December 2022 Component Manufacturing Advertiser Magazine

A dverti $ er Component manufaCturing

Strength. Solutions. Service. Some things never change.

Built on a 65-year legacy of innovation and service, Simpson Strong-Tie knows the inherent value of people, products and processes working in harmony. Along with trusses and other structural components, manufacturers and builders need to integrate the right business elements. Using our open-platform design and management software, you’ll find it easier to connect with trusted partners and suppliers, collaborate on projects and control your workflow. It’s one of many solutions we provide to optimize your business, from a company of people who understand it like no other.

Leverage the power of continuous improvement. To learn more, visit our website at go.strongtie.com/componentsolutions or call (800) 999-5099.

Simpson Strong-Tie ® Building Technology | Software and Service for Smarter Business

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.

Advertiser F Forum

The Spirit of Giving

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

In addition to being one of our most popular columnists, Glenn Traylor is our favorite Santa Claus. Thanks to Comtech in Fayetteville, NC, we’ve shown in the past that his special deliveries don’t need a sleigh. After all, what could be merrier than a truckload of trusses!

As any volunteer Santa knows, all of your annual appearances may not run smoothly. You may encounter frustrated parents, crying children, hot conditions, and many other irritating and uncomfortable situations. But, you do it every year because it matters to you.

Giving More Than Time

This year’s picture with Santa is bittersweet, because it features a little boy’s last Christmas. This little boy suffered from Tay-Sachs, which is always fatal. The visit from Santa was very tiring, so both Grayson and Santa needed a little nap.

Glenn’s message with the photo is this: Tay-Sachs is a rare disease that needs research funding and parental support funding. Currently there is no cure. Please consider supporting Tay-Sachs research and support those dealing with this disease.

Giving What We Can

Whether you support this cause or another, whether your contribution is made with money or with time, thank you. Every effort you make helps us all live in a slightly brighter world.

Best Wishes for a Peaceful Holiday Season

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Monet DeSauw DeRobo

Linear Saw

• 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

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Monet DeSauw DeSawyer

2000 Automated Saw

• 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)

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• 480 Volt / 3 Phase

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The Development of the Truss Plate, Part V: Frenetic First Get-Together

By Joe Kannapell

Twelve competitors faced one another for the first time—but only because they had to. Each of their fledgling plate businesses was threatened by a July 31 deadline from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and they had less than three weeks to put together a design criterion for plated trusses. Half of them came from across the country to reach Miami, Florida for this meeting, while the other half came from nearby. But they represented what was said to include about 50 entities building plated trusses. All except one of the attendees had been active in the business for more than three years, and all were independent small businessmen. No matter how they got there, they must have seen the potential of this new product—but they had their work cut out for them on this hot summer day. The instigators of this July 5, 1960 meeting were the four earliest South Florida truss plate manufacturers: H-Brace, Sanford, Gang-Nail, and Ronel.

Each of these pioneering companies had patented a unique truss connector and gained success marketing it for several years. The first was Charles McAdam, whose wrap-around connector was brought by Carol Sanford to Cal Jureit’s lab for testing, although it did not gain much traction. While Sanford left to develop the Gri-P-Plate, McAdam introduced a nail-on plate that could be affixed from one side, eliminating flipping of the truss. This required the use of a specially notched nail that bent when driven into a soft sheet metal back plate, creating a clinching effect, which dramatically increased the strength of the connection. The H-Brace was widely used, as attested by Karl The Losen, current owner of Ridgway Roof Truss in Gainesville, FL, and Vivian Hollinshed, the late owner of Comtech, Inc. in Fayetteville, NC.

The next two attendees were Bill McAlpine, who was Carol Sanford’s engineer at that time, and Cal Jureit of Gang-Nail (see The Development of the Truss Plate, Part II: Cal Jureit’s Invention and Part III: The Ingenuity of Carol Sanford and Cal Jureit for further background).

The fourth of these early collaborators was Ronel Corp., whose Barb Grip plate was the first short tooth plate that needed no supplementary nails. Its “plug” type design had nearly equal design properties in all directions and was later adopted by Clary. Ronel was represented at the meeting by the late Yilmaz “Jerry” Akdoruk, the first of many professional engineers of Turkish descent who have enriched our industry. Jerry was widely known for developing and selling the first self-study truss design course.

These four companies had convened prior to the July 1960 meeting to prepare a design criterion, based on the work of Cal Jureit in Dade County and organized along the lines of the long-established Steel Joist Institute (SJI) Code. Because steel joists were prefabricated and delivered to jobsites like wood trusses, their Code provided a good model. With these references, a draft code was prepared and mailed to meeting invitees.

The remaining attendees included five more from Southeast Florida and four others from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Colorado. All of their companies had been formed in the mid-1950s specifically for the purpose of stamping truss plates.

The diversity of this group likely resembled startup ventures in other new industries. Some were just “kicking the tires” and would not go on to establish a plate business. Others had started stamping plates but would depart the industry after a short period. And just a few would go on to achieve lasting success. But on this day, they were united in their effort to establish a new industry and to gain recognition of the building authorities.

Next Month: An Industry Established

Since 1970, Joe Kannapell has worked as programmer, Chief Engineer, Marketing Manager, and Sales VP for MiTek, plus 7 years at truss plants, retiring at the end of 2020.

Safety Speed Manufacturing, model 7400 XL*, vertical panel saw, 3 HP induction motor, 64 inch crosscut, 2 1/8" maximum thickness, accuracy within 0.005 inches, 13 foot long 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 digital readouts for vertical cuts, automated length measuring, laser guide, stop bar, vacuum and midway fence. 208-230/460 volt, 3 phase electrical (208-230 single phase, 2 HP power optional +$100.00).

$13,149 Base, FOB MN. Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

4,001,398

That’s the total trigger count from all six nail guns combined on an installed Terminailer.® For a machine that was a little over two years old, that is a big number; a real tribute to the durability of the machine’s components and engineering.

Yes, that number represents a pretty darn impressive mechanical milestone to be sure, but what is really impressive is that human hands were saved from millions of repetitive motions and potentially costly nailing accidents. www.TERMINAILER.com 765-751-9990

With just a sole operator, Terminailer drives a whole lot of improvement in efficiency and output. This amazing sub-component assembler quickly and precisely drives 30% to 70% of the framing nails in any wall panel job—be it batch, or just–in–time production. All with no complicated training, software or set-up time required when switching configurations. Add increased safety and easy maintenance with off-the-shelf parts, and you can see why Terminailer should be driving greater productivity in your plant.

Terminailer® and Terminailer XP Put things together like never before.

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Terminailer XP

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Don’t just do it, nail it. It’s a brand new day in wall-panel production, with a whole new way of doing things better.

Terminailer®, a revolutionary, event-driven, nailing machine that completely defies any preconceived notions about sub-component assembly.

Terminailer all but shatters the stereotypical myth that subcomponent 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. And that reduces labor costs and other aspects of overhead.

