

• 25 Ton Cylinder

• 5 1/4" x 6 1/4" Platen

• 220 Volt / 1 Phase

• Jig Table

• (2) 40' Steel Beams

• (4) Beam Trolleys

$37,500 FOB CO Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

Joos Stand-alone Hydraulic

Krepl-Stroj End-eject Floor Truss Machine

End-eject floor machine with floor finish roller press, 40-ft working length, builds 12″ to 24″ deep 4×2 floor trusses. Clamping is ontable air cylinders with toggle controls. Includes idler roll leading to floor finish press. Gantry press head has a 7 HP drive motor. Includes electrical panel and inverter installed in 2024. Needs safety bar repairs. Model RF2300. Made in the Czech Republic. Floor finish press, 12″ diameter rolls, 5 HP motor. $51,997 FOB

The TruStance Pedestal Jig System was developed to solve the problems associated with pedestal jig systems, while retaining and enhancing all the advantages. The system features track mounted pedestals with a track and lockdown design, movable pedestals, and a roller lift assembly. The pedestal tops are 30″ above the floor, creating a comfortable working height. The ability to configure the system in a very small footprint makes it ideal for any size truss plant. It is designed to use with a ‘C-clamp’ type press.

With the ability to install the interchangeable crossmembers and angle iron stops on both track mounted and movable pedestals, the system can be configured to meet the needs of even the most complicated truss designs.

Movable pedestals can be moved and locked down efficiently; the 4″ thick steel base provides the weight needed to keep them in position.

Bottom chord pedestals are installed on the steel track mounted to the floor. Pedestals are easy to move and rigidly lock into place with threaded rod locks.

The optional air activated roller lift assembly raises the truss above the jig to be easily ejected. Its versatile design allows it to be configured for any set-up.

TruStance recommends a (16) pedestal system for roof trusses to 60-ft in span. 120 volt, 1 phase, 20 Amp electrical required. 50 PSI air required.

Columbus, Ohio | September 14-18, 2026

Keynote Speaker

Jesse Itzler

Serial Entrepreneur, #1 NYT bestselling author, and endurance athlete, Jesse Itzler has built and sold companies like Marquis Jet and ZICO Coconut Water and is a part owner of the Atlanta Hawks. At BCMC, he’ll share powerful insights on mindset, resilience, and performance.

By Gerhard (Garry) Roehr, P.Eng.

MContinuum Dual Coil Vertical Articulating Nails Heads = Solving a Maddening Problem

y previous articles have mentioned this innovative bit of technology, so it’s time to discuss it in more depth. When nailing heads on sheathing bridges run out of nails at different times, it causes multiple stoppages on the line – and it’s maddening to see how these interruptions reduce volume and productivity. To solve this problem, we have created patent pending Dual Coil Vertical Articulating Nail Heads that speed up the Sheathing Station no matter how complex the nailing pattern. Given that sheathing is often the slowest station, this will increase production on the entire PreFab line. Here’s a summary of our thinking.

Issues with Previous Attempts at a Solution – Mega nail coils reduce reloading frequency, but heads can only get within 22” of each other. Fitting more nailing heads by putting them on both sides of a bridge means heads are not over the same stud and some are confined to specific tasks like nailing top and bottom plates. Robots with tool changers can swap out coils, but they are expensive and slow.

AMT Robotics Solution – We orient coils vertically, so heads can be positioned within 6” of each other, which means there’s room for a second Mega Coil that automatically feeds into the nailer when the first one runs out. This means multiple back-up coils can be reloaded at the same time. There’s room for up to eight heads on one side, with all heads positioned to share the work equally. Additionally, more than one 6” nail head can fit above or below rough openings to speed up the fastening of those areas.

There’s still more! We can stop to reload second coils between panels, so the bridge does not have to go back to where it left off. We also have room to piggyback additional tools like screw guns on each nailing head and still have them within 13” of each other. Plus, there is room available on the other side of the bridge for more tools. By the way, the entire nail head pivots on a cam so the bridge does not have to be repositioned to nail both sides of a vertical seam. And yes, we can pivot to nail horizontal seams too.

Hopefully our approach makes sense – we are always open to new ideas on how to make these systems even better. Reach out when you’re ready to eliminate your sheathing bottleneck.

New Replacement 14' x 24" Roll for Finish Roller

• 14' Long x 24" Diameter Roll

• .0969" Wall Thickness

• 3 7/16" Shaft (keyed at each end)

• Taper Lock Bushings to Secure the Shaft (no welding & easy to replace)

$15,900 FOB PA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

C-clamp system with strut table, 48-ft maximum span, 14-ft maximum height trusses. Includes 48-ft of stand-alone strut frames, (3) complete boom sub-assemblies with hydraulic fluid reservoirs, (1) boom sub-assembly for parts, (1) ’07 MiTek TK8 clamp with 8″ throat, (1) ’12 MiTek TK6 clamp with 6″ throat, (2) ’23 Eagle TP-300 clamps, and one Eagle clamp for parts. Includes any available spare motors, strut / strut extenders and hardware. Decommissioned January 2025. The MiTek presses are 110 volt, 1-phase. The Eagle presses are 220 volt, 1-phase.

$37,997 NOW $24,994 FOB TN Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

• 24” Diameter x 14’ Long Rollers (custom lengths available)

• Removable Shaft Replacement in Rolls

• Simplified Roll Height Adjustment

• 14' Long x 4" or 5" (Inside Diameter) Schedule 40 Pipe

• Tube Steel Stands (7" Height Adjustment - Height to be Specified)

• 4 Bolt Flange Bearings

• Idle and Motorized Rollers

• 1/4 HP Motors (240/480 Volt-3 Phase) with Controls

• 1" and 1 1/4" Cold Rolled 24" Shafts Baffled

• 6 to 8 Week Delivery

THE MOST TRUSSED NAME IN LUMBER

Why do so many manufacturers rely on West Fraser for mechanically graded lumber? With over 30 North American mills, 14 of which produce MSR, we run a highly dependable supply chain in both SYP and SPF.

Our ability to identify higher grade lumber imparts predictable strength and consistency to high-performing trusses and other products. Why not let our high production standards support yours?

Truss us – we won’t let you down.

eject Call For Pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc.

612-521-9193

Used Pacific AutoPress 16 RT (1) AutoPress 16RT high speed Hydraulic Gantry with 14' X 30" Press Platen | (11) 1” Steel J-Slot Steel/Plastic Top Table sets 8’ wide X 16' | (28) WizardPDS® ChannelS® spaced 24” o/c. | (11) Pneumatic Rack & Pinion End Eject Lifters for end ejection of truss. | (1) Zone control air system for truss ejectors. | 88’ Overhead power supply to Gantry. | Recessed Raised 85# Floor Track. | Wired for 480 Volt X 3 Phase Operation. Call For Pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc.

612-521-9193

Used - Pacific AutoPress 14 LT AutoPress 14LT high speed Hydraulic Gantry with 14' X 24" Press Platen| 2017 (7) WizardPDS® Ready 1” Steel Slotted Top Table sets 8’ wide X 14' | 2017 (28) WizardPDS® assemblies spaced 24” o/c, complete.| 2017 (7) Pneumatic Rack & Pinion End Eject Lifters for end ejection of truss, positioned between table sets.| (1) Zone control air system for truss ejectors. | 56’ Overhead power supply to Gantry. | 85# RR Floor Track | Gantry Park stations. | Wired for 480 Volt X 3 Phase Operation

Call For Pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc.

612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

Used - Pacific Automation 60 foot

Peak Up Stacker

Set of (7) lift arms with indexing heads. | Adjustable pop-up platform / single target for triggering stacking cycle. | Powered truss conveyor as shown. | Control panel with auto and manual stacking mode. | Machine wired for 480 Volt / 3 phase operation

Call For Pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc.

612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

Used - Pacific AR16 Finish Press

Complete the plate embedment process in roof and/or floor trusses with the Pacific Automation Auto Roll 16 Finish Press System. | (1) Pacific Automation Auto Roll Finish Press

Call For Pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc.

612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

Used Tee-Lok Roof Press (1) TOF Tee-Lok Roof Gantry | (8) 72”

Slotted steel top tables | 62’ & 85# RR track with anchor plates | Side Eject | Machine wired for 480 Volt / 3 phase operation

Call For Pricing

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

• 2 Each - Tee-Lok 14' x 18" Diameter Gantry Rollers with Ride Platform

• Gantry Floor Rail with Table Support

• 15 Each - Tee-Lok 8' x 14' Drilled & Tapped Steel Top Tables (stored outside)

• Roof Truss Jig Hardware

• Skatewheel Ejectors (between tables)

• Skatewheel Receivers (between truss rollers)

• Tee-Lok 14' x 24" Diameter Finish Roller (stored outside)

• Excludes Inside & Outside Truss Rollers

• Available Early May

• Video available upon request

TRUSS EQUIPMENT

Used Tee-Lok Roof Press With WizardPDS (1) TOF Tee-Lok Roof Gantry | (7) 72”

Slotted steel top tables | 55' of table with 45’ of WizardPDS® Gen 1 Tables | 62’ & 85# RR track with anchor plates | Side Eject | Machine wired for 480 Volt / 3 phase operation - Transformers available for voltage changes.

Call For Pricing Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

Call For Pricing Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

1987 Alpine RAM Roof Gantry Line with 1995 2nd Head

1987 Alpine tracked roof truss gantry with 1995 second gantry press head: 14′ x 151-ft working length system includes (1) 1987 14-ft x 18-inch diameter gantry head with 5 HP motor, (1) 1995 Alpine model 700 RAM Roll-AMaster gantry head, 14-ft x 18-inch diameter roll and 5 HP motor, (21) 14-ft x 67-inch wide tables with slotted steel tops and skatewheel ejectors, (21) receiving arms, (313) feet of crane rail, all available aisle pads & hardware, and electrical bus bar supply. 208 volt, 3 phase, 21.5 Amps electrical required for each press head. Center conveyor and finish press shown in some of the photos are not included.

$211,993

NY

• Reconditioned Mitek RoofGlider 14' x 24" Diameter Gantry Roller (Trackless)

• Ride Platform & Joystick Control

• 10 Each - Reconditioned 76" Slotted Top Tables with New Skatwheel Ejectors

• New Roof Truss Jig Hardware

• 2 Each - New Park Sections

• Excludes: Powered Transfer Roller, Powered Exiting Conveyor & Outside Conveyor/Stacker (available at additonal cost)

• Add $47,500 for Reconditioned 14' x 24" Diameter Finish Roller

Teelok 115-ft Side-eject Roof Gantry Line

Teelok Roof Gantry -115-ft working length, side-eject system with (18) Tee-Slot tables 6×14′ each, (2) Tee-Lok 14’x18″ dia. roller gantries, (2) 6×8-ft slotted steel parking stations that can be used to build heel conditions, (2) end masts, festoon electrical supply cable and any available jigging hardware. Tables are slotted steel with skate wheel ejectors. Four of the tables are missing ejectors. The center conveyor system and transfer roll shown in some of the photos are not included. 230 / 460 volt 3 phase electrical required.

Carl Villella, CLFP President, Acceptance Leasing & Financing Service

Preparing for the Future: How the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Impacts Component Manufacturers

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act marks a pivotal shift in the U.S. housing landscape. Aimed at addressing the national supply crisis, this bipartisan legislation introduces sweeping changes to federal housing standards and permitting. For building component manufacturers — particularly those specializing in automated truss and wall panel production — the Act presents a major growth opportunity and a clear mandate to modernize.

The Impact on Manufacturers

The Act’s primary focus is to streamline production and reduce the regulatory red tape that has historically hindered development. Key provisions include:

• Modernized Housing Standards: The Act expands the definition of “manufactured homes” to include units built without a permanent chassis. By aligning these standards with traditional construction, the federal government is opening a massive new market for off-site components.

• Permitting Streamlining: New provisions seek to reduce the environmental review burdens that delay small-scale and infill construction. For manufacturers, this creates a faster “speed-to-market,” requiring agile production schedules to keep pace with an expected surge in housing starts.

• Incentivizing Supply Growth: By tying federal grants to housing production, the Act signals an aggressive push for higher volume. Manufacturers will need to move beyond traditional manual processes to meet this increased demand.

Why Equipment Financing is the Strategic Lever

As the industry shifts toward higher volume and new standards, the ability to scale is no longer an advantage — it is a necessity. Capital investment in automated saws, gantry tables, and precision assembly lines is the most effective way to respond.

However, using cash reserves for these substantial expenditures can restrict operational flexibility. Equipment financing serves as a strategic bridge:

1. Maintaining Operational Cash Flow

The Act will likely lead to a surge in demand, requiring additional working capital for raw materials and labor. By financing your machinery rather than purchasing it outright, you preserve cash for day-to-day operations. This allows the equipment to effectively “pay for itself” through the increased production capacity it generates.

2. Leveraging Tax Advantages (Section 179)

With increased capital investment, tax planning is critical. Under current tax codes, businesses can often utilize Section 179 to deduct the purchase price of qualifying equipment — including those acquired via lease or financing agreements — significantly reducing taxable income in the year the equipment is placed in service.

Moving Forward

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a clear call to action. As the industry moves toward high-efficiency, off-site construction, those who invest early in automated production capabilities will be best positioned to capture the influx of new housing projects.

Strategic equipment financing is more than just a purchase tool; it is the financial infrastructure that allows you to modernize your shop, meet evolving federal standards, and capitalize on the most significant housing supply initiative of the decade.

Are you currently evaluating which production line upgrades are most critical to meeting these new standards for your upcoming projects?

Whether you lease or finance your next purchase, Acceptance Leasing and Financing can help. We were established in 1992, which puts us in our 34th year of business. We pride ourselves on our Certified Leasing and Financing Professional designation. We are a member of SBCA and a frequent attendee of the BCMC tradeshows. We can provide financing for any new and, regardless of age, used equipment. We invite you to call us at 412 262-3225 to discuss your next big project. We make financing or leasing easy with no financial statements required up to $350,000 if qualified!

•

80′ Side Eject Klaisler Tracked gantry System

80′ Side Eject Klaisler Tracked gantry System – 80′ working length side eject gantry system includes (19) 56″ x 14′ plastic top tables, (2) 24″ diameter gantry rollers, Klaisler model #: TR214-24, 14-ft final roller with 24″ diameter rolls, and rail track.

$83,893

FOB KY

www.woodtechsystems.com

Klaisler 40′ Floor Truss Gantry

Klaisler Floor Truss Machine with riding platform and 24″ dia. roller. Builds trusses up to 40′ in length. Side-eject, push-button controls with riding operator’s platform. Twin 5 h.p. gear-drive systems, raised crane rail, 230v, 3 phase, with dual-safety bars.

$44,997

FOB KY

2005 MiTek Hydraulic Splicer Model 88560-501

Splices 2″ x 4″ chords with a maximum plate size of 3″ x 12″. Dual hand controls with foot-pedal activation allows for safer operation, 3- second cycle time, 5 HP, hydraulic system with 20 gallon reservoir. Small footprint 54″ L x 38″ W x 36″ H (working height). 230v, 3 phase power.

$17,497 FOB OH

Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

MiTek / Pacific Automation 8′ x 40′ Auto8 Press

Specifically designed for smaller trusses the Auto 8 Roof and Floor Truss Press is a fully integrated hydraulic press. Capable of handling 2”x4” and 4”x2” trusses with no adjustment, System press head was rebuilt since new. No finish press required, system includes all available jigging, single joystick control, and plastic/steel J-slot table top, under-table power supply, heavy duty 15 HP hydraulic system, 50 ton press capacity. 24”x 96”x 1¼” thick steel platen. Orange rolls shown in some photos are not included. 480v, 3ph electrical required.

$43,997 FOB OH

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

2023 NWH Vertical Roof Truss Stacker

$79,997 FOB NY

2023 NWH Vertical Roof

Building Component Manufacturing Industry

Job Board

Turn Key Platform

Post and Manage

Multiple Jobs and Multiple Candidates

New Application Notices and Internal Candidate Messaging Keeps your search confidential Manage on Your Phone or Computer For Additional Information twm@Hiring-Zone.com

our website: www.Hiring-Zone.com

www.woodtechsystems.com

MiTek / Tee-Lok Steel Production Tables

MiTek / Tee-Lok Production Tables – Ten (10) tables designed for track on floor systems. Tables are fully-reconditioned 6′ x 14′ slotted, 3/4″ steel-top tables with new skate-wheel ejectors, and air controls. Priced per each.