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 it’s location can evolve as your shop evolves. With all of the nailing occurring in the closed main chamber, nail injuries and nail location miss-fires 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

Innovation, Pride, Passion, Professionalism

By Wendy Boyd Chief Customer Officer –Sales, Service & Marketing

Generally speaking, I write most of the editorials for Component Advertiser – but when I was speaking to Tony McCoy, our Sales Manager from Texas and South Central, he asked if he could write an article from the heart, and I just couldn’t resist publishing his thoughts. Tony has been around our Industry for a long time and he is a thorough gentlemen. Here he talks about his 30-year experience with BCMC. Wendy

The age-old adage, where does time go so quickly, was playing though my head at this most recent Building Component Manufacturers Conference in Columbus, Ohio. I have attended, or been a part of, over 30 BCMC shows since the mid-1980s. From 20 lb. IBM XT computers with 10 meg hard drives to 1 lb. Surface Pros with over 250 GB of storage. From roadside phone booths and pagers to handheld iPhones with Hotspots. From “chalking out” trusses on the ground and building on wood top tables and flip jigs to computer-aided puck tables and overhead laser systems. From “chop saws” and framing squares to big computer-driven linear saws, so much has changed. Today we can design complex, multi-pitched 60’-0” trusses in mere seconds versus days. Suffice to say, we old-timers have witnessed a tremendous amount of innovation and growth in this industry.

The Spida Booth at BCMC 2007

Tony McCoy

The Spida Booth at BCMC 2007

And to that end, Spida Machinery has been a huge player in the innovation that has occurred over the last 30 years. When Spida Machinery brought the CSS, the first fully computerized pull saw, to the US market, it really upped the game of computerized truss equipment. Today Spida Machinery has an array of automated equipment, including our Apollo Saw, M600 and S600 Wall Saw, the Tornado, and our very successful and popular PieceMaker Linear Saw. We also have our fantastic, automated roof truss table we call the Roller Plant with our Jig-It puck system. I think the piece of equipment I love most is our Extruder Wall Line. Having been a framer for a few years, I can really appreciate the features the Extruder brings to the market. Talking about innovation, Spida Machinery has really brought its A game with this line of machinery. From the curved conveyor and major component infeed to the raking framer, Spida is again leading the way in innovation and efficiency with wall panel machinery and production. No other panel line reduces labor costs while increasing panel production like the Spida Extruder. There are only 3 direct laborers who are building walls. One is building sub-components, tees, corners, and feeding the curved conveyor. The second is building all the openings and feeding the extruder as top and bottom plates are being pulled into the extruder. And the third laborer is pulling in all the components from the center of the extruder and using automatic nail guns to fasten the components together. There are 2 additional laborers at the squaring table tacking on sheathing before going into our dual bridge sheather that includes a four nailing heads/guns and skill saws for cutting out openings. Incorporating a saw in the nailing bridge is a first in the industry. Not only is the saw faster than a router, but it also produces much less dust and debris. We also include a dust collection system with this bridge. In today’s super tight labor market, where consistent reliable labor is a real challenge to find, the Extruder is the wall machinery line of choice. The success of our wall line is proven with the number of Extruders being installed in 2023 in many wall plants around the country. We had quite the crowds at BCMC watching demonstrations of this line. Without question the wall line demonstration was the most watched demo at the show!

The Spida Booth at BCMC 2022

Lastly, of the 30 plus BCMC Shows I have been involved with over the years, this year was the most fun I’ve ever had. For exhibitors, these shows require a great amount of preparation and planning and a great amount of effort to set up and tear down. Kudos to Wendy and Lindsey for their efforts. In addition, our “brothers in arms” came from afar to lend us a hand. There were several Aussie and Kiwi guys that came over to take part in the show. I was so impressed with their knowledge, gusto, and enthusiasm. Their pride in their work, their passion for excellence, and the professionalism they exude will ring with this old-timer for a long time. It’s what makes Spida Machinery so successful. It drives our innovation and originality. It’s this kind of attitude that makes me so proud to be a small part of this organization.

Cheers and Goo’-day Mates, Tony!

To all our customers and supporters – we would like to wish you all a most wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. It has been an honor to support and supply you with product in 2022 and we hope to see you all again in 2023 and beyond. Stay well and take care, Wendy.

PARTS & COMPUTER

• Used Servo Star CR10251 (2

Available) -$1,100 Each

• Used Servo Star CR06251 (2 Available) - $1,100 Each

• Used ALS Windows XP Computer - $1,500

• Used parts were removed in "working condition" from the ALS 276 during a saw upgrade FOB AL Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

2002 Koskovich Auto Omni 5-Blade Component Saw

2002 Koskovich Auto Omni component saw, 5-blade automated saw includes [3] 20 inch blades, [1] 30 inch blade, [1] 12 inch blade and shaker waste conveyor with factory side pans. Fully automated setup with full power length and all axis angulation, single-sided setup from operator console, 2×3 through 2×12 and 4×2, 20’ to 9” @ 90°/90°, Exair cabinet coolers, remote monitor, no spares. In operation until Aug. ’21. 208/240/480 volt, 3 phase, 100 Amp saw electrical required. 120 volt, 1 phase PC electrical required.

$13,970 NOW $9,997 FOB OH Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.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, 10 foot 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 extensions, digital readouts, laser guide, stop bar, vacuum and midway fence. 208-230/460 volt, 3 phase electrical (208-230 single phase, 2 HP power optional +$100.00). $9,332 Base, FOB MN.

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

The L-M Verticut 2000 is a true Precision End Trim (PET) saw that is capable of holding a 1/16th accuracy all day long. Made in the USA, the V2k comes equipped with a 15 HP 460/230 volt High-E three phase TEFC motor driving a Double ended Premium “Stellite” inlaid saw bar with a spring loaded chain tensioner and an automatic oiler to lubricate the .404 pitch custom profile semi chisel saw chain.

Rather than a single pivot-point, the saw assembly is mounted on a mandrel box that is guided by cam followers on a steel frame that is raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder. A console with the saw controls moves with the saw assembly along a track positioned using a manual “V” wheel geared drive or optional Hydraulic drive

The V2k is unlike other imported systems that are basically a Portable Yard Saw on a cutting rack with a best cutting accuracy of +/- 1/8″ (meaning up to ¼” accuracy variance between units of lumber). The V2k from L-M provides +/- 40 thousands, assuring consistent PET precision from unit to unit.

Another advantage L-M has over the competition is their commitment to personal service with unlimited phone assistance and technical help. Their team has traveled the country working on crosscut saws for many years and they know their equipment inside and out. L-M is a familyowned business that prides themselves in doing the job right and building long term relationship that is vital to their business: “Built to last as long as our customers since 1946”.

Price based on configuration

www.woodtechsystems.com

www.todd drummond.com todd@todd drummond.com (603) 748 1051

The number one expert for process improvement in all departments of wood truss and wall panel manufacturing using proven and practical lean manufacturing methods combined with industrial engineering.

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Labor Time Standards for Accurate Wood Truss Labor & Pricing Estimations

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120+ Different time elements to input into any wood truss programs. 

Based on the equivalent measurements called work minutes, work hours, realistic expectancy (RE), or scheduled units (SU).

√ 100+ Different Companies Using Them Every Day  Productivity scheduling, efficiencies measurement, productivity incentive programs, labor cost estimations, and Pricing based on Labor Units.

√ Three Offerings With or Without Onsite Consultation Services

1) Wood Truss Time Standard

2) Lean Manufacturing TDC Training Material — All the TDC lean manufacturing training material best practices, without an onsite consultation. Most clients are shocked by the depth and scope of the TDC best practice training materials, which are very clear, concise, and without bias to enhance their operations.

3) Consultation & Training — Full onsite consultation with all the lean manufacturing best practices training material and time standards included. A Minimum Gain of 3 Net Profit Points is a Very Low bar for TDC

“... It was an investment well spent because I not only learned a completely different way to view labor metrics, but I came out of it with a completely different mindset on pricing, scheduling, and staffing...”

Shane Soule, President Bremen, IN

“….Your time standards are perfect. They are far more accurate than BF. We are much more comfortable with the work minute for estimation of labor for both the pricing and shop scheduling. BF is just too unreliable for our needs.”

Keith Myers, Truss and Panel GM Lakewood, NJ

Written testimonials provided by dozens of clients on the TDC website.

Proof That Even the Largest Wood Truss CMs are Not Immune to Losing Tens of Millions of Dollars with Outdated Reporting

Despite the fantastic profits these past few years, some of the largest wood truss component manufacturers (CM) are losing tens of millions of dollars hidden in plain sight. Talk to any of the executives at these CMs, and they will be able to rattle off the EBITA or other P/L results, yet they are blind to simple basic production accounting numbers they see daily. In this article, I will prove that some companies are losing tens of millions because of outdated, standard industry-accepted productivity reporting methods.

An interesting fact from studying zebras in Africa is very applicable to this topic, and it has to do with what happens when someone stands out from the crowd. For their study observing the behavior of single zebras within a herd, the zoologists quickly discovered they would lose sight of individual zebras because their stripes rapidly blended in with those of other zebras as they moved around. The researchers used a paintball gun to mark the zebras they wished to study more closely. This marking of individual zebras, however, proved detrimental to the painted zebra’s health as the lions quickly chased them down and ate the marked zebras. By making the animals stand out from the herd, the lions easily singled them out, focused the pride’s attention, and encircled and captured the marked zebras. Any Ph.D. Organizational Behavior trained person will tell you this is the same behavior for human beings—don’t stand out from the crowd unless you are willing to risk being eaten.

When someone is involved in sales long enough, this is one of the most troubling factors to learn about the decision process. Too often, the decision for a person to agree to a sale (purchase) is not based on the best decision for a company but on the choice considered the safest. The person may feel that another vendor has a much better service or product, but they cannot take the chance and must protect themselves from being called out for taking an unnecessary risk. The larger the company, the more these practices or making the “safe choices” are in play. The same thing applies to stupid, repeated practices mandated within a company. Everyone will follow what is required, no matter if it costs the company millions of dollars and is counterproductive to the profit of the company. Only those willing to risk losing their jobs would dare to speak up.

Please keep the “standing out from the crowd” and “risk decision process” factors in mind as you continue reading. Other people have witnessed the same thing I have for many years but have failed to make the needed changes. As an industry process expert, I can attest that I have witnessed very large corporations losing tens of millions every year based on standard industry-accepted productivity reporting methods year after year. Here’s the proof.

Todd Drummond

Anyone in roof truss manufacturing whose work is based on board foot (BF) or piece count (PC) knows there are simple ways to game the system that benefit them but cost the company millions of dollars over time. If you are unaware of how they take advantage of the system, here is what they can do to make more money while getting accolades for doing a good job, yet the CM loses money because of their hidden activities.

Roof truss designers’ work based on BF or PC – Oh, this is easy for designers to make more money based on BF or PC. When I do a consultation, I walk around the finished yard to review the completed trusses ready for delivery to review the manufacturing and design quality. You would not believe how often I have witnessed a large scissored truss with a flat filler on the bottom chord matching the same 2x6 or larger chords of the structural truss. On every occasion, I ask the same question: what is the designer’s productivity based on? What do you think I find in the yard if it is BF or PC? How about 2x6 or larger bottom chord fillers, unneeded webs, and basically the most poorly wood-optimized roof trusses one could witness. A good designer can save the CM 4% to 6% in additional material costs for most roof truss projects with proper optimization. Not only does the company lose millions of dollars in unnecessary material costs, but they also lose additional manufacturing capacity because of the extra wood being cut and handled. And if the designer is called out for failing to optimize any project properly, they will give them the standard excuse of, “It was just that one job, and I was pressed for time.” Every CM basing the compensation of the roof truss designers using BF or PC is exchanging millions of dollars in the form of lost production labor and material cost for a few extra tens of thousands for the designer’s compensation.

For companies compensating their designers using BF or PC, what do you think the results have been over the past two years with record lumber costs or manufacturing constraints?

Fact – Every industrial engineer is taught that a unit of measurement must be consistent over time and under changing conditions. If the measurement variation falls outside acceptable limits, such as +/- 5%, then the unit of measurement cannot be used. BF and PC variation is laughably outside the acceptable limits for standard accepted industrial engineering practices.

Production personnel productivity based on BF or PC – This seems to be the executives’ most significant blind spot. No single production manager I know will tell me that BF or PC is a reliable means to judge the productivity or scheduling of wood trusses. Not one. Every single one has witnessed the BF count jump substantially for any large runs of AG or commercial projects with large chord sizes and few setups. The same applies to PC when the setup count is low and the runs are high.

For those who apply an “average” setup time to each piece when using PC and you think that the automation will compensate for variation, think again. Not even the fully automated 5-blade component saw is immune to the wild variation.

For those whose productivity is based on BF in roof truss manufacturing, here is how to game the system to be compensated more while the company loses millions. Never properly staff the assembly tables with enough team members. It works against you every time. For instance, if you are assembling 24’ to 30’ trusses, only assemble them with two assemblers, not three. Keep one person on the table while the other throws all the wood onto the gantry table. The BF/Work hour will substantially increase, but the volume will drop drastically. They don’t worry about the lack of overall volume since they are being compensated on BF/work hour, not the sales volume.

Those who believe they can reduce the number of personnel on the assembly tables falsely believe labor savings based on BF per work hour rates. For every needed assembler on a wood table, the rate is approximately $3k to $3.5k in sales per shift. Translated, this means that when there are only two roof truss assemblers when there should be three, the company loses $3 to $3.5k in additional sales per shift per workstation. For more about this subject, see How to Lose Millions of Profits with Linear Saws and Two-Person Crews in relation to the picture in Figures 2 and 3.

If your company makes your production teams fill out forms using BF/work hour rate, you are pushing them to game the system, which is costing your company tens of millions of dollars for larger corporations.

A true story as an example of emotional investment (previously published): Three people were sitting in the back seats of a minivan during a trade show: myself, a salesman from a plate vendor, and a prominent CEO of a large company that both the salesperson and I hoped to influence. I was seated next to the CEO, and the salesman was behind us. I discussed work minutes with the CEO and talked about how they are more effective than BF for pricing and manufacturing efficiency benchmarks. This is precisely what the industrial engineer John Houlihan did many years ago, with whom he was familiar, except John referred to them as realistic expectancy (RE) or scheduled units (SU), which are the same as work minutes. As I told the CEO about my proven ideas, he became pleasantly animated and asked questions because he was very interested in these new ideas. While this conversation took place, I could see the salesman behind us getting physically agitated; his face turned red, and he started to shake. I did my best to ignore him. Finally, the salesman had enough and literally yelled that BF had been used for decades. It is still being used every day, and to say otherwise is ridiculous. Both the CEO and I were so shocked by his outburst that the three of us hardly spoke for the rest of the ride. To say it was confrontational and downright unprofessional is an understatement. Why did this salesman behave in this fashion? Because he saw that I was gaining the trust of this CEO and that I was a potential threat to his perceived authority of knowledge for the CEO. Also, the salesman’s ego

overruled his ability to use a proper response. Many like him have an emotional investment in their current practices and perceived best practices. Remember, I was discussing units of measurement, not anyone’s perceived skills or knowledge, just basic units of work minutes versus BF. By the way, I do not begrudge the salesman about his behavior. Every one of us has made mistakes, and it isn’t very reasonable to allow any single incident to define any of us.