$8,395 FOB OH

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

Truss Stacker, stacks roof trusses from 20-ft to 60-ft spans. Includes (6) pedestals at 12-ft on center, (4) receiving arms, (6) receiver stands, (1) continuous drive shaft, (1) 3 HP Sumimoto drive, (1) electrical control panel, and (1) 50-ft adjustable target rail. Also includes a set of (6) additional custom receiving arms. Roller conveyors not included. 208 volt, 3 phase, 15 Amp electrical required. 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

Tee-Lok Floor Truss Machine

Tee-Lok Floor Truss Machine, model TeeFloor Side-eject, trackless operation, with slotted top builds floor trusses from 12″to 26” width (depth) up to 42’ in length. Gantry features a 24 inch diameter roll, end-stops, with updated short-throw, table-top pneumatic cylindar clamping. Machine was previously reconditioned by seller. Overall length is 50′, 220 volt, 3 phase electrical service.

$39,445 FOB OH

Roof Truss, Floor Truss & Wall Panel Plant

• 300' x 80' Building & Adjacent Land (for sale or lease)

• Used CMF 14' x 60' Roller Gantry System

• Powered Transfer Roller & Powered Exiting Conveyor

• Reconditioned Klaisler Finish Roller

• Outside Non-Powered Conveyor

• 2025 3 Head SL Laser Truss Projection System

• 2025 ASI Automated Truss Saw

• 2022 Spida Automated Apollo Saw

• Used CMF Trackless Floor Truss Machine

• 2022 Complete Wall Panel Line (Component Table, Framing Table with Panel Bridge, Conveyor)

• 2022 Craneveyor Crane System with Electric Hoist & Wall Panel Lift

• 2022 Spida Ink Jet Plate Marker

• 2024 Lakeside 40' Gooseneck Roll-Off Trailer

• Material Carts & Wall/Truss Dollies

• Located in Edmond, OK (north side of Oklahoma City)

Klaisler Roller Gantry System

• 2 Each - Klaisler 14' Gantry Roller with Safety Bars

• Klaisler 14' x 24" Diameter Finish Roller

• 25 19 Each - 4' x 14' Plastic Top Tables with Skatewheel Ejectors

• 178 LF of Floor Rail

• Excludes: Inside Powered Exit Conveyor, and Outside Conveyor

$89,895 NOW $45,000 FOB KY

Clark Floor Truss Jig

The Clark floor truss jig allows for on-table building of floor trusses for hydraulic press tables. The jig has pneumatic clamping and allows you to build floor trusses from 10″ to 24″ in depth up to 40 ft. long.

$5,990 FOB OH Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

$39,890 FOB BC Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com 800-382-0329 |

New TruStance Portable Plate Press

This is the first, self-contained, truly portable repair unit used to press metal truss plates into dimensional lumber at virtually any location. Wood component (roof and floor truss) manufacturers, as well as builders, frequently require a tool to repair metal plate connected, wood truss components. The complete unit is mounted to a wagon built from square tubular steel. Extremely compact at only 28” wide and about 32” long the wagon features four wheels on soft-rubber solid tires, and a steering axle on the front with a handle that makes the unit easily maneuverable. The wagon contains the hydraulic power unit and an area for a portable gas generator. A rack in the back securely stores the C clamp, a standard 25′ hydraulic hose, and an electric power-supply cable.

green Cad-Pro LAP Lasers. Includes mounting brackets, distribution box, projector cables, remote control, and all available system hardware and instructions. 30 mW lasers are better suited to Canadian facilities, but could work in a US location with some additional steps due to regulations.

The clamp is manufactured from T1 steel, cut into a C-shape with a steel tube welded to the front that securely holds the hydraulic cylinder. Pressing is easily performed with a 4×4 magnetized steel platen that holds and presses the truss connecter plates. The C-clamp that weighs less than 30 pounds, features a throat that opens to 4-1/2” inches to accept either 4 x 2 or 2 x 4 lumber. It has a push on and release off switch to cycle the unit. A 10,000-psi electric-overhydraulic power unit pumps hydraulic fluid through a 10,000-psi hose to activate a 10-ton hydraulic cylinder with a 3.9 inch stroke. The unit can be powered by 120v electric power or an optional 120v, 2200-amp (output), gasoline powered Honda generator, which can also act as a portable power supply out in the field for other singlephase equipment.

• Pressing Capability: 4.5” throat opening presses 2×4 through 4×2, includes a standard 25-foot, HD 10,000 PSI hose, with a 10 TON, 4”x4” magnetized pressing platen.

• Electric/Hydraulic: SPX Hydraulic Technologies – Rockford, IL USA 10,000 PSI / 700 BAR. 10 ton pressing capability

• Power Source: The unit is powered by a standard 120v/15 amp electric power or an optional 120v, gasoline powered Honda generator with 2200-watt output capability, which can also act as a portable power supply for other single-phase equipment.

• Warranty: One year from date of purchase on manufactured unit, OEM warranties on hydraulic and optional gas motor

OAre You Choosing a Job or Being Sold One?

ver the years, more than one person has referred to JobLine as the “eHarmony of the truss industry.” I usually laugh when I hear it, but the comparison does make a point. The goal of recruiting shouldn’t be getting someone to change jobs. It should be finding the right match between a candidate and an employer.

That may sound obvious, but too often the recruiting process starts with a recruiter trying to fill a specific opening. A truss designer gets a call about a terrific opportunity, agrees to an interview, and before long is considering a job change that wasn’t even on the radar a few weeks earlier. Sometimes that works out. Sometimes it becomes an impulse decision that you may regret.

The recruiter tells you about better pay, better benefits, a growing company, and exciting opportunities. The hiring manager tells you everything is great. The interview goes well. Everyone likes everyone. A few days later, you are accepting an offer.

The problem is that you may be making a career decision based on a single opportunity rather than a complete understanding of the market. I know because I’ve done it myself.

During my career, I fell for more than one pie-in-the-sky opportunity. On paper, the job looked fantastic. The recruiter painted a great picture. The company said all the right things. The interview process was impressive. Yet after arriving, I discovered that the reality did not match the sales pitch.

A company may decide that you are exactly what they need, but have you determined whether they are what you need? Those are two very different questions.

The unfortunate reality is that a poor company can look like paradise during a phone call or interview. They show you the best parts of the operation. They introduce you to the right people. They talk about growth opportunities, culture, and advancement. They present the image they want you to see. Sometimes that image is completely accurate. Sometimes it isn’t even close.

You may not discover the real culture, management style, turnover issues, training problems, or operational challenges until after you have relocated, resigned from a good job, or committed your family to a major change.

Over the past 30+ years, I’ve seen candidates move for the wrong reasons. The resulting turnover was high, retention was low, and everyone involved paid the price. Employers lost valuable employees, candidates found themselves looking for another position, and recruiters simply moved on to the next search.

When I started JobLine, I wanted to approach recruiting differently. Instead of focusing on filling a single opening, I wanted to focus on matching people with opportunities that fit their skills, goals, and personalities. To do that, I needed more than a job description and a resume. I needed a thorough understanding of both the employer and the candidate.

Recently, I visited a new client looking for a truss designer. During that visit, I met with the Design Manager, General Manager, Plant Manager, and HR Manager. Each person provided valuable insight into what it would be like to work there. The Plant Manager walked me through the facility and yard. I was able to see firsthand how materials moved through production, how the operation was organized, and how the company approached efficiency and quality. The Design Manager explained the position in detail, including what they expected from a successful candidate and what resources would be available to help them succeed. I learned that designers worked in private offices equipped with multiple monitors and large display screens. The HR Manager reviewed benefits, onboarding, and company policies. We even discussed whether an experienced designer could negotiate additional vacation time beyond the standard package.

That information matters. Candidates deserve more than a job title and salary range. They deserve a complete picture of the opportunity.

The same is true on the candidate’s side. A resume only tells part of the story. Understanding a candidate’s experience, strengths, goals, and technical abilities takes much deeper conversations. That’s why we spend time developing detailed candidate profiles and evaluating technical skills before discussing opportunities.

When a recruiter finds you, the conversation often starts with a single opening. When you find the right recruiter, the conversation starts with your future. The best career decisions are rarely made on impulse. They are made after gathering information, exploring options, comparing opportunities, and understanding what is available in the market.

Before making your next career move, ask yourself one question: Are you evaluating the opportunity, or are you being sold one?

Wall Panel Lift

* 8’- 12’ Wall Height

* 1,000 LB Capacity

* Easy Adjustment

* Hoist and Crane Sold Separate

Handle Bar Router

* 8’ - 12’ Wall Height

* 2 Person Operation

* 3 ¼ hp Production Router

* 120 Volt /1 Phase/15 Amp

Lay-Up Tables

* 10’ x 10’ Working Area

* Lift & Extend Rollers

* Squaring Lip

* Nail Tray

Skate Rollers

* 15’ Standard Length

* Adjustable Height

* Sturdy Stands

* Custom Lengths Available

$13,900.00

$3,500.00 $3,000.00 $1,950.00

• 14' x 24" Diameter Gantry Roller (Model 14RT)

• 7 1/2 HP Motor (208 Volt / 3 Phase)

• 14' x 72' Steel Slotted Top Table with Side Eject Skatewheel Ejectors (Raised Track)

• (2) 5'-6" Park Sections

• Wizard (GEN 1 and GEN 2) Automated Jigging (36 Rails) with Computer/Cabinet

• Excludes: Exiting Truss Conveyor/Receivers and Finish Roller

• Add $40,000 for Used Pacific Automation Finish Roller

• Prices are in US Dollars $280,000 NOW $252,000 FOB AB

HUNDEGGER

lnnovationen fur den Holzbau

HUNDEGGER

REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR TRUSS MANUFACTURING WITH THE HUNDEGGER TD-II

Don't get left behind. Invest in the future with true automation from Hundegger and see your business thrive.

Processes 16-ft long max. material via a 16-ft long infeed and 16-ft long outfeed conveyor, material pusher, PC and enclosure. The PF90 has the potential to mark each component with critical information that speeds the layout and assembly process. System automatically pushes the lumber from the load position to each cut position and signals the saw to make the cut. Primary saw has had new drive belts, ram valves, touchscreen monitor and print heads installed. Includes second PF-90, located inside of the modified 40-ft high-cube container, can be used for parts.

$25,997 FOB AZ Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2024 Panels Plus Squaring Station – B

This station (model PP55015) is designed to hold a framed wall panel square while sheathing is applied and manually tacked in place. Standard table has a capacity for clamping walls from 16′ L to 12’4″ wall height and materials from 2×4 through 2×12. Telescoping function is operated by foot-pedal or push-button controls. This Squaring Station was never installed. $42,750

THE BENEFITS JUST KEEP EASILY, SAFELY, NEATLY STACKING UP.

Stacking wall panels at the end of your production line can be a real labor-intensive and safety-challenging task. But it doesn’t have to be now, thanks to ProStack . This innovative wall panel stacker literally stacks from the bottom up, reducing awkward overhead lifting & placement, and the risk of head injury. Plus, ProStack frees up at least one worker to return more productively to your core task—building wall panels. Enhanced worker safety and productivity is what ProStack is all about.

ProStack

By: DAK Automation

Setup and installation is easy too, without the need for complex training or disruption to workflow. So, free up your team to do what they do best, and you need to do most, and let ProStack stack your wall panels instead. Contact us to learn more today. For a ProStack demonstration video, scan the QR code below.

(3) Circa 2000 Triad Gen 1 Framing Stations

Circa 2000 Triad Generation 1 wall panel framing stations. Three (3) available at this location. Each includes power telescoping height adjustment and air lift-outs (no tools or tool dollies). Builds 2×4 or 2×6 walls to 20′-1″, from 6′-4″ to 12′-3″ height. 120vac, 1 phase electrical required. 100 psi air required.

$12,997 FOB NY Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

New Panels Plus Wall Panel Framing Equipment

Consider Panels Plus wall panel assembly equipment for manufacturers of wood or steel wall panels, floor-panels, and related framing components. Panels Plus is an employee owned, ISO certified, manufacturing company that builds state-of-the-art equipment featuring durable construction, with fit and finish second to none in the structural building component industry. The referenced base framing table allows you to assemble from 7-12 foot wall heights, at industry standard 16 foot lengths, at a working height of 29 to 32 inches. This framer design includes controls at each end of table, squaring stops and pneumatic clamping for consistent wall panel quality. Frames 2x4 or 2 x 6 walls, with color-coded, steel stud locators at 16 and 24 inches O.C. spacing. Includes pop-up skate wheels for easy transfer of completed wall frame. Framing table can be configured to receive wall framing light bars, other options include custom buildable wall heights, lengths and auto-indexing of optional 2 or 3 tool carriages.

Additionally from Panels Plus are sheathing tables with features that include foot pedal control at squaring end of table, with squaring stops, roller conveyors at both sides, single pendant controls for bridge, tool spacing at 6 inch centers with 3 inch bridge shift for offset nailing. Tool bridges can accommodate from 2 x 4 to 2 x 8 walls, with seam tilt being standard equipment Panels Plus Tool Bridges are available with single beam or dual beam design for two different tool mounts on one bridge. Squaring stations, sub-component tables, conveyors and panel lifts are also available to complete the configuration of the wall panel assembly line. Price includes factory installation and training. 50 CFM at 120 psi air. 120 or 230 volt, 1 phase electrical.

ProStack Wall Panel Tilt In-Feed Conveyor

Solving the problem of missed fasteners on exterior sheathing remains one of the primary reasons for call back charges and exceptions noted during jobsite building inspections. Clearly finding and resolving missed fasteners or “shiners” becomes mission critical before a sheathed wall panel leaves the production line. Our shop-proven, tilting conveyor makes the process safe, fast, and labor efficient. The ProStack tilt in-feed safely lifts wall segments to 45º in 5 seconds for inspection and on to 75º for easy to reach repairs. This tilt system is also excellent for installing blocking , windows, and other details in your wall panel segments. More information click here. 72,665 FOB ND

$37,525 FOB ND

ProStack Wall Panel In-Feed Conveyor

ProStack powered in-feed conveyor was engineered to deliver wall panel segments at a matched speed and height into the ProStack automated wall panel stacker. Built for smooth operation and assembled with laser cut, powder-coated finish steel. Base model conveys wall panel segments up to 12’ in height and up to 16’ in length for wall segments up to 1,600 lbs. Extended length systems come in standard 20′ and 24’ length capacity. All models come with adjustable working heights and variable conveyor speeds.

Powered in-feed conveyor section, synchronized chain drive under top and bottom plate for open access, 5-HP, 208v, 3Ph power. Adjustable working height from 28” to 34”. 16′ length capacity.

Inspired by ten years of intensive field experience and the ample and detailed feedback of numerous customers, we’re pleased to introduce the most advanced, most enhanced and high-performance Terminailer yet - Terminailer V.8. Drawing on invaluable time in the trenches closely evaluating Terminailer’s performance under varying conditions, our engineers have incorporated critical learning and insight to enhance simplicity, performance and operator control. Just part of what V.8 offers includes:

•Vastly enhanced operator control for even greater productivity

•A redesigned nail-feed supplying EverWin PN90-PAL industrial nail guns

•Simplified pneumatics featuring direct air-supply to all six nail guns

•Even more sub-component profiles for wall design flexibility

•Rugged durability with pharmaceutical grade assembly

Developed by people who know well the mechanics, safety considerations and business aspects of wall panel production, Terminailer V.8 combines more enhancements & operator-friendly features than ever to take your productivity to the next level and beyond. Contact us to learn even more and to put the V.8 performance in motion at your facility.

ADT/Viking Fastrac 10' Portable Sheathing Bridge

• Model FX-1000

• 2 Person Operation

• Programmable Fastener Patterns

• Laser Pointer for Stud Location

• Sensors to Detect Sheathing

• 120 Volt / 1 Phase / 4 Amps

• Paslode Model P275C Coil Nailer

• Video available upon request

$15,000 FOB CA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Saws

• Automated Component & Linear Saws (2010 & Newer)

• Monet DeSauw or TimberMill Manual Component Saws

• Floor Web Saws

• Spida (Apollo) Saws with Truss Automation

• Bunk Cutters

Truss Equipment

• Roller Gantry & Hydraulic Press Systems

• Finish Rollers

• Truss Stackers

• Floor Truss Machines

• Lumber Splicers

• Jack Tables

• C-Clamp Presses

Trucks & Trailers

• Stretch Roll-Off Trailers

• Go oseneck Roll-Off Trailers

Modular Equipment

• Pacific Automation or MiTek Mobile Home Press Contact Wasserman & Associates for a Fair Market Value Assessment of your Used Equipment

Operational, Needs Work, and Parts Only equipment will be considered!