If you are the company executive responsible for the P/L, keep a few things in mind. How many millions does your company spend on capital investments and other projects to generate additional income? If BF or PC is such an entrenched measurement tool, what kind of risk is there, in adding extra columns of estimated versus actual to use work minutes (Minute, RE, or SU) to the reports? Of course, you must have properly developed time standards to estimate good work minutes for the estimation column. Side-by-side comparisons of PC or BF to properly calculated work minutes are not even close. How do you think this plays out for production scheduling, incentive programs, and even pricing? And when pricing (margin) is compared to minutes, the net profit gains can be shocking. The evidence is overwhelming, and the only thing stopping you is possibly playing the role of the zebra or perhaps the salesperson protecting your emotional investment. Maybe, just maybe, you should invest in the services of someone willing to stand out from the herd and willing to help your company make millions more with modern, fully developed time and motion engineering standard practices.

For 20 years, TDC has been developing time standards, and there is one and only one conclusion: BF is a complete waste of time to measure and price wood roof trusses and should not be used, period. For all the variety of equipment and materials, TDC has over 120 different factors that can be used in the roof truss programs. How many does your company use?

The team of TDC is your best source for learning about proven and practical lean manufacturing best practices combined with industrial engineering principles to keep your company at the leading edge of competitiveness. No one is better at providing your team with proven results for good employee practices, pricing, truss labor estimation, and so many other best-in-class practices. TDC’s tailored solutions are for the client’s specific needs. Go beyond the typical software and equipment vendor recommendations for your operations and do what many have dared to do. Embrace the Drummond Method, and your company can experience cost savings, and net profit gains that usually take months or years can be accomplished in weeks or months, resulting in an average of 3 to 6 point net profit gains for CMs. All areas are addressed, not just the manufacturing. Please do not take my word about TDC’s services, though. Read the public testimonials many current and past clients with decades of expertise and experience have been willing to give: https://todd-drummond.com/testimonials/

Website: www.todd-drummond.com

Phone (USA): 603-748-1051 E-mail: todd@todd-drummond.com Copyrights © 2022

Tom

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Roof, Floor, and Wall components: Webs, Chords, Sliders and Wedges – up to 4-boards high! The ProCut™ Linear Saw Series is configurable to any assembly line – providing a safe, accurate way to cut your lumber, while keeping your materials moving on your line.

Maximize your output with ProCut™ Material Handling Systems

Feed the ProCut™ with bulk lumber staged around the Linear Infeed Conveyors. Materials are picked and placed in the order which it is to be processed. Lumber is fed to the ProDeck™ Lumber Infeed - where it accumulates and is dispensed to the sawyer.

From the ProCut™, the cut material is conveyed to an accumulator where it is grouped and placed together with all components for the job. The material is conveyed to the staging area at each truss assembly workstation. The staging areas at the table provide an uninterrupted supply of perfectly cut and organized material.

Eliminate the carts and congested staging areas in your plant. The ProCut™ saw, when used in combination with the ProDeck™ and our Custom Material Handling Systems, can be configured to improve the flow of perfectly cut parts and materials directly to your assembly stations.

The ProCut™ UC Linear Saw Series offers many variations to suit your plant and assembly line. Let us design a system for you.

ProCut™ UC-4 shown with optional Dust Collection unit.

SAWS

2000 SpeedCut MetraCut Saw

2000 SpeedCut MetraCut model SSA17 centerline radial arm saw, provides center-in cutting with turntable analog angle measurement. Includes (1) 16 inch diameter blade with 1 inch diameter arbor bore. Angular capacity 164 degrees with a maximum scarf cut of 31 inches. No conveyors included. 220/440 volt 3 phase electrical required.

$10,793 FOB TN

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2007 Servo Auto Omni Component Saw

Five-blade SERVO controlled saw is configured with [1] 30 inch blade, [3] 20 inch blades and [1] 12 inch blade. This saw includes shaker side-pans, and numerous OEM spare parts, several sharp blades, and Matthews Ink-jet with stand (needs reconditioning). 208/240/480 volt, 3 phase, 100 Amp, and 120 volt, 1 phase electrical, 100 Amp electrical required.ASIS, Where-IS

$44,990 FOB KY

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2003 Hundegger SC 1 Saw

Complete Roof Truss cutting functions including angle cutting with auto-loading conveyor system, auto-discharge. 15KW (20HP) saw motor with a 25″ blade will cut any length lumber from 3’6″ to 24′, and in widths from 1.5″ to 17.75″. Up to 4-board stacked cutting of dimensional 2×4. Saw comes with OEM in-feed and out-feed extensions for processing longer length material (I-Joist). According to Hundegger literature: “The Hundegger Whole House Saw ™ This saw is under power and operational. OEM installation required for successful startup at buyer’s location. Printer needs to be rebuilt. Saw available to ship after 30 September 2022. 480 volt, 3 phase, 65 Amp saw electrical required, 120 volt, 1 phase, 20 Amp computer electrical supply required. 150 PSI at 27 CFM air required.

$44,900 NOW $24,997 FOB BC

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2018 Hornet MC-19 Cutting Stations (Qty of 2)

2018 Hornet model MC-19 chop saw version cutting stations, include 25 ft long infeed and 10 ft long outfeed. Two available at this location. Price is per each. Each station includes infeed pusher, chop saw, marking device, automated controls, outfeed, control panel and CutBuild Automation software. Sold for $59,500 new. 220 volt, 1 phase electrical required for station. 110 volt, 1 phase electrical required for computer.

$47,993 FOB NV

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

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

Why Do I Need the Software Polygons?

By Glenn Traylor

When completing an in-house inspection, a critical plate inspection is required for each truss inspected. This requirement is from ANSI/TPI 1–2014. Specifically, per section 3.7.1:

No less than one critical joint per Truss selected for inspection, on average across all operational set-up locations at the Truss manufacturing facility, shall be inspected. Critical joints have a joint stress index (JSI), as defined in Section 8.11.3, greater than or equal to 0.80.

For the considerations needed when selecting which joints to inspect, see my May 2019 article, How Do I Choose Which Plates for a Critical Plate Inspection?. After those decisions are made, it’s very important to have the proper paperwork or digital information available to complete the critical plate inspection.

When doing the plate placement method (PPM) critical plate inspection, there are three different elements that need to be assessed and recorded for each face of the truss for each critical plate inspection:

1. Angulation of the connector plate,

2. Defects in the plated area, and

3. The location of the center of the connector in relation to the “polygon.”

Recently, at several locations using various plate suppliers, I witnessed clients using the softwaregenerated PPM paperwork without the polygon information. Figure 1 shows an example of PPM paperwork generated without a polygon.

Because the software was not generating the polygon, the in-house inspector was assuming the plate could not deviate from the center shown. In each plant, we investigated why. The answer in each situation was due to settings within the software. For all major plate manufacturers, several switches must be “on” to generate the information. Figure 2 shows the setting within the Alpine software.

Figure 1: PPM paperwork generated without the polygon that would illustrate joint detail (image provided by Alpine).

Figure 2: Example software setting (image provided by Alpine).

When the toggle is unchecked, the joint detail will not generate a polygon. The software is designed this way because generating this information increases the amount of runtime for the software. The software is not only designing the joint, but it’s also looking at the limits of potential locations and generating almost an infinite number of possible solutions.

After the settings have been set to generate the polygon, then the software will generate the third element. This is the step that provides the information required for the inspector, and this is the step that allows greater flexibility in plate positioning. Figure 3 shows the same joint as in Figure 1, but this time it has all of the information needed for assembly and inspection.

The Bottom Line

If your PPM-generated output does not show polygons, then check your settings. The information is readily available in your system, so it’s important that you access it. Do not assume that a plate cannot be shifted – that false assumption will make assembly very difficult, if not impossible.

An ANSI/TPI 1 3rd Party Quality Assurance Authorized Agent covering the Southeastern United States, Glenn Traylor is an independent consultant with almost 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 and ANSI/TPI 1 compliance assessments. Glenn provides new plant and retrofit designs, equipment evaluations, ROI, capacity analysis, and CPM analysis.

Structural Building Components Industry Consultant http://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntraylor

Glenn Traylor

Figure 3: PPM paperwork generated with the polygon setting switched “on” (image provided by Alpine).

Spida Automated Apollo Saw

The Spida Apollo saw with Automation is a computerized, pull-arm type saw used for cutting either wood truss components or wall panel cutting and represents the lowest-cost way to add an automated single-blade saw to your operation. Features include angle cutting from 10 to 170 degrees, 36 inch scarf cuts, patented variable stroke limiter for safety, solid frame and arm design, 17 inch industrial touch screen with enclosure, 7.5 HP motor, plug and play wiring making installations easier and includes cowls for adding a dust extraction system.

Available options include software is available for both trusses and wall panel cutting, laser guide showing exactly the path of the blade before the blade moves, Safe Grip™ Clamp for cutting smaller pieces, clamping table, Plate Marker template providing automated set up for marking joint locations (studs, sub-component locations, etc.) on top/bottom plates, Chop Saw Table for adding another saw for miter/compound or end cuts, prior to feeding the Spida Apollo saw, Portable Dust Extractor and spare blades.

Saw is available in 240 volt, 20A or 460

New Monet DeRobo Linear Saw

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. Call for pricing, FOB MO.

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

New Spida Rolsplicer

New Square 1 Rolsplicer, splices 2"x3", 2"x4" and 2"x6" lumber with a 3 to 4 second cycle time. Presses the lumber together prior to imbedding plates. Embeds plate lengths up to 19 inches. Features two, recessed, simultaneous-activation buttons, guarded motor and sprockets, external lubrication points, 3 HP motor and a footprint of 59" long x 42" wide. Optional 20' infeed and 10' outfeed conveyor available. 480 volt, 3 phase electrical. Other voltages available.

$29,800 FOB IN

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

NEW!

2002 Koskovich Auto Omni 5 Blade

Component Saw

2002 Auto Omni 5 blade automated component saw includes shaker waste conveyor with factory side pans, [3] 20 inch blades, [1] 30 inch blade and [1] 12 inch blade. Fully automated setup with full power length and all axis angulation, single sided setup from operator console, 2×3 through 2×12, 22’ to 3′ @ 90°/90°, and spare blades. 208/240/480 volt, 3 phase, 100 Amp and 120 vac, 90 Amp electrical required.

Price: $19,990 FOB PA

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2008 Alpine PF90 Wall Panel Saw

2008 Alpine PF 90 wall panel cutting and marking system. 3.5″ x 12″ maximum cutting profile, Inkjet option, cuts to 16 ft long. From the OEM’s literature, “Effortlessly handles two of the most critical and difficult processes in any wall panel operation – plate cutting and panel layout. At the rate of 1,000 linear feet per hour or more, uses data from the design software and accurately marks stud, cripple and jack locations, job and panel number, subcomponent and window/door locations, and even sheathing locations on both top and bottom plates simultaneously with ink-jet printing.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

$8,499 FOB NY Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

REPRESENTATIVES

Safety Speed Manufacturing Model 6400 Panel Saw

Safety Speed Manufacturing model 6400 vertical panel saw, 3 HP worm drive motor, 64 inch crosscut, 1 3/4" inch maximum thickness, accuracy within 1/64th of an inch, 10 foot 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 extensions, digital readouts, laser guide, stop bar, vacuum and midway fence. 120 volt. Starting at $5,169 FOB MN.

2019 MiTek Blade Linear Saw (# 2)

MiTek Blade model number 89060-501, with 20′ infeed, face printing via Matthews printer model DOD 8000+ Maxi. Features 17″ saw blade powered by 5HP motor to cut 2×3 through 2×12 boards. Left to Right in-feed in “Reverse U” configuration with 18′ out-feed conveyor. Includes any available spare parts, 230v/3Ph electrical power required, and 110 PSI at 40-50 CFM air pressure as specified by the OEM.

$364,990 FOB CA

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Creating Capacity Through Efficiency

By Tracy Roe

With today’s high-demand market conditions, capacity is everything. Capacity constraints are widespread across our industry and have been for a while now. Many have added the capacity they can afford in the form of additional equipment. Some have been fortunate enough to add labor to utilize existing equipment more hours of every day. What about CREATING capacity through efficiency? How can you design, produce, and ultimately deliver more product with the same resources you have today? The TrueBuild® software suite from Eagle Metal offers solutions to design efficiency that even the savviest design staff members will appreciate.

TrueBuild® Wall Panels comes standard with a feature called Options. Many have heard of it, some have experienced it, everyone needs it. Options allows the user to create multiple versions of the same model in the same project. When it comes time to put together those lot-specific jobs, simply choose the options to include and send that job on down the road.

Build your book of business once and keep using it day after day. Efficiency. By reducing the hours required for design, you have created capacity. Better tools to do the work you already do. From start to finish, Options makes the design process faster. Break Review is another feature that makes quick work of an otherwise tedious process. The live and interactive interface gives complete control to the user.

Options is just one of the many features developed with design efficiency in mind. TrueBuild® Wall Panels is full of opportunities for users to get more work completed. Edit Framing is another feature that puts the power at the fingertips of the designer. Easily and quickly get visual clues and adjust on the fly, on one screen.

These are only a few of the efficiency-driven features you will find in the TrueBuild® suite of software. At Eagle Metal, we are dedicated to this industry and to our customers. If you are already an Eagle Metal customer, we sincerely thank you. If you aren’t a customer yet, give us a call and just let us show you what you might be missing. All software on the market today gets the job done, there’s no doubt. Just ask yourself if your current tools give you optimum efficiency. Call us today for a software demo and some further conversation.

NEW!