Design Connections

The “Ghost” Designer and Offshoring Your Secret Sauce

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 math looks highly attractive. You get a variable cost model that scales up during seasonal peaks without adding permanent headcount, all while capturing a lower hourly labor rate. But what looks good on a spreadsheet can fall apart on the shop floor. Offshoring your complex custom structural layouts isn’t just a scalability strategy — if unmanaged, it is a slow-motion erosion of your plant’s local authority, design-to-sales-to-client communication, and long-term industry health.

The Reality of the “Hand-Holding Tax”

The biggest illusion in the outsourcing model is the upfront labor savings. GMs often look at the cost of an offshore seat versus a local one and assume the difference is pure profit. They completely miss the internal “Hand-Holding Tax.” Overseas design teams can be highly proficient at truss software operation, but they are completely blind to local realities. They don’t know your specific market’s unwritten building codes, the regional preferences, or the precise expectations of your best customers.

When a complex custom project comes back from an overnight service, it rarely goes straight to the production line. Your senior in-house designer or design manager has to spend up to 20% of their day auditing files, untangling code compliance errors, and fixing details. If your senior staff is spending a fifth of their time correcting outsourced files, you didn’t save what you thought you did. You just shifted the labor burden onto your most expensive local assets and turned your best innovators into highly paid proofreaders.

Balancing the Blame: Overhead vs. Ownership

To address this challenge effectively, we have to look at why this friction exists on both sides of the management desk.

• Management’s Role: You cannot look at the design department strictly as an expense line on the ledger. When you treat design as a commodity outsourced to the lowest global bidder, you disincentivize local talent and stop training the next generation. If you outsource all your mid-level and complex work, your junior in-house designers never get the chance to cut their teeth on difficult projects. You are essentially starving your own talent pipeline.

• The Design Manager’s Role: At the same time, design managers must stop treating third-party outsourcing as an “all-or-nothing” enemy. The solution isn’t to demand headcount that the current market cannot support. The job of modern design leadership is to establish strict, non-negotiable boundaries on exactly what leaves the building and how those external files are managed.

Defining Your Core Local Competency

The plants that successfully navigate this hybrid model without losing their competitive edge do so by defining their Core Local Competencies — the elements of the business that must never be completely handed off.

GMs must recognize that senior in-house designers or design managers have to provide direct builder collaboration. Time zones and language barriers make it impossible for an offshore service to talk a local builder through possible solutions to a challenging set of plans.

What Stays In-House

• Direct Builder Collaboration: Managing the critical face-to-face or phone consultation that keeps your primary accounts loyal.

• High-Risk Structural Systems: Complex custom roof footprints or specialized floor systems designed around heavy localized loading conditions like large kitchen islands.

• The Final Audit: A non-negotiable internal protocol where no outsourced file hits production without a rigorous local sign-off.

Furthermore, outsourcing simple common truss runs is a waste of time — the logistics of transferring the files back and forth takes more effort than it’s worth. Instead, consider using outsourcing only to manage excess quote volume during seasonal peaks, freeing up your local team to focus on production files while ensuring developing junior designers are properly trained to bring those quotes up to plant-ready standards.

The Industry Health Check

Truss manufacturing isn’t just about pushing lumber through a saw; it relies on local expertise. When you outsource the brainpower of your operation completely, you are training a workforce across an ocean while letting your local capabilities atrophy. At The JobLine, we recognize the vital importance of local design talent to the long-term health of our North American component manufacturing infrastructure. We specialize in identifying local “Anchors” — the senior hometown designers and department managers who can protect your proprietary workflow and build a resilient in-house team. Whether you need to secure your next local design leader or find an employer who views design as an asset rather than an expense, let’s connect.

If you want help finding that next perfect component designer or design job in Canada, please contact me. If your work is in the mass timber world anywhere in North America, I’d love to talk to you about connecting you to that next great job or candidate. You can reach me at secord@ thejobline.com, or 800-289-5627 ext. 2. I’m also happy to engage at: LinkedIn.com/in/geordiesecord www.thejobline.com

800-289-5627

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LASER PROJECTION READY FRAMING STATION

Efficiently built walls with a consistent approach is exactly what you get with a Panels Plus Laser Projection Ready Framing Station. Our Laser Projection Ready Framing Station can be stand alone or integrated into a larger system, custom sizes and configurations available. Designed to frame wall panels from lumber that is 2 x 3 all the way up to 2 x 10. The Laser Projection Ready Framing Station offers better visibility for laser projection taking the guess work out of the process, saving you time and money! This system can also be used in conjunction with plate marking saws.

Features:

• Laser ready table

• Indexing nailing carriages

• Pop up conveyors

• Ergonomic design

• Table clamping controls on both ends

• 4ft to 12ft-4in wall height and 16ft length

Options:

• Powered conveyors

• Custom lengths available

• Pop-up Skatewheel Conveyor

• Powered Height Adjustment (6'-11" to 12'-5" wall heights)

• Fixed Squaring Stops

• Excludes Tool Dollies

• 110 Volt / 20 Amps

• Add $6,600 for Stud Locators at 16" & 24" O.C.

• Add $3,500 for 1 Pair of 15' Skatewheel Conveyor with Stands

• Ad d $13,900 for Sub-Component Layup Tables with Pop-up Skatewheel Conveyors

• E QUIPMENT FINANCING available from SLS Financial Services $39,500 FOB NE

ProStack Wall Panel Stacker

Reduced labor, increased safety, the benefits just keep stacking up. Stacking wall panels at the end of your production line can be a real labor-intensive and safety-challenging task. But it doesn’t have to be now, thanks to ProStack. This innovative wall panel stacker literally stacks from the bottom up, reducing awkward overhead lifting & placement, and the risk of head injury. Plus, ProStack frees up at least one worker to return more productively to your core task—building wall panels. Enhanced worker safety and productivity is what ProStack is all about.

Developed for commercial wall panel production facilities this is the remarkable ProStack, fully automated wall panel stacker. The ProStackrelieves your build team from creating a stack of wall panels and keeps them building walls instead. Stacks 2×4 through 2×8 walls up to 20′ in length and up to 12′ in height (taller by special order). The ProStack will automatically center or left or right justify each layer including multiple wall segments on the same layer. For ease of loading in your yard or on the build site, fork pockets are created in two ways: The operator can attach blocking up to 5″ tall to the last wall of the stack prior to entering the stacker, or two shorter walls can be spread apart prior to the second to last row of the stacker. Designed without any overhead frame or apparatus, so no crane inspections are required. The ProStack is “event driven”, so there is no need to read a file. Setup and installation is easy too, without the need for complex training or disruption to workflow. So free up your team to do what they do best, and you need to do most, and let ProStack stack your wall panels instead. ProStack can even operate with your existing powered conveyors or select our optional matching conveyors (see the video shown below). 208 volt, 3 phase, 43 Amp base model electrical required. No air required. Footprint is 26′-5″L x 19′-3″W. For additional information Click Here

The Raked Wall Extruder is a Game Changer!

Designed to assemble and simplify the process of making raking wall frames. The Raked Wall Extruder can also produce common wall frames, making it a Spida all-rounder.

Automating what is currently a manual operation in most plants - the Raked Wall Extruder is the start of the most efficient and productive Frame Line in the market.

FAST ACCURATE SIMPLE TO USE EFFICIENT VERSATILE

Visit our website to learn more and to see the capabilities of the Raked Wall Extruder in action.

2026 ProStack Automated Wall Panel Stacker with Overhang Option - Stacks 2x4 through 2x8 walls up to 20' in length and up to 12' in wall height. The ProStack will automatically center, left-justify, or right-justify each layer including multiple wall segments on the same layer. Fork pockets are easily created for ease of loading in your yard or on the build site. There is no overhead frame or apparatus, so no hardhats or crane inspections are required. The ProStack is "event driven," so there is no need to read a file or update software.

This ProStack with the Overhang option allows stacking wall panels with sheathing overhangs up to 18". It can be paired with the optional tilt in-feed and/ or powered out-feed conveyors. Please call us today for full details, terms, and pricing. 208 volt, 3 phase, 49 Amp electrical required. Footprint is 26'-5"L x 19'-3"W.

SINGLE BEAM SHEATHING STATION

The Single Beam Sheathing Station offers flexibility in fastener spacing both in the field, on seams, and while stitching the top and bottom plates. This Sheathing Station fastens sheathing to wood wall panels to ensure quality panels every time.

BENEFITS

• Ergonomic working height

• Flexibility with fastener spacing

• Fastens consistently and accurately

• Reduces the risk of “shiners”

•Vastly enhanced operator control for even greater productivity

•A redesigned nail-feed supplying EverWin PN90-PAL industrial nail guns

•Simplified pneumatics featuring direct air-supply to all six nail guns

•Even more sub-component profiles for wall design flexibility

•Rugged durability with pharmaceutical grade assembly

By MSR Lumber Producers Council

FWhere Connections Create Value: Highlights from the 2026 MSR Workshop

or component manufacturers who rely on machine stress rated (MSR) lumber in their dayto-day operations, the annual MSR Workshop continues to distinguish itself as one of the most valuable events on the industry calendar. The 2026 Workshop, held at the end of April in Orange Beach, AL, once again delivered on its promise to deliver technical education, meaningful networking, and hands-on experience in a format that feels both productive and uniquely engaging.

While every attendee brings their own perspective, we talked to four component manufacturers (CMs) whose experiences highlight exactly why this Workshop resonates so strongly with those who use MSR lumber in real-world applications. Their collective insights reveal a consistent theme: the Workshop isn’t just informative, it’s a valuable investment that pays dividends throughout the year.

A Different Kind of Industry Event

One of the most frequently noted benefits of the MSR Workshop is its scale and atmosphere. The Workshop brings together a specific cross-section of the industry — mills, wholesalers, and component manufacturers — creating a space where conversations don’t just happen, they matter. That focused intention is what makes the event so successful. Attendees from all aspects of the MSR supply chain agree that the smaller, more curated environment of the Workshop encourages deeper conversations and stronger relationships.

For Cody Roberts , first-time attendee and VP of Manufacturing at Carnes Forest Products in Pontotoc, MS, that atmosphere made a great first impression. “Walking into the event, I expected the usual challenges of breaking into a new group,” he said. “Instead, it felt like a big family, and I was immediately welcomed into it.”

Matthew Cunningham, a lumber buyer for US LBM focusing on the state of Arizona, attended for his third time and said that the slower pace and deeper connections are what keep him coming back to the Workshop. “A lot of events can be almost too large,” he explained. “I like the intimacy of having a smaller number of people attend, but knowing they are the right people. It’s a special workshop in a special industry.”

Networking That Actually Works

In many industry events, networking can feel forced or transactional. At the MSR Workshop, it’s a core strength that delivers measurable value.

Cody summed it up succinctly. “My biggest takeaway was the connections…meeting people from all different walks of the industry,” he explained. “Being able to sit with people from mills and wholesalers and pick their brain on something we use so much of…it’s just invaluable.” More importantly, those interactions were meaningful, not superficial. “You get to learn what each person does, how they use MSR, and what their business model is built on,” said Cody.

Titus Mullet, General Manager/CFO at Hostetler Metal & Truss in Walhonding, OH, echoed that sentiment from a slightly different perspective. As a new Workshop attendee who purchases materials and regularly communicates with suppliers, he found significant value in simply putting faces to names. “A lot of the guys you just talk to on the phone or over email, so to actually meet them was really cool,” he said. “For me, being able to build new friendships and renew old ones was one of the biggest benefits of attending.”

Matthew emphasized the benefit of having plenty of casual networking time. “The Workshop generates strong discussion and collaboration between mills, suppliers, and traders,” he noted, “which directly impacts how companies adapt to changing market conditions.”

Education You Can Take Back to the Plant

While networking is a major draw, the educational content is another aspect that keeps people coming back. Attendees consistently reported walking away with insights they could apply right away in their daily operations.

For Matthew, the economic forecasting session was particularly impactful, especially as a returning attendee. “Seeing the year-over-year changes and being able to take that back to my team, that’s where the price of admission really becomes valuable,” he explained. “Those insights help inform purchasing decisions, production strategies, and long-term planning.”

Cody said he found similar value in the broader market sessions, especially those focused on the growth of Southern Yellow Pine and MSR products. “It was interesting to see how the market has changed and why those changes are happening,” he said. “For companies trying to stay ahead of shifting demand, that kind of perspective is critical.”

Technical sessions also resonated strongly, particularly for attendees focused on design and manufacturing. Titus highlighted the depth of the technical content as a key benefit. “The grading, the E-values, the technical side of MSR, that was very interesting,” he said. “Bottom line, if I’m going to take time out of my week to attend a Workshop, I’m asking myself how I can grow and make our company better? The Workshop sessions are a big key to that.”

Josh Harris, first-time attendee and Design Manager from Hiwassee Truss in Chattanooga, TN, gave a presentation on the benefits of using MSR lumber in component design, helping bridge the gap between theory and practice. His session demonstrated just how impactful MSR can be in real-world applications and the competitive advantage MSR provides. Reflecting on his own experience, he emphasized that “you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don’t have MSR, because your competition’s using it.”

The Mill Tour: From Theory to Reality

If there’s one element of the Workshop that consistently stands out as a highlight, it’s the tour. This year attendees visited the new Canfor facility in Axis, AL, an experience that left a lasting impression on both new and veteran attendees.

“I always enjoy visiting a sawmill…every one of them is unique,” said Matthew. “But this year’s tour of a brand-new facility took that experience to another level.”

“It was very impressive,” agreed Cody. “We even got to see MSR testing in action, watching boards tested to failure. It provided tangible proof of the product’s performance and consistency — something that’s hard to fully appreciate from looking at the specs.”

Josh had a similar reaction. “The tour was extremely fascinating,” he said. The combination of automation, visual and acoustic grading, and performance testing offered a comprehensive look at how MSR lumber is produced and validated. “The break test…that was definitely my favorite part.”

For Titus, the tour wasn’t just interesting, it was instructive. “We work with this stuff every day — why not see where it’s coming from?” he asked. “Learning about how the mill operates helps me explain the process to my team back at the plant. Connecting production practices with real-world outcomes is a valuable takeaway from the Workshop.”

Collaboration That Drives Improvement

One of the less obvious but perhaps most impactful benefits of the MSR Workshop is its role in fostering two-way communication across the supply chain. Component manufacturers don’t just receive information — they provide it.

Cody emphasized how valuable it is for mills and suppliers to hear directly from manufacturers about how MSR is used in the field. “You can hear feedback on production, and they can hear feedback on how you’re using it,” he said. That exchange can lead to improvements in everything from product specifications to available lengths and grades.

Matthew also pointed to the importance of staying flexible as markets evolve: “Maintaining flexibility as demand patterns and production dynamics change is a big takeaway.”

This ongoing dialogue between those who produce MSR and those who depend on it helps ensure the product continues to meet the needs of a changing industry.

Why Component Manufacturers Should Attend

When asked directly what they would tell other component manufacturers, all four attendees gave variations of the same answer: the value is undeniable. From pre-event activities like golf and fishing to destination locations like Orange Beach, the Workshop strikes a balance between business and enjoyment that also contributes to more open conversations and stronger relationships.

Matthew summed it all up nicely: “If you want to increase discussion and collaboration with your partners, this workshop’s a great one to attend. Plus, anytime you can find something in your industry that’s both fun and informative, you’re crazy to not attend it.”

The 2026 MSR Annual Workshop reinforced what many attendees already knew, that this is not just another industry event. The Workshop offers something increasingly rare: A chance to step back from dayto-day operations, engage with the broader industry, and return with insights that make a real difference.

In short, it’s not just worth attending — it’s worth making part of your annual plan!

The committee is already working on details for the 2027 MSR Workshop. Stay tuned to future issues of this publication and the MSRLPC website for more information as it becomes available!

CT Darnell Construction’s design-build approach

With nearly 40 years of LBM experience and more than 4,500 completed projects, we build turnkey truss facilities designed to perform from day one.

Faster plates More Trusses

Click Here to see the Plate Picker™ in action!

Or visit our website at www.trussmachineworks.com

Robotic placement insures no wasted space in bins

Integrates with skate-wheel receiver or conveyor to table

The Plate Picker™ uses a nesting algorithm to tightly pack and sequence plates in the exact order needed for assembly.

Sorting schemes include truss type, per truss, dense pack, and more

Magazine system covers 95-99% of plate sizes needed

Modular design sized for your plant

2022 Peterbilt 579 S/A Day Cab Truck #1

Paccar MX-13 / 12.9L / 405 HP Engine

249,300 Miles / 5,566 Engine Hours

Auto Transmission

Engine Brake

12,000 Lb Front Axle / 22,700 Lb Rear Axle / 34,700 Lb GVWR

Air Trac Air Ride Suspension

148 Inch Wheelbase

Dual Fuel Tanks

Tires are Very Good

$35,000 FOB PA

Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

JDH Trussmaster 42'-60' Stretch Roll-Off Trailer

• Hydraulic Lift

• Sliding Tandems

• Air Ride

• Roller Locks & Brakes

• Headache Rack

• DOT is current

• Video available upon request

$29,500 FOB CO Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

2005 Rayfab 32′ Roll Off Trailer

32′ Rayfab trailer features 5th wheel connection, locking rollers, straps, a 10,000 lb axle, electric brakes, spring suspension, and 2 speed landing gear. Manufacturer states the lightweight trailer is ideal for oneton trucks. Trailer weighs approximately 5,420 lbs. DOT expired February 2025.

$7,990 FOB OH Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Extendable pole trailer

Used for 60' span roof trusses, peak down

Retracted length - 35'. O.A.

Extended length - 45' O.A.

Adjustable 2' Increments

Outer tube frame - 8" square tube

Inner tube frame - 6" square tube

Axles - (2) 25,000 LB Capacity Each Axle width -102"

Anti-lock brake system

Parking brakes on both axles

Wheels - 10 stud outboard drums

Tires - 11 R 22.5 radials

Rims - 22.5 steel unimount (8) alum wheels

Suspension - Watson air ride with dump valve

Landing gear - 2 speed

Bumper - standard

Lights - DOT Specs, LED Package (2) truss stands (4) winches with straps

$29,900 NOW $14,900 FOB SC Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

40′ Wabash Roll Off Truss Trailer

40′ Wabash truss trailer features a sliding single axle, a fifth wheel connection, and locking rollers. The trailer has a current DOT certification and an estimated 80% brake life remaining and 75% tire tread remaining.

$11,900 FOB OH Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Be in the KNOW

Consider the Benefits of MSRLPC Membership

All who produce, supply, and use machine stress rated lumber are invited to join the MSR Lumber Producers Council. Membership supports the annual MSR Workshop, which brings together members of the entire lumber supply chain and offers a unique opportunity for participants to network and gain a broader perspective on the MSR market and opportunities for growth.

As a component manufacturer, understanding what you’re buying and how it’s produced is critical. If you are bidding and designing jobs months in advance and don’t have a pulse on the MSR supply in North America, you can find yourself in a pickle. Material availability is not optional—it’s foundational to profitability.”

—Porter Clark, Hiwassee Builders Supply Inc.

•

$19,900

(Shown with Optional Headache Rack)

By MiTek Staff

PANSI/TPI 1-2022 – Person Load in MiTek Engineering Software

er ANSI/TPI 1-2022 (National Design Standard for Metal Plate Connected Wood Truss Construction), Section 6.2.2.5, trusses with an overall span of 18 ft or greater must be evaluated for a 300 lb concentrated person load applied at the midpoint of any chord panel that is not sheathed with structural wood sheathing. This load shall be applied concurrently with dead load only (Person Live Load Case(s)) and shall not be combined with other loads. A load duration factor of 1.6 is used in Person Live Load case(s).

This check is performed as a moving load applied at mid-panel points in separate load cases. If any of these combinations govern, member sizes and/or plate requirements may change. This check is automatically performed by MiTek engineering software when ANSI/TPI 1-2022 provisions are applied.

Example showing panel being checked for person load and related load case.

The TPI Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) issued a Technical Interpretation of Section 6.2.2.5 (Person Loading), updated April 2, 2026, to further clarify the application of this requirement.

For roof trusses spaced at 30 inches on center or less, the 300 lb concentrated load may be distributed across two adjacent trusses, with 150 lb applied to each. The load shall be applied at the midspan of the chord panel and concurrently with dead load only.

The person load applies only to chord panels meeting the following criteria:

Bottom Chord Applicability Criteria

1. Accessible Panel Geometry

The bottom chord panel must be capable of accommodating a rectangular space measuring 42 inches in height by 24 inches in width within the panel.

2. Horizontal Bottom Chords Only

The bottom chord must have a slope less than 2/12.

Top and Bottom Chord Applicability Criteria

1. Absence of Sheathing or Wide Spaced Purlins

The person load is applicable only where there is no structural wood sheathing, or where purlins or bracing members are spaced greater than 24 inches on center.

Within this provision, the term “spanning” refers to the distance between bearings and should not be interpreted as the overall truss length.

These updates are included in the MiTek Engineering software.

For additional information, or if you have questions, please refer to TPI Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Technical Interpretation ANSI/TPI 1-2022 – Section 6.2.2.5 Person Loading (Updated 4/2/2026) or contact the MiTek Engineering department.

1997 Lakeside JDH Trussmaster 48-ft Rolloff Trailer

1997 Lakeside JDH Trussmaster 48-ft rolloff trailer features 5th-wheel connection, sliding tandem axle, locking split rollers, and hydraulic lift neck. Current DOT inspection valid through 1 October 2025. 60% brakes remaining. Six tires at 50% tread remaining and two tires at 40% tread remaining. 68,000 GVWR.

$11,997 NOW $6,997 FOB IA As-is, Where-is Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2014 Precision 48′ Roll Off Trailer (R157)

2014 Precision 48′ roll off trailer features tandem axle, fifth wheel connection, locking rollers, ABS brakes, and hydraulic lift neck. Estimated 50% tire tread remaining. $17,990 FOB WI Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

1990 Wabash 48' - 77' Roll off trailer

• Certified for highway

• New 5th wheel

• New Undercarriage

• New rear bumper

• New wiring

• 70% rubber remaining Asking $19,500 NOW $10,500 M.P.B. Builders 920-748-2601 www.mpbbuilders.com

2021 Big John Extendable Truss Pole Trailer

2021 Big John peak down extendable pole trailer. Transports up to 60′ peak down trusses with a retracted length of 35 ft. O.A., and an extended length of 45 ft. O.A. Adjustable in up to 2 ft. increments. Outer tube frame is 8″ sq. tub and inner frame is 6″ sq. tub. Features 2 axles with anti-lock brake system and parking brakes on both axles. Trailer features air ride suspension with dump valve and 2 speed landing gear.

$23,890 NOW $14,990 FOB NC Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

ACTUALLY, WE CAN SAY QUITE A LOT WITH LASER ACCURACY.

productivity of any

TRUCKS & TRAILERS

Used - 2014, R157 48” Roll -Off Precision Trailer

Tandem Axles | Air Ride Suspension : Air Operated Load Control, Air Operated Pin

$17,500 NOW $10,500 Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com/equipment/ trailers

Used - 2014, R156 48” Roll -Off Precision Trailer

$17,500 NOW $10,500 Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com/equipment/ trailers

•

• Bed Length: 36'

• GVWR: 26,000 Lbs

and need to be replaced

$12,500 Each or $24,000 for Both Trailers Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

•

• Foam Filled Tires

• Cummins QSB 4.5 Turbo Diesel

• 4,350 Hours

$59,900 FOB CA Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com 2000 Haulin 36' Truss/Panel Roll-Off

• Battery Operated Hydraulic Tilt

• Electric Brakes

• Locking Rollers

• Trailer Inspection is current

• One location needs steel plate/weld repair (reference photo) $19,900 NOW $10,900

2014 Precision 48′ Roll Off Trailer (R156) 2014 Precision 48′ roll off trailer features tandem axle, fifth wheel connection, locking rollers, ABS brakes, and hydraulic lift neck. Estimated 50% tire tread remaining. $17,990 FOB WI Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

•

• Auto Indexing (as material is removed)

• 6,000 Lb Capacity

• W hite Powder Coat Finish (Optional Custom Colors)

• Made in the USA with USA Steel

Visit msrlumber.org to find:

• Design Values Comparison Tool

Compare MSR lumber reference design values with visually graded dimensional lumber by species.

• History of the MSR Lumber Industry

Spanning eight decades, the industry’s robust history has been captured for the first time in one place.

• Sources for MSR Lumber

Filter by species, grade and dimension to locate products from MSRLPC members.

• Educational Resources

Find helpful information for current and potential MSR lumber users.

Valuable WEBSITE Resources

“Lumber buyers don’t often have access to truss design software to easily determine the allowable substitutions that may inform their purchasing decisions in a meaningful way. This tool helps with that and provides valuable information about species substitution, which is becoming more common in today’s market. It’s a one-stop shop.”

—George Hamilton, MSRLPC Board & Website Committee Member

By Simpson Strong-Tie Staff

BCMC 2026 Preview: Equipment Solutions from Simpson Strong-Tie®

The 2026 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) is just around the corner. Our team is eager to present the latest innovations at our booth this year, including cutting-edge equipment, software, and services.

This year, we are proud to feature a range of advanced saws, including our new truss fabrication equipment:

• Monet DeSawyer 2000 fully automated component truss saw

• Monet Floor Web truss saw

• EasyFrame’s EasyCut automated marking saw

• Gantry tables

• Finish roller

As a trusted partner in the component manufacturing industry, Simpson Strong-Tie delivers an integrated equipment solution for design, manufacturing, and installation. Our EasyFrame™ automated marking and cutting system is widely used for wall panels, complemented by Monet DeSauw’s precision truss component and linear saws. And this year, we are excited to debut our newest offering, roof, floor, and jack truss gantry tables and finish rollers. These machines are supported by robust software, onsite installation, comprehensive training, and ongoing technical support.

We look forward to welcoming you to our booth this year!

2020 (Reconditioned) Clark Column Laminator

(OEM Reconditioned in 2020) Features the capacity of producing 3-ply to 5-ply columns up to 40 feet in length from 2”x 6”, 2”x 8”, or 2”x 10” boards. The hydraulic pressing clamps secure the entire length of the post on all four sides during the assembly and computerized nailing process to ensure that the plies are kept tightly together producing a straight & true laminated column. Options included hydraulic ejection and handling systems, planing of finished columns for smooth, uniform surface, industrial nailers, and in-line hydraulic plate press for material splicing.

FC Curtis CA Series Compresso

FC Curtis model E-15 two-stage, piston drive, air compressor with dryer and 80 Gal. horizontal storage tank, 175 PSI, and 5 HP drive motor. Sold for $4,200 new. 480 volt, 3 phase electrical required.

$2,495 FOB AZ Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com NAPA 25 HP Compressor with Dryer (BU-1) 2005 NAPA 25 HP rotary screw compressor model 8025B, with Rogers CLS46 dryer. Compressor reconditioned in 2021. 125 PSIG, 8,292 hours. 460 volt, 3 phase, 29 Amp electrical required.

EMSI Teeter Cart Width – 46” / Length – 73” / Load Capacity – 2850 pounds / Pneumatic tires – 14.5 inch / Maximum utility in truss plants, panel plants, and lumber yards / Quick Assembly by bolting parts together / All hardware is supplied / Upright 2 x 4’s not supplied / Medium duty tires rated at 1500 lbs each are included.

Call for Price

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193 www.eidemachinery.com

Used PCS 5 Chain Live Deck

• PCS Hercules Heavy Utilization 5 Chain Live Deck

• Auto Feeder or Foot Pedal Control

• 3 HP / 3 Phase Motor

$7,500 FOB WI

Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

$11,997 NOW $9,997 FOB OR Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

NEW GALVANIZED STEEL STRAPPING 1 1/4" wide x .035 thick. $95 per coil.

$1,900 per skid (21 coils). FOB PA. Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

2019 LAP Laser, 2-head System

Two-head LAP Laser system, model CADPro, 10 mW green lasers. 0.5mm beam width, laser class 3R. Includes PRO SOFT TP 5.1 software, all available mounting brackets, distribution box, projector cables, remote control, hardware and manuals. Can work in a US location with some additional regulatory steps. OEM installation & support available for an additional fee of approx. $5,000. 110v, 1 phase electrical required.

$21,995 Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

2017 SL-Laser Truss Projection System

• (6) 2017 SL-Laser ProDirector 6 Heads

• Currently used with Desktop PC & Monitor

• Original SL Laser Touch Screen/Cabinet is included

• Excludes SL-Laser Software License

• Price in US Dollars

$52,500 FOB ON

BAM Pre-Hung Door Machine Titan Series Builders Automation Machinery (BAM) Titan series pre-hung door machine. Designed to produce between 150 and

250 doors per day. Multi-function door machine capable of doors 1'-6″ to 4′-0″ in width, and both 6′-8″ or 8′-0″ door heights. Processes both 1 3/8″ and 1 3/4″ thick door slabs. Machines the door, hinge jamb and strike jamb all at the same time. Capable hinge sizes include 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″, 4″ x 4″, 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ with 5/8″ radius. Cycle time with flush hinge routing is 45 seconds. 10′ long x 7′-6″ wide footprint. Shipping weight 4,000 lbs.

information Click Here

www.woodtechsystems.com

TP would like to welcome the following authorized agents to our inspection team, each of whom have many years of experience in the truss industry!

• Al Coffman

• Jean Hart • Curt Holler • Chuck Ray

Glenn Traylor • Elliot Wilson

• Steel

Bar Frame with Makita Switches

• 3 1/4 HP / 120 Volt / 1 Phase / 15 Amp

• Includes 2 Router Bits

$3,000 FOB NE. Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Custom Slotted Steel

Low-profile Tables, Qty: (13)

Quantity of thirteen (13) custom-built, slotted steel tables, each 6′-8″ wide x 14′0″ deep x 1′-4″ tall. Table top building surface is 6″ x 1/2″ thick bar stock over 3″ channel, and 3/4″ diameter threaded rod adjustable feet. Slots are 3/4″ wide. No truss hardware included. Can be purchased in various quantities.

$1,875 ea. FOB Ontario Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Used - Quincy 25 Horsepower Screw Compressor Taken from service $3500

Eide Machinery Sales, Inc. 612-521-9193

www.eidemachinery.com

SL-Laser Model ProDirector 7 Projection System

Improved model ProDirector 7, green-color laser projection system from SL-Laser. Projects roof truss, floor truss and wall panel design images accurately onto building surface for faster setup and fabrication times. New employees are productive more quickly, with less training required. Each laser head provides 21′ projection length (at 15-foot ceiling heights). New model PD7 projector heads are smaller in size than previous models, have diodes that are easier than ever to swap out and maintain, and project an even clearer line onto the building surface.FOB NC Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2005 NAPA 15 HP Compressor

2005 NAPA rotary screw compressor, 15 HP, reconditioned in 2021, 25,887 hours, model H80158. 460 volt, 3 phase, 20 Amp electrical required.

$8,991 NOW $4,991 FOB OR Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Highly Accurate: +/- .010 Inches

Stop Rail: 2 x 4 x 1/4 Aluminum Extrusion

Stops: Jig Bored Steel

Stop Blocks: Machine Billet Aluminum

Internal Components: Hardened, Ground and Polished Steel and Billet Aluminum

Dimensions:

Length: 5 feet (60”) to 60 feet (720”)

Height: 12 inches

Depth: 12 inches

If you are looking for the fastest, mist consistent way to measure and cut your product, then the Hain Measuring System (MEA) is your answer. The MEA changes from one length t any length instantly, up to 60’, without changing the operator’s position on the line. It is also highly accurate (+- .010) and quickly moves from one length to the next in seconds. The MEA is designed for quick and easy setup and is simple to use. Even a first time user will be productive with little or no training required. It can adapt to any saw and can be mounted to any surface so that you can integrate the MEA with your existing setup. The MEA is versatile allowing “left” or “right” handed operation and measurement in “feet and inches” or “inches” depending on your preference. The MEA is also available in a “Skid Mounted” version.