$13,149 Base FOB MN

Safety Speed Manufacturing Model 7400 XL Panel Saw

Safety Speed Manufacturing, model 7400 XL*, vertical panel saw, 3 HP induction motor, 64 inch crosscut, 2 1/8" maximum thickness, accuracy within 0.005 inches, 13 foot long 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 digital readouts for vertical cuts, automated length measuring, laser guide, stop bar, vacuum and midway fence. 208-230/460 volt, 3 phase electrical (208-230 single phase, 2 HP power optional +$100.00).

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

We create transformative website and app experiences

Since 2006, we've been helping businesses of all kinds build their online presence. We make websites and software for the construction industry to empower companies to reach a wider customer base and engage their audiences. Companies all around the world work with us to make websites and apps that people actually want to use. Reach out to Wolf X Machina if you're a business and you want a website that actually drives results.

WOLF X MACHINA www.wolfxmachina.com info@wolfxmachina.com

TheJobLine.com Regional Manager J15261

Highly confidential position, Regional Manager opportunity. Experience with operations in the $20-50M range. Responsible for all areas of Truss and Wall Panel Manufacturing operations, safety, inventory control, delivery, and customer service at 3 locations producing $10-15M each. The facilities produce Roof and Floor Trusses.

Compensation $100k+ base range plus substantial bonus based on your performance. Very competitive benefits package. Relocation package is negotiable if not in the region. Please inquire to discuss details. Strictly Confidential! Let's talk to see if this is a perfect opportunity for you.

Give me a call, let's talk off the record 800-289-JOBS (5627)

visit: www.thejobline.com email: mail@thejobline.com STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!

New Monet DeWall Saw Monet DeWall 90/90 wall panel marking saw is a computer numeric controlled wall panel saw with touch screen user interface. Cuts and marks up to 2 boards at a time using 2x4 through 2x8 or cuts and marks one board at a time. Call for pricing, FOB MO

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

In-Line Truss Production Starts With Lumber Picking

This month, we get a sneak peek at a greenfield truss plant that drank from the same punch bowl as some established truss plants to Feed the Beast! Previous articles have highlighted existing truss plants that have literally banked on Enventek’s proven in-line lean manufacturing system to power continued profitable growth.

We began our journey with United Truss in 2014 and, as my October 2022 articles attests, it has since become “The Most Automated, Most Toured Truss Plant” in North America.

February 2022’s “Threading the Needle with a High Rise Lumber PickLine” article describes how an existing truss plant has overcome its extreme building and yard constraints by investing in our complete system from picking lumber to assembling trusses on their existing tables.

September 2022’s article, “ Incremental CapEx ROI and Plant Tours ,” recaps R&K’s incremental CapEx investments starting in 2014, culminating in a triple Lumber PickLine, two autofeeding RetroC saws, 200 autofill carts, and PlantOne TVs over all truss jigs.

Here we have an early drone snapshot of United Edge Structural Components of Smiths Falls, ON (no relation to United Truss, Innisfil, ON). The truss and panel plant will be fed lumber from bunks of lumber on the 150 ft lumber PickLine, collated onto 44 ft of live deck autofeeding the Amazing RetroC with 56 autofill lumber carts. No lumber catchers required. It is a total plant two-person sawing operation.

Edmond Lim, P.Eng. LimTek Solutions Inc.

A lumber PickLine preserves working capital by requiring just a part-time forklift/driver to replenish picking lumber from nearby dense lumber storage. A lumber PickLine is not lumber storage. A lumber PickLine is current truss production lumber. A one-person lumber picking system is an operating cost savings advantage. And, it’s especially advantageous in the winter. Prior to a snow storm, you just need to ensure that the PickLine is stocked with the lumber needed to continue cutting while it’s snowing. The lumber picker can readily uncover lumber, pick the lumber, and cover up the lumber bunk again. There’s no need to plow the entire yard.

Any worker can pick lumber. Using a WiFi tablet, just follow the picklist. The PickLine will keep count of the pieces as they pass through the sensor array, check the lumber width, and verify the length of each stick of lumber picked against the picklist.

Keeping culled lumber outside results in fewer re-cuts and guarantees consistent sawing efficiency and productivity. If a bad piece gets missed (see second piece from the right in the photo), by the time it gets to the sawyer (who has the final QC check), the sawyer can readily grab a replacement board while the RetroC continues to cut. Furthermore, the sawyer can have a quick teaching moment with the lumber picker at the same time.

The real magic happens with the autofill lumber carts placed behind the Amazing RetroC component saw. The sophisticated SpeedCatch batching software will organize the lumber in multiple carts for an entire batch of trusses for left and right of table. The collated piece organization will help your truss builders build trusses just by reducing the number of steps and saving the time hunting for pieces.

Our training wheels protocol teaches improvement steps like this. Here, the left-most cart is facing the table the wrong way, which will require piece “8W” to be helicoptered. Also, the plates should not have been placed on the table as shown. The plates should be dealt out in pairs at each joint per truss, having been pre-picked collated for left to right of bottom chord and right to left of top chord.

With our organization and optimization, no job is too complicated. Where a typical plant will struggle, our system will keep production running smoothly as we Feed the Beast!

No more “mini batches” are needed in our system. It produces real batches for real truss production just the way it should be. A truss build order like the one shown would bring most saws to a crawl. Here, we need only 16 autofill carts to hold and collate 278 pieces of lumber to build seven unique trusses for a total of 20 trusses. The RetroC with SpeedCatch will essentially batch-cut this truss order and the carts will end up in front of the tables to build the trusses organized as if the lumber was “cut-by-truss.”

What starts at the PickLine ends at the table with trusses produced smoothly and professionally. You’re certain to see improvements in your QC and your bottom line.

When you’re ready to 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

Monet

FWA 500 Floor Web Saw

floor truss web saw, cuts

inches

$69,997

NOW $59,997 FOB BC

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

WOOD WALL COMBO STATION

The Wood Wall Combo Station is an all-in-one system that frames, squares, and sheathes wall panels for quality panels every time. The Combo Station is designed for low-volume, entry-level operations and is compatible with lumber from 2×3 through 2×10. Designed with the rigors of a panel shop in mind, our equipment is developed with longevity and quality.

The Combo Station can be stand-alone or integrated into a full production line. Various sizes and configurations are available.

BENEFITS

• Ergonomic working height

• Improved squareness vs. traditional methods

• Superior wall panel consistency

• Flexibility with fastener spacing

4x2 floor truss webs

765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

New Spida floor truss finish roller press, four-foot wide (other widths available) x 3 1/2” tall throat. Use of this process speeds assembly and transports finished truss away from the production area, adds quality and peace of mind for your finished floor trusses. The unique “uni-body” construction creates a ridged machine that does a final press of the connector plates for complete embedment into lumber, saving wear on your floor assembly machine. 12” diameter rolls, 7 1/2 HP motor, 80# chain, 114 FPM speed, emergency photoelectric shut-off, chain and sprocket guards, integrated brake. Available options include: other roller widths, Heavy-Duty upgrade, gear motor drive, and soft start controls. 480 volt, 3 phase electrical. Other voltages available.

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•

• 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

If you average 4.5 trusses per setup and 5 minutes build timehere’s how the numbers compare.