New ASI Ink Jet Plate Marker

• Automated Wall Panel Parts Cutting & Marking as directed by Wall Panel Design Software Output

• 20' Roller Conveyor with Servo Motor Controlled Length Stop/Plate Pusher

• 10' Infeed Roller Conveyor

• 24" Lenovo Touch Screen Computer (Windows 11 Pro OS)

• ASI Bas ic L Plate Cutting/Marking Operating Software

• 4 Head Ink Jet Plate Marker (marks 2 plates on edge)

• 110 Volt / 1 Phase

• Includes Onsite Installation & Training

• Excludes Saw & Dust Collector

• Add $2,250 for Dewalt Sliding Miter Saw with Saw Support Table

• Other Saw Options Include: Existing Saws, ASI Radial Arm Saw, Lauderdale Hamilton Up Cut Saw & Vista Angle Boss Saws

• Video available upon request

BAM Stair Wedge Saw

Builders Automation Machinery (BAM) model 2220, stair wedge saw station automatically produces wood wedges used to lock stair treads and risers into slots cut into the stair stringers…

2023 MiTek Component

Delivery System (CDS)

Quantity of two, priced per each. Automated conveyor system for moving cut boards from a linear saw towards assembly tables. Cut boards move from the linear saw to a staging conveyor with the ability to divert boards for use later. Board capacities from 2×3″ minimum to 2×12″ maximum, to 20-ft maximum length. Shortest lengths governed by the linear saw. Each CDS includes operator bridge platform, HMI control stands with touchscreen tablet, one 5-ft transfer conveyor, one 22-ft push conveyor, one 30-ft staging conveyor assembly, one 10-ft staging conveyor, one power and control module, one 24″ wide bridge, pushbutton emergency stop and any available spare parts

$178,995 FOB GA

2006 SL-Laser ProDirector 4, 3-Head System

3-head system includes three (3) projectors with universal mounts, one (1) PC terminal with stand and all available cables. Green laser projection. Lasers project roof truss, floor truss and wall panel design images accurately onto building surface for faster setup and fabrication times. More information here

$12,995 FOB KS

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

Hain Vent Block Drill

Hain Company Vent Block Drill. From the OEM’s website, “The Vent Block Drill is designed to make lumber, truss and wall panel manufacturing yards more efficient by easily converting scrap wood into useable vent (frieze) blocks. By simply inserting a block, the VBD has one button to press and the rest is automatic. It can drill 1, 2, 3, or 4 holes and you can adjust the block size in 15 seconds or less. The VBD processes each job quickly and tests have shown that it will produce in excess of 360 vent blocks per hour. Operation is simple and even a first time user can begin drilling blocks in a matter of minutes. The machine is enclosed for safety and the back cover can easily be removed for maintenance.”

5 HP motor, block sizes 2×4 through 2×12 on center drill holes, or 2×14 off-center drill holes. Carbide tipped drill bits. 10 ga. aluminum construction. 60″ x 60″ x 33″ height. 100 PSI air required. 440 volt, 3 phase electrical required. Net weight 750 lbs.

$9,995 NOW $8,499 FOB OR Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

2020 Ranger RS Lumber Retrieval System

• Fully Automatic Laser Guided Lumber Retrieval System

• 5 Lumber Carts (6' to 20' Lumber)

• Vertical Dividers for Magazine Carts

• Vacuum Pick Head System

• Perimeter Safety System (Light Curtains, Fencing & Gate)

• 50' x 28' Footprint

• 5 Extra Custom Built Lumber Carts

• De signed to fit Monet Deasuw DeRobo Saw

• Available July 2024

• Video available upon request $94,900 NOW $79,900 FOB NE Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Hain 210" Powered Measuring System

• Powered (1 Phase) Measuring System

• Inches System (21 Stops at 10" Centers)

• 15' Roller Conveyor with Stands

$6,225 NOW $2,500 FOB CA

Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

Enventek Smart Conveyor

• 12' Live Deck (10 Chain)

• Adjustable Height

• Foot Pedal Control

• 220 Volt / 3 Phase Motor

• Buyer to dismantle/load the equipment

• S eller will provide forklift for equipment dismantle/load.

$12,000 NOW $9,900 FOB WI

Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

BAM Staircase Assembly Clamp Builders Automation Machinery (BAM) staircase assembly clamp, model 2210, accommodates up to 20 foot long stringers with a maximum width of 54″…

2015 SL-Laser (7) Head Projection System

2015 SL-Lasers PD-6 Projector system. Fixed-head laser projection system allows for quick and accurate laser-guided setups, consisting of (7) GREEN laser heads for 140-feet of projection at 15’ table-to-ceiling height. Includes one SL touchscreen PC control, any available cables & universal mounting brackets. OEM installation and one-time software license required. 120 volt, 1 phase electrical, OEM Software license and installation required.

$59,497 FOB OR

www.woodtechsystems.com

Update your Pro Stair Shop OR add a new profit center to your existing business!

Wedge Cutter

Turn your off-cut scrap into profits.

The Triad Wedge Cutter cuts wedges OR glue blocks from 1x or 2x material.

Walk-Away, Hands-Free Operation with automatic shutoff when no material is detected.

wopenStringer Saw

Re-Engineered for even Higher Capacity: Cuts up to 4 LVL Open Stringers at one time, up to 16" wide

Multi-purpose Stair Router

FOB PA Wasserman & Associates

800-382-0329

www.wasserman-associates.com

1/2 HP Motor (115/208-230 Volt)

$1,900 NOW $1,750 FOB NE.

Spida Ink Jet Plate Marker

• Aut omated Wall Panel Component Cutting & Marking as directed by your Wall Panel Design Software

• DeWalt Miter Saw with Saw Table

• 20' of Steel Framed/Plastic Top Table with Automated Length Stop/Plate Positioner

• 10' Infeed Steel Framed/MDF Top Table

• Workstation, Control Cabinet Enclosure & 17" Touch Screen Integration

BAM “Ovation”

Door Machining Center (DMC)

New Builders Automation Machinery “Ovation” series, door machining center (DMC). Fully programmable, two-stage door machine featuring (27) axes of operation. Can be specified with either two or four front machining heads. Machine is side-eject, direct-drive with helical gear racks and gear protection from dust. The door loader is driven by an absolute encoder; no stepping motors, belts or exposed ball screws are used.

More information Click Here

Price based on configuration Wood Tech Systems

765-751-9990

www.woodtechsystems.com

• Made in the USA with USA Steel $2,210 FOB SD Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com Sweed Scrap (Band) Chopper with Stand

• Ink Jet Printer marks Wall Member Locations, Wall ID & Job Name

• Current use is a low volume shop

• Excludes: Dust Collector, Installation/ Training & Annual Technical Support Fee

$45,000 NOW $38,500 FOB MO Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

3,000 Lb Capacity • White Powder Coat Finish (Optional Custom Colors)

BAM Door Loader, Model 2001

Builders Automation Machinery (BAM) door loader, model 2001. Allows you to stack door slabs horizontally and feeds them into a horizontal door machine like the BAM model 996E-TS. Mechanically adjusts door stack height vertically as slabs are fed into machine. Clamp automatically adjusts to type and size of door slab: steel, solid-core or hollowcore, from 6-ft to 8-ft heights. Electronic, programmed controller manages the loading process. Loader positions the door stacks adjacent to the door machine

drive train

approximately (30) seconds per

By Christine Wagner SBCA Director of Marketing & Communications

Building a Culture of Quality

Quality is more than a requirement. It is a key driver of customer confidence, operational efficiency, workforce development, and long-term business success.

As component manufacturers continue to focus on continuous improvement, employee development, and operational excellence, investing in quality remains one of the most effective ways to strengthen performance across an organization. From production and inspection to documentation and process improvement, quality plays a role in nearly every aspect of a manufacturing operation.

To support those efforts, the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) launched its Quality Bootcamp program in 2025. Developed specifically for component manufacturers, the program provides practical, hands-on training focused on in-plant quality processes, industry requirements, and proven best practices. Hands-on activities give attendees an opportunity to apply QC inspection concepts, including an introduction to how SBCA’s Digital QC software can support a more efficient, effective inspection process.

“It was great to get some tips and tricks I hadn’t realized, like that I can take a photo with just my phone’s camera and send it later to the tablet to work on an inspection,” says Brice Matthews of Shelter Systems, an attendee at the Jessup, MD, Quality Bootcamp. “I also learned I can still go through with an inspection even when our internet drops off.”

Following strong participation and positive feedback from attendees, SBCA is bringing the one-day Quality Bootcamp format back in 2026.

Designed for quality managers, plant managers, supervisors, inspectors, production personnel, and others involved in manufacturing operations, the one-day bootcamps provide focused training on the principles of quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) while helping attendees better understand the tools, processes, and requirements that support successful quality programs. Topics include ANSI/TPI 1 quality requirements, inspection procedures, quality audits, documentation practices, and strategies for continuous improvement.

“I really appreciated gaining a better understanding of the expectations in the [building] code (both clear and gray), and second, gaining the hands-on experience of doing an inspection with others beside me who have a lot of field inspection experience,” says Brian Schultz, of Timberline Truss, an attendee at the Phoenix, AZ, bootcamp.

A strong quality program does more than help ensure products are manufactured as intended. It can improve consistency, reduce rework, support employee development, strengthen customer relationships, and provide valuable insights for continuous improvement. By investing in quality training, manufacturers can build stronger teams, improve operational performance, and better position their companies for long-term success.

In 2026, SBCA Quality Bootcamps are planned for Grand Rapids, Michigan (August 18, 2026), Columbus, Ohio (September 17, 2026), and Atlanta, Georgia (October 13, 2026), providing manufacturers across multiple regions with an opportunity to invest in their teams, strengthen their quality programs, and continue building a culture of quality throughout their operations.

Stay tuned for registration details on upcoming Quality Bootcamps near you. Those planning to attend BCMC in Columbus, Ohio, this September can also take advantage of a Quality Bootcamp offered in conjunction with the event.

Learn more about BCMC at: www.bcmcshow.com

Stay tuned and learn more about Quality Bootcamps at: www.sbcacomponents.com/qualitybootcamps.

If you are in need of 3rd Party Quality Assurance services, check out SBCRI for more information at: www.sbcri.info

CalENdar of EvENts

JULY 2026

July 22 Mountain States Lbr & Bldg Mat Dealers (MSLBMDA) Golf Golden, CO

July 22–26 Southeastern Lumber Mfrs Assoc (SLMA) Annual Conference Point Clear, AL

July 23–26 Bldg Mat Suppliers Assoc (BMSA) Summer Conference Virginia Beach, VA

July 28 BLD Connection Wisconsin Golf Outing Wisconsin Dells, WI

July 28–30 Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) San Diego, CA

July 29 – Aug 1 American Inst of Bldg Design (AIBD) Annual Conference Cleveland, OH

AUGUST 2026

August 6 Midwest Bldg Suppliers Assoc (MBSA) Sycamore Scramble Anderson, IN

August 11–12 BLD Connection MN Links & Lures Onamia, MN

August 11–12 Mid-States 2026 Fall Rendezvous Phoenix, AZ

August 17–19 University of Texas Bldg Professional Inst (BPI) of Texas—West Lubbock, TX

August 25–28 Intl Woodworking Fair (IWF) 2026 Atlanta, GA

SEPTEMBER 2026

September 3 Midwest Bldg Suppliers Assoc (MBSA) White Pine Classic Stanwood, MI

September 10 Offsite Construction Summit Denver, CO

September 10–12 Build Show Live San Antonio, IX

September 14–18 Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) Columbus, OH

September 14–19 Intl Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) Chicago, IL

September 15 Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) Forest Products Forum Portland, OR

September 15–17 Lumbermens Merchandising Corp (LMC) Leadership Summit Seattle, WA

September 16–18 Southeastern Lumber Mfrs Assoc (SLMA) D.C. Summit Washington, D.C.

September 17 Mountain States Lbr & Bldg Mat Dealers (MSLBMDA) Clay Shoot Brighton, CO

September 21–24 North Am Wholesale Lumber Assoc (NAWLA) Wood Basics Corvallis, OR

September 23–25 Construction Suppliers Assoc (CSA) Conference & Tradeshow St. Simons Isl, GA

September 23–25 Lumbermens Assoc of Texas (LAT) 140th Annual Convention Lost Pines, TX

September 25–28 Do it Best & True Value Fall Market Indianapolis, IN

September 28–30 Future Place Irving, TX

Sept 30–Oct 2 Northeastern Lumber Mfrs Assoc (NELMA) Annual Meeting Rockport, ME

CalENdar of EvENts

OCTOBER 2026

October 5–7 ProDealer Industry Summit Chicago, IL

October 6–8 Mass Timber+ (formerly IWBC) Philadelphia, PA

October 6–8 Natl Assoc of Home Builders (NAHB) Fall Leadership Meeting Detroit, MI

October 7–9 Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) 2026 Natl Conference Phoenix, AZ

October 7–9 METALCON 2026 Orlando, FL

October 27–30 NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit San Francisco, CA

October 28–30 2026 LMC Expo Philadelphia, PA

NOVEMBER 2026

November 2–4 Multifamily Executive (MFE) Conference Newport Beach, CA

November 4–6 North Am Wholesale Lumber Assoc (NAWLA) Traders Market Anaheim, CA

November 9–11 LBM Advantage Fall Planning Conference Boston, MA

Is your event on this list? Email us the details to share.

November 16–18 AHF Live Summit Chicago, IL

November 19 Offsite Construction Summit Washington, D.C.

THE BENEFITS JUST KEEP EASILY, SAFELY, NEATLY STACKING UP.

ProStack

By: DAK Automation

Monday June 22, 2026

Halteman quietly led out to pasture under guise that it’s a promising site for a truss plant

Noblesville, IN – After nearly 40 years in sales in the structural wood component industry, and with countless trusses and wall panels behind him, Jay Halteman has nevertheless summarily been shown the door – and by his own two progeny, to boot.

His long, tiresome and haggled-over retirement is effective June 30th .

Displaced at work by his own son and daughter, the siblings have sent their father off to accept his fate, reporting to wife Cathy. “Apparently, greener pastures actually do await me,” said the elder Halteman, nervously chomping at the last recognizable shreds of what used to be fingernails. “At least, that’s what I’ve been led to believe.” Halteman added, “How was I to know that this green field had nothing to do with a site for a new truss and wall panel facility? I mean, just look at it – it’s got so much potential!”

A lackluster retirement party with stale cookies and some sort of punch is “not exactly the sendoff I was hoping for,” admitted Halteman, while also noting the sad and unmistakable irony that it roughly coincides with Father’s Day. Halteman was nonetheless duty bound to confirm to skeptical onlookers the inevitable change, stating “today and from now on, we’ll no longer offer one discontinued item I always believed in – me.”

Jay Halteman, co-founder of Wood Tech Systems

As for the greener pastures that still may somehow prove to exist and bear fruit, Halteman says he eagerly looks forward to the new endeavors and adventures that await. “I’m gonna be the best housekeeper we’ve ever had, and I look forward to continuing my mastery of heavy machinery with the washer, dryer, dishwasher, and that other thing below the stovetop that cooks stuff.”

“So

Pausing for a moment of quiet reflection, Halteman remarked how grateful he is for the many valued customers, colleagues, and industry friends who’ve been such a big part of Wood Tech Systems’ success. “My great appreciation for so many people and associates in this wonderful industry who’ve helped shape our small but mighty company runs deeps and will last forever,” adding wistfully, “the

pride and satisfaction I’ve gained is something I’ll carry with me wherever I go, from the kitchen to the garage to the shed and back to the kitchen again.” Asked what he’ll miss most of all, Halteman choked back tears while stammering out, “people who’ll pretend to laugh at my jokes.”

Daughter Julie Grunden points out “the door” to her father stating, “Go right out that door, turn left, and just keep going”

where is this pasture?” asks Halteman of his son Joe and longtime associate Jim Mavrakes

Safety First!

Safety Meeting Topics

Meeting Topics

From State Fund CA.

From State Fund, CA.

Accident Investigation

Electric Pallet Jacks

Accidents are unplanned and unexpected events that cause injury, property damage, and/or financial loss in the workplace. Incidents or “near misses” don’t result in loss, but have the potential to do so.

Electric pallet jacks make quick work of moving loads around the workplace. Pallet jacks protect your back from strains and injuries by moving heavy and awkward loads and objects that would be unsafe to lift manually. But, as with any powered tool, if used improperly, electric pallet jacks can become a safety liability.

Ideally, safety programs focus on preventing accidents and incidents, but if one occurs, have an accident investigation procedure ready and train your employees how to use it. Investigate ALL accidents and injuries; the severity determines the extent of the investigation. Handled properly, accident investigation helps you look at problems, solve them, improve your safety programs, and prevent future accidents.

If you operate an electric pallet jack on the job, get training on the use of the equipment from an experienced worker. Your training should include practical, hands on application exercises to ensure that you can safely operate the speciﬁc equipment at your worksite. Only operate the pallet jack if you have been authorized to do so by your employer.

Accident investigation should prevent recurrence. Adhering strictly to fact finding in a neutral, non-confrontational manner identifies the true attitudes, behaviors, and other factors that led to the problem. Analyzing facts and asking a neutral “why” question helps find the root cause of the accident. For example, if employee error caused the accident, dig further to determine why the employee made the error.

Be familiar with the electric pallet jack that you will use on the job. Review the manufacturer’s operating instructions and details on the jack’s capacity. A lift rating capacity plate should be mounted on the jack; never exceed the manufacturers load rated capacity. Know how to use the power controls and brakes properly. Use the forks and attachments correctly. Always inspect the equipment prior to each use; never operate an electric pallet jack if it is malfunctioning. When charging the jack, use a GFCI outlet and ensure that you use precautions to avoid electric shock.

Accident investigation should not be used to blame, punish or exonerate workers and managers; true facts will not emerge in this environment. If you investigate an accident just to complete paperwork and satisfy insurance requirements, you will erode confidence in the system and you won’t achieve your goal of prevention and loss reduction.

Investigación de accidentes

Gatos Eléctricos Para Paletas

Los accidentes son eventos no planificados e inesperados que causan lesiones, daños a la propiedad y/o pérdidas económicas en el lugar de trabajo. Los incidentes o “casi accidentes” no causan pérdidas, pero tienen el potencial de hacerlo.

Los gatos eléctricos para paletas facilitan el traslado de cargas pesadas en el sitio de trabajo. Los gatos eléctricos para paletas le protegen la espalda contra lesiones y torceduras porque trasladan cargas pesadas e incómodas de manejar que de otra manera habría que mover a mano. Pero, al igual que con otras herramientas motorizadas, si no se usan correctamente, los gatos eléctricos para paletas pueden presentar un peligro a la seguridad.

Learn and follow the general safety rules for electric pallet jack use. Load the jack securely to prevent materials from shifting during movement. Gradually start and stop the jack to prevent the load from slipping. Use extreme caution when you are pulling the jack; ensure that your pathway is clear and that you will not trip backwards or run into obstacles. Keep your body and your coworkers clear of the pallet jack to avoid being crushed by the machine. Never ride on a pallet jack and avoid horseplay when you are using one.

A supervisor in the affected area is the best person to conduct an investigation because they are most familiar with the tools, equipment, and people involved. Experts in equipment, outside agencies, and other technical resources may also be needed.

Watch for coworkers and obstacles at all times when you are using an electric pallet jack. Give people the right of way instead of expecting them to get out of your way. Slow down and proceed cautiously when you are at a crosswalk or obscured throughway in the workplace. Try to stack and move loads in a manner that will not block your line of vision. Always use a spotter to assist you if you cannot see around the load.

Si usted opera un gato eléctrico para paletas en su trabajo, obtenga capacitación de un trabajador con experiencia en el uso de esos equipos. Su capacitación deberá incluir ejercicios prácticos con los equipos para asegurar que usted pueda operarlos con seguridad en su sitio de trabajo. Sólo opere los gatos eléctricos para paletas si tiene autorización de su empleador para hacerlo.

Idealmente, los programas de seguridad están dirigidos a prevenir accidentes e incidentes, pero si uno ocurre, tenga listo un procedimiento de investigación de accidentes y capacite a sus empleados en su implementación. Investigue TODOS los accidentes y lesiones; la gravedad determina el alcance de la investigación. Si se conduce correctamente, la investigación del accidente le ayuda a identificar problemas, solucionarlos, mejorar sus programas de seguridad y prevenir

Familiarícese con los gatos eléctricos para paletas que usará en su trabajo. Repase las instrucciones de operación del fabricante de cada equipo, así como sus capacidades. Cada gato debe tener una placa indicando su capacidad para levantar peso; nunca sobrepase la capacidad indicada por el fabricante. Conozca cómo usar correctamente los controles de movimiento y freno. Use los tenedores y los aditamentos correctamente. Siempre inspeccione los equipos antes de cada uso; nunca opere un gato eléctrico para paletas si tiene algún desperfecto. Al cargarle las baterías al gato, use una toma de corriente GFCI (con interruptor de circuito por falla de conexión a tierra) y asegúrese de seguir todas las instrucciones de seguridad para evitar choques eléctricos.

La investigación del accidente debe prevenir que éste se repita. La adherencia estricta al hallazgo de los hechos de una manera neutra y sin enfrentamiento identifi ca las actitudes, los comportamientos y otros factores reales que condujeron al problema. El análisis de los hechos y hacer las preguntas en un “por qué” neutro ayuda a encontrar la raíz del accidente. Por ejemplo, si el accidente fue causado por error de un empleado, averigüe más a fondo para determinar por qué el empleado cometió el error.

Aprenda y cumpla las reglas generales de seguridad para el uso de gatos eléctricos para paletas. Coloque la carga sobre el gato correctamente para evitar que ésta se desplace al mover el gato. Arranque y pare gradualmente para que no se deslice la carga. Tenga mucho cuidado al tirar del gato; asegúrese de tener una vía libre y no tropezar hacia atrás ni atropellar obstáculos. Mantenga su cuerpo y los de sus compañeros de trabajo alejados del gato eléctrico para paletas para evitar que la máquina los atropelle. Nunca suba como pasajero a un gato eléctrico para paletas y absténgase de jugueteos cuando lo esté usando.

La investigación del accidente no debe usarse para culpar, castigar o exonerar a trabajadores y gerentes; en ese ambiente no saldrá a la luz la verdad. Si investiga un accidente simplemente para completar el papeleo y cumplir con los requerimientos del seguro, erosionará la confianza en el sistema y no alcanzará su objetivo de prevención y reducción de pérdidas.

Esté atento a sus compañeros de trabajo y a los obstáculos en todo momento cuando esté usando un gato eléctrico para paletas. Las personas deben tener preferencia de paso, en vez de hacer que se aparten del camino del gato. Proceda lentamente y con cuidado cuando llegue a un cruce o sitios con mala visibilidad en el sitio de trabajo. Trate de apilar las cargas y moverlas de manera que no bloqueen su campo visual. Siempre use un ayudante si no puede ver a través de la carga.

La mejor persona para conducir la investigación es un supervisor en el área afectada, porque es el más familiarizado con las herramientas, los equipos y las personas afectadas. También puede que se necesiten expertos en equipos, agencias externas y otros recursos técnicos.

Start your investigation by securing the scene, placing equipment out of service if necessary, and taking photos. Interview victims and witnesses. Collect evidence and records and document your observations. Find the contributing factors to determine the accident’s root cause. Document the recommended corrective actions, the people assigned to complete them, and a due date for completion.

Use extra caution in narrow aisles, on slopes and inclines, and other restricted areas where your maneuverability will be limited. If you are authorized to use the jack in an elevator, always enter it with the load ﬁrst; do not back up into the elevator. Use the same technique when entering any constricted space with a pallet jack. Ensure that trucks and railcars that you are authorized to enter are properly blocked from movement.

Know the basics of electric pallet jack safety and keep up the good work!

based solely on the

implied, that your workplace

or healthful or that

regulations or standards.

Comience su investigación resguardando la escena, retirando de servicio equipos y, si fuera necesario, tomando fotos. Entreviste a las víctimas y a los testigos. Reúna pruebas y registros y documente sus observaciones. Encuentre los factores contribuyentes para determinar la causa que dio origen al accidente. Documente las acciones correctivas, las personas asignadas para completar las mismas y la fecha límite para terminarlas.

Tenga aún más cuidado en pasillos angostos, en pendientes y en otras áreas restringidas en las que es menos fácil maniobrar. Si usted tiene autorización para usar el gato en un elevador, siempre entre con la carga primero; no retroceda con el gato para entrar al elevador. Use la misma técnica al entrar a cualquier espacio reducido con un gato eléctrico para paletas. Asegúrese de que los camiones y vagones de ferrocarril a los que usted tenga autorización de entrar estén debidamente bloqueados para que no puedan moverse.

Aprenda los conceptos básicos de la seguridad con los gatos eléctricos para paletas, y ¡continúe haciendo su buen trabajo!

Senior Designer - J15413 Southern Alberta

Remote Truss Designer J14203 Indiana

Remote Wall Panel Designer - MiTek J15407 SoCal

Remote Truss & Wall Panel Designer J15406 So Cal

Component Manufacturing Technical Sales Engineer J15360 Western US

Technical Sales Engineer J15410 USA

Senior Truss Designer J15409 South

Outside Sales - J15411 Western Ontario

Design Manager - J15295 Western Ontario

Remote Truss Designer J15408 SoCal

Truss Designer - MiTek software J15392 Ohio

Remote Multifamily Truss Designer J15326 REMOTE

Senior Multifamily Wall Panel Designer J15405 REMOTE

Multifamily Truss Designer - MiTek J5399 South or Remote

Truss Designer - AG/SF/MiTek J15385 Upper Midwest

Senior Truss Designer -Alpine J15412 Western Canada - remote option

Wall Panel Designer-J15402 Alberta - remote

Senior Designer-Truss/EWP-J15400 Alberta - remote

Design & Estimating Manager/Sales Coord. J15397 Mid-South

Senior Truss Designer J15396 Indiana/Kentucky

Senior Truss Designer - J15342 Mountains

Truss Designer - J15394 South

In Office Truss Designer - MiTek Software J15393 Florida

Truss Production Supervisor-J15389 Greater Toronto Area

Plant Manager - Wall Panels - J15375 Central Florida

In Office Wall Panel Designer - MiTek Software J15388 Florida

Production Manager - Truss J15387 South

Outside Sales Technical - Truss/Bldg Mtls/MiTek J15386 South

Outside Sales/Design/AG/SF/MiTek J15384 Upper Midwest

Senior Designer-Truss/EWP-J15382 Eastern Ontario

Truss Design Manager - MiTek software J15370 Florida

Sales Manager - J15373

Southern Alberta

Truss & EWP Design Manager - J15376 Central Ontario

Remote Mega-Multifamily Truss Designer J15368 Mid-Atlantic

Sales Representative - J15355 Central Ontario

Remote Truss Designer - MiTek J15228 Florida

Truss Designer J14165 Carolinas

Mass Timber Sales/Business Development-J15338 Central Ontario

Mass Timber Engineer-J15337 Central Ontario

Senior Truss Designer-J15300 Eastern Ontario

Truss Designer-J15299 Eastern Ontario

ID: C19055

Remote Truss Designer - MMF/SFC Truss/ Panel Design Manager

Relocation: USA - ALL States for management positions.

Remote for design

Overview:

Senior truss design professional with over 25 years of experience in roof and floor truss systems, department leadership, and cross-functional coordination. Proven track record of advancing from designer to senior leadership, overseeing design, estimating, scheduling, and sales alignment within high-volume manufacturing environments.

Recognized for building structured processes, improving communication between sales and production, and strengthening design team performance. Deep working knowledge of Alpine software, IRC and IBC code requirements, and workflow optimization within component manufacturing operations.

Seeking either a Design Manager opportunity where leadership and process development are key priorities, or a remote Senior Truss Designer role where advanced technical expertise and efficiency can add immediate value.

ID: C19039

Wall Panel Designer

Relocation: Texas, REMOTE, Michigan

This candidate brings a rare blend of handson construction experience and wall panel design expertise. Beginning his career as a carpenter, he spent years mastering framing, finish work, layouts, and overall building methodology before running his own construction business. When the market shifted, he transitioned into wall panel design, quickly excelling in software-driven production for residential, multi-family, and commercial projects, including large custom homes and multi-story hotels. His field background gives him practical insight into how panels are assembled, installed, and coordinated on-site, making his designs both accurate and builder-friendly.

Known for reliability, adaptability, and a strong work ethic, he has also demonstrated the resilience to navigate major career transitions while remaining committed to craftsmanship and quality. After spending several years in transportation to support his family, he is returning to the construction industry with a renewed focus on balance, pride in his work, and long-term career growth. He is open to relocation for the right opportunity.

ID: C11427

Remote Truss Designer/Design ManagerMega-Multifamily

Relocation: Texas

6 years experience as Plant Manager with

another 6 years in Design (one of our very few ACE designers): Facilitated the truss sale, design, & delivery for lumber salesmen lacking truss experience. Developed own customer base by selling trusses. Design layouts of floor and roof truss systems for multifamily/commercial projects. Proficient use of MiTek Engineering, eFrame, AutoCAD, TJBeam, and Excel programs. He has some Sapphire experience but not as a Truss Designer. He expects to need 30 days to get back up to speed and re-learn Sapphire.

14+ years' experience as Plant Manager including staff development, workforce management and training, meeting production goals, asset management, maintenance and capital improvements, budget development and reporting, and assuring company policies were implemented across all departments.

Compensation: Upper $40's per hour as a Remote Truss Designer to start with review and adjustment to actual value based on his abilities in 30-60 days.

Thom's Notes: One of our top 1% Truss Design ACE's. Open to other remote opportunities that he is qualified to fill including Sales or Estimating. Will travel.

ID: C18378

Remote Truss Designer Relocation: REMOTE, USA - Western

Experienced Roof Truss Designer with a strong foundation in the building industry, seeking a role where my skills can contribute to company growth and long-term success. I thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure environments and excel at understanding customer needs, communicating clearly, and motivating teams through effective delegation. I recognize the importance of company-wide financial performance and strive to support overall success through efficient operations.

My industry background is diverse, including truss design, hardware, lumber, equipment operation (small and heavy), construction, and home inspections. I began my career in the plant and advanced into design, gaining hands-on knowledge at every level.

I designed trusses using EdgeCad and Computrus to generate customer estimates and batch cutting reports for sawyers and builders. I prepared engineering packages for submission to Building and Safety Departments and use EdgeTrack for scheduling, delivery coordination, and billing. I’m now transitioning to MiTek SAPPHIRE Structure for advanced design and project management and have completed many training programs for MiTek SAPPHIRE and am ready for the next challenge.

ID: C18549

Remote Wall Panel Designer Relocation: USA - ALL States Wall panel designer with 10 years' experience including production builders, single family custom and small to MegaMultifamily projects. MiTek Sapphire software experience.

ID: C18426

Remote Truss Designer Relocation: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, REMOTE, Costa Rica, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington DC, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, Oregon, Ontario, North Dakota, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Nevada, Montana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Delaware, Conneticut, California, Arizona, Alaska

Offshore Truss Designer with MiTek experience. The candidate is a civil engineer with 6 years' truss design experience for companies in Texas and Florida. Prior work for BFS and smaller manufacturers. Bilingual Spanish/English with a company set up to make paying easy. Scored 89 on our truss design skills evaluation, which is near the senior designer level. He is also SBCA I & II certified. He is willing to go to work immediately.

Compensation: $65-75k as a subcontractor, no benefits or taxes.

We haven't represented offshore candidates in the past but feel this candidate is worth a shot. Please contact Thom for additional details.

ID: C10122

Designer/Design Manager - Truss Relocation: Iowa

Senior Designer. - Advanced. Candidate has 24 years Truss Ddesigner experience and 5 years Truss Design Manager experience. Products include floor trusses, roof trusses, I-Joists, and hardware. Markets include single family, custom, high end, multi-family, light commercial, and agriculture. Primary duties include design, layout, optimization, cutting/production documents, and takeoff. Secondary duties include checking others work, repairs, customer service, inside sales, software maintenance, training, and filling in for the Design Manager as needed. Software experience includes MiTek and Keymark. Training received includes WTCA Level 2. Education: High School Graduate and Batchelors degree.

Motivating factors: advancement, compensation, benefits, work location, job security, and relocation.

ID: C18604

Truss Designer - Remote (MiTek)

Relocation: Alberta

I currently design & layout roof trusses, floor trusses, I-Joists and EWP from PDF plans and specifications for pricing. Also does engineering using MiTek, then uploads to Management or MBA in the past. Once sold, and field measurements are provided, I update the project and clean up the layouts, trusses and release them to the shop. I also answer questions from sales and the shop as needed as well as training newer designers. Most of my projects are single family, but I have also done several apartments, hotels, assisted living centers, and other commercial projects. I want to grow, learn, and become a better designer to be a valued team member.