(4.5 × 5.0) + .25 = 22.75 min. (.25 ÷ 22.75) × 100 = 1.1% (4.5 × 5.0) + 13.5 = 36 min. (13.5 ÷ 36) × 100 = 37.5% (13.5 minutes setup time)

(4.5X5.0)+13.5=36min. (13.5÷36)x100=37.5% (13.5 minutes setup time) Total Job Run Time: 36 mins. 5280 Board FT/Shift with Manual Jigging

(4.5X5.0)+.25=22.75min. (.25÷22.75)x100=1.1% (15 seconds setup time) Total Job Run Time: 22.75 mins. 8640 Board FT/Shift with WizardPDS® Jigging

TRUSS EQUIPMENT

2018 Clark Mini Barn Press, builds rigid frames for sheds from 8 foot to 14 foot spans, to 3′-6″ height. Builds mansard and rafter shapes. Includes (5) track mounted heads with 8″ x 10″ platens, material clamps, 10 HP hydraulic power unit with manifold for air and fluid, ball valve controls, mounting track and all available jigging. 460 volt, 3 phase electrical required.

$19,997 FOB TX Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

2007 Clark Industries Horizontal Truss Stacker Model HVS, Two Unit, 2-Zone, 14’ Horzontal Stacking System. Two lifting units (one master and one slave) with integral electrics. A truss sensing system consisting of adjustable laser sensors mounted on slide rails. One indoor electric control enclosure & panel w/PLC and manual controls. A stacker-conveyor interface package comprised of (1) mounted 3-push button enclosure and (1) remotely mounted 2-push button enclosure (pause/ emergncy stop). Hand-held Wampfler Remote Control System. 8 stacking rails and 4 stripping posts. Stack 1 5/8” thick x 14’ tall trusses up to 30 high. Stack a truss in approximately 40 seconds (cycle time). Stack up to 55’ or longer trusses on each side of the conveyor with minor assistance for truss sag, shorter lengths can be stacked unassisted. Excludes 77’ Walk Through Conveyor System. Two systems available at $25,000 NOW $19,900 Each. FOB NE. Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

WESCANA FLOOR TRUSS MACHINE

• 7' x 40' Table with 3/4" Steel Table Top

• Two 5' Park Sections

• Truss Depths from 12" to 26"

• Truss Flip-Over Arms

• Side or End Ejectors

• Bui lt-In Camber for Clamping on Both Sides

• Air Cylinders Under Table

• 2 Contr ol Valves for Clamping

• 1 Contr ol Valve for FlipOver Arms

• 1 Control Vlave for Ejectors

• 24" Diameter x 1" Wall Thickness Roller

• 10 HP / 3 Phase Gear Motor

• Front & Rear Emergency Shut-Off Bars

• Joystick Control

• 2' per Second Travel Speed

gantry system with Wizard automated jigging. Features (18) table sections with ejector rollers, (34) rails of Wizard automation at 24″ OC spacing for approximately 68′ of automation, (1) 8′ park stations, (1) 8′ park station with integrated conveyors leading to final roller, (1) table guided, pendant controlled gantry head, (1) 24″ diameter finish roller press, (8) 14′ interior idler rollers, (8) 14′ interior powered rollers, (13) short (approx. 7′) idler conveyors, and (4) 14′ 3-roller idler beds with an additional (2) powered rollers and (2) idler rollers outside. 208V, 3 phase power required. $674,990 FOB CA

Table Guided Gantry System by Spida Machinery

2018 Clark Mini Barn Press

By Rob Bellian Sales and Marketing Manager

Supply Chain Optimization

With the COVID-19 virus still a live threat, the state of the disruption to supply chains continues to be severe as a number of regions and economies emerge into a very different world.

As everyone in business knows, supply chains are critical to supplying goods and services quickly, safely, and securely. The unprecedented supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 created severe operational and financial consequences, with enterprises having to address issues including:

• demand drops and surges by segment,

• supply shortages,

• inventory placement challenges, and

• reduced productivity.

Multiple lockdowns continue to slow or even temporarily stop the flow of raw materials and goods. However, to some extent the pandemic has not necessarily created these challenges but has accelerated and magnified problems that already existed in the supply chain.

In the aftermath of the severe disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, many enterprises like Vekta are planning to shift supply chain strategies to become more resilient, collaborative, and networked with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. To do this, increased investment in supply chain technologies like AI and robotic processes such as automation are of significant priority.

Together with efficiency, the reskilling of supply chain workers is also a top priority over the next few years. This should not be surprising as cost-optimization in the supply chain will always be a focus, even in the face of building out additional resiliency.

We are already seeing a shift from linear supply chains to more integrated networks. Enabling this change are technologies such as IoT devices or sensors that provide valuable data on where goods are in the chain and their condition.

The supply chain of the future will need to be more agile, flexible, efficient, resilient, and most importantly digitally networked. Current supply chain shortages have proven and exposed the longstanding weaknesses in how we make and move goods.

Fast-changing consumer preferences, more significant environmental factors garnering greater influence, staffing disruptions, and now newer emerging global trade frictions are all key drivers for change. These tensions, particularly those around trade, technology, and innovation, suggest it’s highly unlikely we will simply revert back to the cooperative past.

Companies like Vekta are using this challenging period to discover where investments are needed, evolving the supply chain planning function and repositioning the organization for growth once economies rebound.

Applying modern technologies to enable greater levels of automation is the answer. By addressing supply chain automation investment, companies will reap the benefit of real-time decisionbased information.

Combined with increases in inventory of critical products and components as well as materials wherever possible, dual sourcing and diversifying supply bases as well as localizing supply and production networks are some key points to consider to mitigate risk, build resilience, and overcome disruption.

As we have learned, there are our five key actions that can be taken to build more agility into your supply chain:

1. Identify those products that are most critical for sustained growth and the skills required to support them to develop smarter inventory strategies.

2. Ensure a high level of communication with your workforce to ensure you are addressing their mental well-being as well as their ongoing safety.

3. Understand the implications of these newer challenges on your existing contract provisions in both supply and demand with suppliers and customers.

4. Make fast and accurate decisions on any capital investment required to redeploy or build upon greater flexibility in your processes.

5. Leverage technology platforms and talent wherever possible, including your own and partner ecosystem digital platforms, which will reduce the functional silos that exist.

Overall, supply chain disruption and the volatility of the past few years have tested most enterprises. How we weather these challenges today will position us for continued growth tomorrow. This is why supply chain improvement and visibility are, or should be, a top priority in nearly all organizational business strategies.

Learn more a t EagleMetal.com

Design and build faster than ever.

From plans, to walls, to panels, and everything above. Introducing a new level of design tools, built from the ground up.

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PANEL EQUIPMENT

2016 Triad exterior and interior wall panel lines with conveyors and terminal stations. Builds 2×4 and 2×6 walls up to 16’ in length with wall heights from 6’-9” to 10’-2” and includes Component Nailer model FTN and panel lift model XPL1000:

Exterior line includes (2) sets of Rough Opening Assembly tables model RO-CAT, framing table model Gen II with manual nail-gun tool dollies each side & stud locators at 16” and 24” o.c., squaring and sheathing table model Gen II with staple & routing combo bridge & side shift for seams @ 3” & 6” o.c. fasteners, top & bottom plate gun mounts for 6” o.c. fasteners, auto stop & tilt features, (3) 10 ft skatewheel conveyors, (4) 20 ft x 36″ roller conveyors and (4) powered infeed conveyors with chain track. Interior line includes Rough Opening Assembly table model RO-CAT, framing table model Diamond Quad with manual nail-gun tool dollies each side, pop-up rollers & stud locators at 16” and 24” o.c., (2) 10 ft skatewheel conveyors, (4) 20 ft x 36″ roller conveyors.