ID: C10853

Remote Design Manager | Remote Offshore Design Project Manager

Relocation: Texas, Georgia, USA - South

Top level Engineering/Design Management candidate, 14+- years experience Truss, 4+- Panel experience. Has experience building and integrating offshore design resources with internal design departments and training design managers to better utilize offshore capabilities. Large volume manufacturer experience. MiTek Sapphire design/layout proficient. Too confidential to go into more detail.

Compensation: $120k+

INdustry NEWs

Affordability Concerns Push New Home Sales Lower in May

Posted June 24, 2026 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders Reprinted with permission.

Elevated mortgage rates, rising inflation and economic uncertainty kept many buyers out of the market in May as consumers and builders continue to deal with challenging affordability conditions.

Sales of newly built single-family homes fell 7.3% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 580,000, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales is down 6.8% from a year earlier.

“The decline in builder sentiment is consistent with our latest builder surveys,” said Bill Owens, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Many potential buyers remain on the sidelines as elevated mortgage rates, higher construction costs and limited purchasing power continue to reduce the pool of qualified buyers.”

“While builders are employing incentives and pricing adjustments to support sales activity, many households remain priced out of the market,” said Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB’s assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis. “A sustained reduction in financing costs would help improve housing affordability and strengthen housing demand. The trajectory of mortgage rates and improvements in housing affordability will be key factors determining whether demand stabilizes in upcoming months.”

A new home sale occurs when a sales contract is signed, or a deposit is accepted. The home can be in any stage of construction: not yet started, under construction or completed. In addition to adjusting for seasonal effects, the May reading of 580,000 units is the number of homes that would sell if this pace continued for the next 12 months.

New single-family home inventory in May was 496,000 units, down 1.4% compared to a year ago. This represents an elevated 10.3 months’ supply at the current building pace. The inventory of completed, ready-to-occupy homes inventory was 115,000 homes in May, the same level as a year ago.

The median new home sale price was $424,900, up 2.0% from April and virtually unchanged from a year ago.

Regionally, on a year-to-date basis, new home sales are up 1.9% in the Northeast and 4.2% in the Midwest. New home sales are down 8.2% in the South and 11.4% in the West.

INdustry NEWs

Builder Sentiment Remains Weak Amid Affordability Concerns

Posted June 15, 2026 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders Reprinted with permission.

Builder sentiment remains subdued as rising material costs, elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges continue to strain the housing market.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell two points to 35 in June, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This is the 14th straight month that sentiment has remained below 40, a streak not seen since 2011-2012 during the foreclosure crisis.

“With the nation short about 1.2 million homes, builder sentiment will remain soft until barriers are eased and conditions improve for home building,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens, a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Congress can help by passing the major housing package now before the Senate, along with the CONSTRUCTS Act to address the construction labor shortage and the Energy Choice Act to prevent state and local bans on natural gas in new homes.”

“Costly and inefficient regulatory policy is clearly impeding the ability of builders to increase the housing supply,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “According to a new NAHB study, government regulation, taxes, fees and other costs add more than 26% to the price of an average single-family home. Easing permitting bottlenecks, density limits and inefficient zoning rules would help reduce costs and support the housing growth the nation needs.”

The latest HMI survey also revealed that 35% of builders cut prices in June, up from 32% in May. The average price reduction was 6% in June, the same rate as the previous month. The use of sales incentives was 62% in June, up slightly from 61% in May, and marking the 15th consecutive month this share has reached 60% or higher.

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 40 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

The HMI index gauging current sales conditions fell two points to 38 in June, the index measuring future sales held steady at 45 and the index charting traffic of prospective buyers remained unchanged at 25.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast rose two points to 44, the Midwest held constant at 43, the South fell two points to 33 and the West dropped one point to 27.

HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at Housing Economics PLUS.

INdustry NEWs

May Housing Starts Fall as Multifamily Construction Slows Sharply

Posted June 16, 2026 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders

Reprinted with permission.

Housing starts fell sharply in May, driven by a steep drop in multifamily construction, while single-family building also slipped amid high interest rates, rising construction costs and persistent labor shortages.

Overall housing starts decreased 15.4% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.18 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The May reading of 1.18 million starts is the number of housing units builders would begin if development kept this pace for the next 12 months. Within this overall number, single-family starts decreased 1.9% to an 882,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate and are down 6.7% compared to May 2025. The multifamily sector, which includes apartment buildings and condos, decreased 40.2% to an annualized 295,000 pace and are down 14.2% compared to May 2025.

“The decline in housing starts aligns with NAHB’s latest builder survey, which showed builder sentiment weakening further in June,” said Bill Owens, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Elevated mortgage rates, affordability challenges and cautious buyers continue to weigh on demand for new homes. Builders are offering incentives and cutting prices, but difficult market conditions are still limiting sustained momentum for new construction.”

“Year-to-date declines in single-family housing starts and permits underscore the continued challenges in the housing market,” said Jing Fu, NAHB’s senior director of forecasting and analysis. “While the Midwest has shown some resilience, lower permit activity indicates builders remain cautious about future construction amid economic uncertainty and affordability pressures.”

On a regional and year-to-date basis, combined single-family and multifamily starts were 17.5% higher in the Northeast, 4.1% lower in the Midwest, 1.6% lower in the South and 4.9% lower in the West.

Overall permits decreased 0.7% to a 1.41-million-unit annualized rate in May. Single-family permits increased 0.6% to an 886,000-unit rate and are down 1.8% compared to May 2025. Multifamily permits decreased 2.8% to an annualized 527,000 pace and are up 2.5% compared to May 2025.

Looking at regional permit data on a year-to-date basis, permits were 10% higher in the Northeast, 2.4% higher in the Midwest, 6.7% lower in the South and 0.1% higher in the West.

The number of single-family homes under construction is at 587,000 units—5.9% lower than a year ago.

INdustry NEWs

West Fraser Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

June 4, 2026— West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. released its 2025 Sustainability Report. The report highlights the Company’s sustainability performance across a variety of environmental, social and governance goals and disclosed targets.

“Our 2025 Sustainability Report, Building Foundations for the Future, reflects our commitment to transparency and responsible operations, highlighting the progress we are making while identifying priority areas for further action to enhance our ability to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” said Sean McLaren, President and CEO. “As we look ahead, we will continue embedding sustainability into every part of our company — improving performance, reducing risk and creating value for everyone who depends on West Fraser.”

2025 key achievements highlighted in the report include:

• Telling the Complete Carbon Story: We continued advancing our understanding of the full climate impact of our forests and products, and in 2025 added a new dimension: the potential avoided emissions when our wood products are used in place of more carbon-intensive materials like steel and concrete. We also generated $13.3 million in carbon credit sales from our regulatory compliance operations in carbon markets, demonstrating how climate action can align with financial performance.

• Delivering on Our Climate Targets and Decarbonizing Operations: We continued delivering against our Science Based Target initiative (SBTi)-validated emissions reduction targets, achieving a 25% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions (from our 2019 baseline) and a 20% reduction in Scope 3 emissions (from our 2020 baseline) by the end of 2025, keeping us on track toward our 2030 goals. Additionally, 78% of our global energy use came from biogenic and renewable sources.

• Highlighting Biodiversity: We published our first Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) report focusing on our Alberta operations, working in partnership with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvements (NCASI) and with funding from the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA). In 2025, West Fraser released its Biodiversity Policy and the Biodiversity Community of Excellence began providing governance and strategic direction across its five pillars of biodiversity stewardship.

• Partnering with Indigenous Nations: A key milestone in 2025 was the finalization of a long-term fibre supply agreement with Lake Babine Nation Forestry for our Smithers, B.C. lumber mill, establishing a new model for collaborative forest stewardship in the province.

• Supporting Our People and Earning Recognition as a Top Employer: West Fraser was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the thirteenth consecutive year and earned Mental Health America’s Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health certification, recognizing our commitment to employee wellbeing.

For more information on sustainability at West Fraser and to read the 2025 sustainability report, please visit https:// www.westfraser.com/sustainability/sustainability-reporting.

INdustry NEWs

Simpson Manufacturing Co. Publishes Fiscal 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

June 16, 2026—Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., an industry leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, announced the release of its Fiscal 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report (CSR), featuring the Company’s continued progress in advancing sustainable growth, strengthening communities, and delivering value to customers and stakeholders worldwide.

Key highlights include:

• Driving meaningful community impact: Employees contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours during Do What You Can Day, the Company’s National Day of Service, while its Matching Gift program amplified that impact, helping to generate more than $393,000 in total charitable contributions. Simpson also continued its support of industry education efforts that encourage more people to pursue careers in construction.

• Investing in its people for long-term success: More than 33% of open roles were filled through internal mobility, reflecting strong career growth opportunities. Simpson also continued to strengthen its global leadership pipeline through targeted development programs in North America and Europe.

• Delivering world-class safety and quality: Simpson achieved a global Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.79, a world-class safety performance. It also maintained ISO 9001 certification across 44 sites and ISO 14001 certification at six facilities, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to consistent quality and environmental stewardship.

• Innovating to advance the industry: In 2025, Simpson introduced 52 new products and earned multiple industry recognitions for innovation and supplier partnership. The Company also deepened relationships with top builders across the industry, reflecting its leadership in high-performance building solutions supported by exceptional customer service.

• Enhancing environmental performance: Simpson continued to focus on reducing its environmental footprint through ongoing efforts in energy efficiency, water use, and waste management across global operations.

“Our 2025 CSR Report reflects how we continue to put our values into action by investing in our people, supporting the communities in which we operate, and delivering innovative solutions to our customers,” said Mike Olosky, Simpson’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This work is fundamental to how we grow our business and create long-term value.”

The report includes updated ESG-related metrics for the year ended December 31, 2025. Simpson’s Fiscal 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report is available on the Company’s website at https://simpsonmfg-esg.metrio.net

INdustry NEWs

New PFCB and PFC Post Frame Column Base Brackets and Angles Improve Installation Speed, Eliminate Through-Bolting

June 24, 2026— Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, is expanding its post frame construction offerings with the PFCB and PFC post frame connector brackets and angles. These dry-set, shear-resisting post frame connector brackets require no throughbolting; instead, the connectors come with Simpson Strong-Tie Strong-Drive® SDS Connector screws for a better, more intuitive installation experience.

Featuring heavy-duty steel construction, large corner embossments/stiffeners and value-engineered anchorage tables, these connectors provide high-performance, tested and code-listed uplift and shear loads. They have a G90 galvanized coating for long-lasting corrosion protection.

“Offering a robust alternative to embedded and wet-set solutions, our new PFC and PFCB connectors are ideal for post frame construction where installation speed, corrosion resistance and structural reliability are critical,” said Randy Daudet, group product manager for Simpson Strong-Tie. “They deliver a reliable, corrosion-resistant, dry-set solution that simplifies post frame foundations while meeting modern structural demands.”

PFC and PFCB connectors come in a wide range of sizes for use with glulam, nail-lam, planed nail-lam and solid sawn posts. They feature built-in, hand-removable washers to help prevent loss or fumbling on the jobsite.

For more information, visit www.strongtie.com.

About Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.

Simpson Strong-Tie is the world leader in structural solutions — products and technology that help people design and build safer, stronger homes, buildings, and communities. As a pioneer in the building industry, we have an unmatched passion for problem solving through skillful engineering and thoughtful innovation. Our structural systems research and rigorous testing enable us to design code-listed, value-engineered solutions for a multitude of applications in wood, steel, and concrete structures. Our dedication to pursuing ever-better construction products and technology and to surrounding our customers with exceptional service and support has been core to our mission since 1956. For more information, visit strongtie.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

INdustry NEWs

Cadynce Recognized with 2026 SBCA Innovation Grant for AI Takeoff and Workflow Management Platform

July 1, 2026 —Cadynce, the AI Takeoff and Workflow Management platform built for component manufacturers, today announced it has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) Innovation Grant. The award recognizes products and technologies helping move the structural building components industry forward through innovation, efficiency, and improved business performance.

While AI continues to transform estimating, many manufacturers still struggle with the workflows surrounding it. Critical information remains scattered across spreadsheets, emails, shared drives, and disconnected systems, creating delays, confusion, and missed opportunities.

Kenneth Sewell, Co-Founder of Cadynce, said:

“As I talk with component manufacturers across the country, the same two frustrations come up again and again: they can’t bid fast enough, and the entire bidding process is too chaotic. We built Cadynce to solve both.”

Cadynce addresses this challenge by combining AI-powered takeoff capabilities with structured workflow management in a single platform. The result accelerates estimating while providing visibility into every step that follows—from bid creation and review to design, production, and delivery.

Key benefits include AI Takeoff to reduce manual effort by classifying plans and extracting information for faster bids; Workflow Management to track every project from opportunity to completion with clear ownership and accountability; Seamless Integrations with existing design tools, ERP, and accounting software; and Improved Collaboration through structured handoffs between sales, estimating, design, production, and management teams.

David Dozer, Co-Founder of Cadynce, said:

“We’re honored to be recognized by SBCA with the Innovation Grant. AI is changing how component manufacturers estimate projects, but speed alone isn’t enough. Manufacturers also need visibility, accountability, and structured workflows around the estimating process. That’s where Cadynce is focused—helping teams move faster while maintaining control as they grow.”

As part of the program, Cadynce will be featured throughout the year by SBCA and showcased at the Building Component Manufacturers Conference (BCMC) 2026.

Cadynce was developed specifically for component manufacturers looking to modernize operations without replacing the systems they already rely on. For more information, visit Cadynce.com

NEWs

First U.S. Residential Project Built Using AUAR’s Robotic MicroFactory

June 24, 2026—Construction is underway in downtown Fort Wayne on the first residential project in the United States built using AUAR’s robotic MicroFactory system, marking a significant milestone for the adoption of onsite robotic manufacturing in the homebuilding industry. The framing process advanced at a pace consistent with a conventional production homebuilder, underscoring the technology’s ability to deliver efficiency without disrupting standard construction timelines.

The project, led by Rival Holdings in partnership with UK-based construction technology company AUAR, is providing builders with a real-world example of how emerging construction technologies can help address labor shortages, improve production efficiency and support homebuilding without disrupting traditional construction workflows.

AUAR’s MicroFactory system manufactures precision-built wall panels, allowing builders to combine advanced manufacturing with the expertise of local framing crews and skilled tradespeople. The approach is designed to help builders improve consistency, reduce production bottlenecks and increase efficiency while maintaining the critical role of construction professionals throughout the building process.

Rival Holdings became AUAR’s first U.S. customer after making an early investment in the company and is now evaluating the technology through active deployment on a residential build. The project represents a move beyond research and demonstration into practical jobsite application. “At Rival, we invest in innovations that have the potential to transform how the built environment operates,” said Jerod Hevel, Vice President of Innovation and Strategy at Rival Holdings. “What attracted us to AUAR wasn’t simply the technology itself. It was the opportunity to address real challenges facing the building industry, including labor constraints, rising costs and the need to deliver homes more efficiently. This project allows us to evaluate that technology in a real-world environment while demonstrating how innovation can support builders and help meet growing demand for new homes.”

Labor availability remains one of the most significant challenges facing residential construction. Builders continue to face increasing pressure from workforce shortages, rising material costs and the need to maintain production schedules while delivering quality homes. By producing precision-built structural components on site, AUAR’s system enables framing crews to focus on installation while robotic manufacturing handles the fabrication process. The technology is designed to integrate into existing construction operations and amplify or accelerate the process rather than replace the skilled labor required to complete a home.

“Seeing the first U.S. deployment of our MicroFactory system on an active residential build demonstrates how robotic production can help builders tackle the challenges that matter most: labor constraints, rising costs and the need to build faster with precision and quality,” said Mollie Claypool, CEO and Co-Founder of AUAR.

Construction remains underway on the market-rate Midwest home, which will be offered for sale upon completion. As construction progresses, Rival plans to share updates on project milestones, lessons learned through the building process and future opportunities to apply innovative construction methods across residential construction projects throughout Indiana and beyond.

Stark Truss Company Promotes Todd Pallotta to President

June 18, 2026—It is with great pleasure that Stark Truss Company, Inc. announces the promotion of Todd Pallotta to President, effective May 28, 2026.

Todd began his career with Stark Truss in October 1989 as a participant in the company’s inaugural Management Trainee Program, where he started in the shop building trusses. In 1990, he advanced to the role of Production Foreman at the New Philadelphia facility, and one year later was promoted to Plant Manager, leading the reopening of the company’s Champion, Ohio location.

In 1993, Todd was promoted to General Manager, where he oversaw the development of Canfield Forest Products. During his tenure, he played a key role in launching several new manufacturing facilities and establishing the company’s Engineered Wood Products (EWP) product line. In 2000, he focused his leadership efforts on developing Stark Truss’s Commercial and Multi-Family Division.

Over the past 16 years as Vice President of Operations, Todd has been instrumental in advancing the company’s strategic vision and driving operational excellence across multiple areas of the business. His remarkable career progression reflects both his dedication and the growth opportunities Stark Truss strives to provide for every team member.

Todd’s extensive industry expertise, unwavering commitment to excellence, and servant leadership approach make him exceptionally qualified to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth. As President, he will oversee the company’s daily operations while helping execute long-term strategic initiatives. He will continue working closely with the executive leadership team to strengthen Stark Truss’s market position, drive innovation, and support the continued success of its employees, customers, and business partners.

A 1989 graduate of DePauw University with a degree in Economics and Management, Todd has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to leadership, professional development, and community service.

Todd and his wife, Allison, are proud parents of four children: Alexandria, Jake, Jaret, and Lauren. Family remains at the center of Todd’s personal and professional values. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Todd is dedicated to giving back to the community through his extensive volunteer work coaching youth football, basketball, and baseball teams. His commitment to mentoring young athletes has helped instill teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills in countless youth throughout the region.

Please join us in congratulating Todd on this well-deserved promotion. Stark Truss is fortunate to have his leadership as the company builds upon its strong foundation and pursues continued success for years to come.

Todd Pallotta

NEWs

Wendricks Truss and Skandia Truss to Come Together, Expanding Capabilities, Scale and Service Across the Upper Peninsula

June 22, 2026—Wendricks Truss announced that it will acquire Skandia Truss, bringing together two respected, family-owned companies that share a deep commitment to quality, customer service, and the people who make their businesses successful.

The combination unites two organizations with similar cultures and a common approach to serving the region’s construction industry. Wendricks Truss has built its reputation on engineered building components and a broad range of structural product offerings, while Skandia Truss has earned the trust of customers across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through its focus on premium trusses and floor systems.

By joining forces, the companies expect to create meaningful benefits for customers, employees, and the communities they serve. Together, Wendricks Truss and Skandia Truss will be better positioned to offer expanded product solutions, greater operations scale, and enhanced service while preserving the values and relationships that have defined both businesses for years.

“This is an exciting step forward for both Wendricks and Skandia,” said Kelly Plunger, Owner and President of Wendricks Truss. “We see this as a partnership built on shared values. Both companies care deeply about their team members, their customers, and doing business the right way. By coming together, we can build on the strengths of each organization, expand what we offer, and create new opportunities for long-term growth.”

Travis Cross, Owner and President of Skandia Truss, said, “Skandia Truss has always taken pride in delivering quality products and personal service to our customers. Joining Wendricks allows us to continue that commitment while becoming part of a larger organization with additional resources, broader capabilities, and the same family-business mindset that has always mattered to us.”

Wendricks Truss has been serving the market since 1975 and offers a wide range of engineered building components, including roof and floor truss systems, I-joist floor systems, wall systems, wall panels, beams, and other structural solutions. Skandia Truss, established in 1996, has built a strong reputation for premium trusses and floor systems and serves customers throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Company leaders said the transaction is rooted in a shared belief that scale and complementary offerings will strengthen both organizations. Customers can expect continued focus on quality, reliability, and service, with the added benefit of broader expertise and improved capacity to meet evolving project needs.

“As we look to the future, our goal is simple,” Plunger added. “We want to honor the legacy of both companies while building something even stronger together – for our employees, for our customers, and for the communities we serve.”

NEWs

AI Adoption Supports SLB’s Strategic Priorities

June 25, 2026 — Across SLB-supported programs, the operating environment is becoming more datadriven, faster-moving, and more contested. Artificial intelligence allows the SLB and its programs to turn technical expertise and institutional knowledge into market influence more efficiently. In response to this opportunity, the SLB and its programs have moved from AI awareness into active implementation.

Collectively, they are using AI to reduce administrative burden, improve content quality, and align more closely with the SLB’s strategic priorities.

The pattern across programs is consistent: AI delivers the most value in tasks that are high-volume, repeatable, and document-intensive—drafting, summarizing, reporting, and media optimization. For example:

• The SLB has moved its quarterly executive dashboard and annual ROI reporting into AI-enabled tools, reducing human error and cost by approximately $120,000 annually — dollars that can now go toward initiatives that grow demand for lumber.

• The SLB turned FEA’s 2026 Construction Market Outlook into a custom GPT, providing an easy-to-use interface that makes the underlying data more actionable and accessible to all SLBfunded programs and partners.

• Think Wood is applying AI to media performance and spend optimization. The efforts have reduced agency media and metrics monitoring time by 90% through AI-assisted campaign management. Performance is also improving, with the cost per ad click on Think Wood’s continuing education ads down 38% year-over-year.

As construction becomes increasingly data-driven, AI enables SLB programs to scale expertise, improve responsiveness, strengthen market access, and position wood more competitively in the next generation of building design, sustainability, and code development.

Watch the SLB’s Strategic Plan Video: From Niche to Mainstream: A Focused Strategy for Market Growth

INdustry NEWs Bringing Science to Building Safety with the Periodic Table of Building Codes and Standards

The International Code Council (ICC) is the leading global source of model codes and standards that are used to ensure safe communities and buildings worldwide. ICCs system for developing model codes and standards is based on trust and transparency and has provided the highest level of safety in communities around the world.

The International Codes® (I-Codes®), developed by ICC, are a family of fifteen coordinated, modern building safety codes that help ensure the design of safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.

ICC standards are developed to address building industry challenges regarding code compliance. These standards are developed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they are intended to.

ICC developed the Code Council Periodic Table as a quick reference to all of ICC’s codes, standards and guidelines.

To download this image, click here. To learn more about ICC’s Codes and Standards development, click here.

About the Author

The International Code Council is a nonprofit association that provides a wide range of building safety solutions, including product evaluation, accreditation, certification, codification and training. It develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.

INdustry NEWs

Statistics Canada: Investment in Building Construction, April 2026

June 23, 2026—The total value of investment in building construction increased $540.8 million (+2.3%) to $23.6 billion in April. The residential sector rose 3.1%, while the non-residential sector edged up 0.7%. Year over year, investment in building construction grew 7.8% in April.

On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of investment in building construction in April increased 2.2% from the previous month to $21.5 billion, and it was up 4.5% year over year.

Multi-unit component drives growth in residential construction

In April, investment in residential building construction increased $491.9 million to $16.5 billion. Both the multi-unit component (+4.0%) and the single-family component (+2.0%) contributed to the increase.

Investment in multi-unit construction investment was up $338.8 million to $8.8 billion in April. British Columbia (+$231.2 million) led the increase, and it was supported by broad gains across four other provinces and two territories.

Meanwhile, investment in single-family home construction rose $153.1 million to $7.7 billion in April. Growth in Quebec (+$136.0 million) and Ontario (+$83.8 million) was moderated by broad declines across seven provinces and one territory, led by British Columbia (-$23.1 million).

Non-residential building investment edges up

In April, the value of non-residential investment in building construction edged up $49.0 million to $7.1 billion. Increases in the industrial (+3.5%) and commercial (+0.1%) components were moderated by a slight decline in the institutional component (-0.2%).

Investment in the industrial component grew $48.8 million to $1.4 billion in April. Ontario (+$25.8 million), British Columbia (+$16.4 million) and Alberta (+$5.2 million) were the primary contributors to the increase. In total, six provinces and two territories contributed to the growth in this component.

Investment in commercial construction edged up $4.1 million to $3.5 billion in April, led by Alberta (+$10.0 million) and British Columbia (+$3.6 million). The gains in these two provinces were partially offset by declines in Ontario (-$7.9 million) and Quebec (-$1.3 million).

Meanwhile, investment in the institutional component edged down $3.9 million to $2.2 billion in April. Declines in Quebec (-$5.8 million), Manitoba (-$1.6 million) and Nova Scotia (-$1.6 million) were tempered by an increase in Ontario (+$5.3 million).

For more information on construction, please visit the Construction statistics portal. For more information on housing, please visit the Housing statistics portal.

Designer-Truss

HZ00031 | Indiana, USA

Truss Designers (2 Positions

Available) GHK Truss is a growing, quality-driven manufacturer seeking two Truss Designers to join our team. We offer opportunities for both entry-level (Associate) and experienced (Senior) designers in a collaborative, performance-focused environment.

Designer- Truss Multifamily

HZ00029 | Texas, USA

We are assisting a well established construction and building materials company that is launching a new truss manufacturing division. This is a ground...

HiriNg-ZoNE

Production Manager

HZ00026 | Alabama, USA

We’re seeking an energetic and knowledgeable leader to manage truss production—or to step up into management if you have strong experience supervising...

Today

Estimator

HZ00019 | Texas, USA

We are seeking a seasoned Lumber Estimator with handson expertise in structural framing take-offs for both residential and light commercial proje...

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Outside Sales Representative

HZ00021 | Wisconsin, USA

We are looking for an experienced Truss Designer with at least three years of experience to design roof and floor trusses for agricultural projects an...

Inventory Control Specialist

HZ00028 | Texas, USA

This Inventory Control Specialist with Synergos Lumber + Truss in Gonzales, TX, is responsible for accurately maintaining inventory levels and associa...

Designer-Wall Panel

HZ00027 | Florida, USA

A leading provider of building materials is seeking an experienced Wall Panel Designer to join its expanding design team. This is a full-time in-offic...

Designer-Truss

HZ00024 | Colorado, USA

Truss design using MiTek software responsible for designing accurate and structurally sound roof and floor truss systems for singlefamily and multifa...

Designer-Multifamily

HZ00017 | Texas, USA

A growing building components manufacturer in Texas is hiring an experienced Truss Designer for an in-office role, with potential flexibility for remo...

Outside Sales Representative/ Designer/Estimator

HZ00025 | Alabama, USA

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to join a wellestablished building materials supplier launching a new truss manufacturing division. T...

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#About the Company: Our client is a small but growing truss and engineered wood product (EWP) manufacturer specializing in agricultural, single-f...

Outside Sales Representative

HZ00012 | New York, USA

Engineered Wood Products OSR/ Specialist : We’re looking for a results-oriented Outside Sales Representative to drive sales of engineered wood prod...

Designer-Multifamily

HZ00008 | Texas, USA

We have a client in Texas who needs Remote Multifamily Truss Designer(s) familiar with the Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and DFW areas. In addition to... 2 months ago

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The Last Word

Tracking Labor After Houlihan

As discussed in The Last Word in May, “John Houlihan’s Contributions,” John Houlihan introduced a proven way to manage plant labor, applying his trade to plant systems as they were, rather than how they could be, which was reflective of his background outside our industry. When he came to the Texas plant where I was VP of Operations, he did not suggest that the roller gantry or the vertical press operations he had tracked at Imperial Components or Trussway would be more labor-efficient than the wood tables we used for cut-up trusses. Nor did he discuss the best way to batch cut. He left those decisions to us managers at the plants he visited, and it’s worth exploring how those decisions have been made.

Competing for the World Record: This decade-long competition energized our industry a half century ago and achieved labor productivity results that have never been exceeded. As recounted in The Last Word, “Vertical Presses — The World Record,” the contest was the brainchild of Automated Builder publisher Don Carlson, and the winner each year was the plant that produced the most trusses in an eight-hour shift. A back-and-forth battle was waged between Jack Littfin at Littfin Truss and Dickie Vail at American Building Components. When Jack produced nearly 1000 trusses, half-again as many as Dickie, it took Dickie two years to find a job with enough like trusses to challenge Jack. In the end, Dickie produced 1017 trusses, or 2260 board-feet per man-hour, a record that even robotics probably will never beat. The enduring lesson from that competition was that cut parts need to be positioned immediately adjacent to their ultimate position in the truss.

Building the Benchmark Trusses: A decade after the World Record competition, and in line with the increasing complexity of trusses, a unique method of determining labor metrics was developed by Ed Buck (see last month’s “Labor Measurement After Houlihan”). Ed selected a series of 14 trusses of various difficulty and measured each step of the assembly process: setting jigs, feeding lumber, setting plates, rolling plates, and truss ejection. Then, the resulting data was used to establish detailed labor metrics that have proven useful until the present day. For example, seven trusses (similar to those shown in the image) can be fabricated in 23 minutes using the WizardPDS®. Multiple plants have benefitted by measuring their performance against these results, building all or a portion of the 14 Benchmark trusses over the past 20 years.

Using Board-Feet per Man-Hour: Early in the new millennium, this commonly used metric took on a new significance when given a more expansive definition, “board-feet per man-hour, all-in (BfM).” I noticed this trend beginning about 2007, among the newly formed group of ProBuild plants. At the time, it seemed that ProBuild was influenced by its financially oriented owners, Devonshire Investors, an arm of Fidelity Investments, seeking an overarching metric, comparable to Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT). BfM certainly provides a concise and convenient talking point.

In one sense, BfM comports with Houlihan’s imperative to rein in the proportion of the workforce not directly cutting or building trusses, which he asserted was not to exceed half of direct labor. Like the “all-in” proponents, Houlihan fully loaded the labor units with all of the tasks essential to the job of producing trusses, including the full cost of benefits. Houlihan made no assessment of the proper costs of engineering, sales, truck drivers, office administration, or senior management (which some include in BfM) lessening its value in making comparisons.

Of course, many have noted the limitations of BfM, such as last month’s article by Todd Drumond, “Improve Labor Visibility While Keeping Existing Methods in Place,” which notes its failure to account for the mix and complexity of trusses being built. Greg Griggs of Builders FirstSource also affirms that no two facilities among the dozens he manages have the same equipment, layout, or labor environment, rationalizing the variances in their BfM measurements. However, in a plant dedicated to a specific and largely repetitive mix of work, the BfM metric can provide a meaningful, but not precise, month-to-month labor comparison.

Use of Video: Lenny Sylk at Shelter Systems was probably the first to create videos of his build crews to demonstrate best practices for training purposes. This work also facilitated his development of the four key metrics of truss labor — saw-set, saw-run, fab-set, and fab-run — and his pioneering effort to incorporate these in his Forest Products computer system. It seems that this approach is underutilized today, as camera systems are economical to deploy and could instantly alert production offices of plant bottlenecks.

Live Tracking of Employees: Forty years ago at Imperial Components, Dave Chambers experimented with one of the first labor tracking systems in which workers scanned their badges at the start and end of their production tasks. That system proved ineffective, mainly because it was not accompanied by the database and reporting technology that arose in later years. Today, while there is an abundance of tracking tools, they mostly report on a plant’s existing conditions. A newer depiction, called a spaghetti diagram, that charts workers’ physical movements over time can uncover wasted motions and better layouts of inputs and support systems.

Fundamental Principles: No matter what labor metrics are used, the fundamental principles outlined by John Houlihan remain unchanged. Workers need to know the reasonable expectancies of the work in which they are engaging, and they need to regularly see whether they achieve these expectations. That can be accomplished by posting the results on the door to the breakroom, as was formerly done at Sam Yoder & Son, or displayed on a large monitor in the breakroom, such as done at Shelter Systems today. Likewise, management needs to continually monitor schedule misses and take appropriate action as well as utilize a metric that is consistent, easily understood, and based on accurate measurements that reflect the success or shortcomings of their production.

July 2026 Component Manufacturing Advertiser Magazine

Component manufaCturing A dverti $ er

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Pronouncing “Tenacious” (and Knowing What It Means)

Making Mistakes and Being Human

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Robotics and Engineering Updates from Seattle

The Burgeoning Use of Robotics

The Overlooked Engineering Issue

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When Predictability Disappears, Adaptability Becomes the Advantage

An Uneven Market Changes the Rules

Throughput is Not the Same as Adaptability

Where Margin Gets Exposed

Rethinking Production for a Tighter Labor Market

Practical Investment in an Uncertain Market

How Spida Can Help

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Tuning NEXPLATE for Maximum Velocity

The Hybrid Plate Picking Strategy

NEXPLATE Space and Safety Considerations

The Ideal Footprint (44ft x 44ft Layout)

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ACTUALLY, WE CAN SAY QUITE A LOT WITH LASER ACCURACY.

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NexPlate: The Next Step in Truss-By-Truss Plate Picking

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