System sold for over $223,000 new. Sold as one system only. 110 volt, 1 phase electrical required. 100 PSI air required.

Used Triad G2 Wall Assembly Equipment

Used Triad wall assembly equipment includes 16 ft x 12′-3″ max height framing station, model G2, with (2) two-tool dollies, squaring/ sheathing combo table, model G2 SH-SQ, with multi-tool mount nailing bridge and separate manual-drive router bridge, quantity of (6) 10 ft long x 2 ft wide idler roller conveyors with (4) legs, and Triad model FTCN component nailing station with four Hitachi NR83A nail tools.

Framer includes 16″ and 24″ color-coded stud locators, pop-up skate wheel conveyors, tool dollies have two tool mounts each (no tools) and powered height adjustment. Sheathing bridge includes joy-stick controls, tool offset, tool tilt, laser guide, power return and mounts for up to (23) Hitachi nail tools. Router and all available spare parts included. 120 volt, 1 phase, 30 Amp electrical required. 100 PSI air required.

PANEL EQUIPMENT

Wall Panel Work-Station (Green)

Custom fabricated, heavy-duty table ideal for producing rough openings, rake-walls, even interior walls. Table features a squaring lip, double-row pneumatic liftouts, duplex 110v outlet for hand tools. Table dimensions: 16’ 4 1/2” long, 9’ 5” wide, 30 1/2” high.

$9,490 FOB KY Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Wall Panel Work-Station (Blue)

Custom fabricated, heavy-duty table ideal for producing rough openings, rake-walls, even interior walls. Table features a squaring lip, double-row pneumatic liftouts, duplex 110v outlet for hand tools.

Table dimensions: 17’ 8 3/4” long, 9’ 5” wide, 25 1/2” high.

$9,490 FOB KY

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

How Panels Plus Nailed It This Year

By Tim Grahn General Manager

This has been a very busy year for Panels Plus with shipments up 47% from 2021. I’m glad to see all the work out there and I’m grateful for the customers that have asked Panels Plus to help them increase their production with our equipment.

As we look back on this year and look forward to the year ahead, here are a few items I want to highlight.

1. New Panels Plus Location. With the increase in business in 2022 and the planned busi ness increase expected for 2023, we needed to evaluate our space. The decision was made to rent a larger facility to accommodate the increased production expected to take place next year until a new space can be built. I’m excited to report that the entire Panels Plus operation has been moved to a new facility lo cated at 411 South 1st Avenue, Albert Lea, MN. We were able to complete this move without impacting sched uled shipments to our customers.

Since moving to the new building, most components are powder coated instead of using liquid paint. This change improves paint durability and provides excellent coverage. I believe that our customers will appreciate this coating improvement that was planned into the location change.

2. New Territory Sales Manager. I would like to welcome our newest Territory Sales Manager, Paul Schmitt, to Panels Plus. He will be training with Tim Kaasa for several months. Paul’s role has been added so we can continue to provide the best service to both our new and existing customers. Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Wisconsin–Stout, and he is currently training with our team to grow his understanding of the industry and our wide variety of product offerings.

3. Automated Sheathing Station Update. Did you see the updated Automated Sheathing Station at the BCMC show this year? Our new programming and controls resource made huge improvements to this machine. This sheather will be a great addition to our lineup. These will be available for purchase as soon as the field testing is complete. Look out for more information on this product soon!

4. Innovance R&D Group. The Innovance R&D group is busy working on the automated wall stacker. The initial design concept is complete, and we are working through component designs, reviews, and cost analysis. This product could be available in July.

5. A New Industry for Panels Plus. Do you build sheds? This year, Panels Plus has been working with two separate skid shed manufacturers to develop a Shed Combo Station to build floor sections and wall panels for the skid shed industry. This new product is similar to our current Combo Station but has been adapted to meet the growing demands of the Shed Industry. The new product accommodates the runners of the skid shed that span the base of the floor and can also accommodate a variety of shed sizes. The Shed Combo Station can manufacture sheds ranging in size from 6’ W x 6’ L and all the way up to 16’ W x 40’ L. The styles of skid sheds range from a simple tool shed to a classic barn or portable garage with many optional add-ons (such as porches, lofts, windows, and flower boxes). The skid sheds typically have two or four runners depending on the size of the shed. If you build sheds and never thought about this type of equipment, please give us a call.

As always, I encourage you to visit the Panels Plus website for all the latest news and literature. Panels Plus is also on LinkedIn and YouTube. Please visit us at www.panplus.com or write to us at sales@panplus.com

The holiday season is here, and many people get together with their families. I hope that you find time to get away from work to be with your family and friends. At Panels Plus, we are wishing you and your family a joyous holiday season.

2021 Panels Plus Tilt Table

2021 Panels Plus Tilt Table provides the ability to easily access all sides of the wall panel, including the backside. The table includes horizontal rollers, pneumatic lift cylinders, and a moveable control pedestal. The table pneumatically lifts the wall panel from lying flat to a 75-degree angle. Once the panel is rolled into the tilt table, it is clamped tightly in place and will stay secure when tilted, allowing for easy access to work on the backside of the wall to inspect the wall panel for “shiners” or install horizontal blocking, windows, etc. OEM Specifications: here $37,993- FOB VA Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Reconditioned dual 16’ foot long light bars, includes spare light board. Light bars are compatible with all light-bar equipped or ready IBS/Comsoft, Panels Plus, etc. wall panel equipment driven by ITW (IBS) or other compatible design software. 110 volt, single phase electrical. $18,890 NOW $16,550 FOB MN.

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.

Industry-leading support from design to done.

Building strong components requires innovation. Building a solid company requires teamwork. That’s why the people at Simpson Strong-Tie are committed to supporting you with a full suite of professional services, technical expertise and training resources. Based on your objectives, we offer tailored solutions to complement your team and help optimize manufacturing operations. Our open-platform design and management software also makes it easy to collaborate with project partners anywhere they’re located. So you can boost performance all the way from design to delivery.

Put industry-leading solutions and service on your team. To learn more, visit our website at go.strongtie.com/componentsolutions or call (800) 999-5099.

Simpson Strong-Tie ® Building Technology | Software and Service for Smarter Business

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2021 Triad Router Bridge & Portion of V-Track

2021 Triad Routing Bridge with approximately (20) feet of v-track. Fits over tables that build up to 12′ nominal height wall panels. Includes powered automatic bridge return, powered vertical router movement, manual fine adjustment wheel, manual vertical router travel with chain drive and (1) Milwaukee router, catalog #5625-20 120 volt, 1 phase, 15 Amp electrical required. No table included.

$28,970 NOW $5,000 FOB BC

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Floor Cassette Framing Station

FOB: MN

IBS Tool Bridge & Router Bridge

IBS multi-tool bridge with (24) tool stations. Bridge features auto-return, button controls and laser guide mount. Fits up to 12′ nominal rail centers. IBS router bridge features (1) router, laser guide mount and lever-switch button controls. Fits up to 12′ nominal rail centers. Sold as a pair. Includes all available floor mounted, v-rail. Both bridges missing laser sub-assembly. 120vac, 120psi air. $15,975 FOB UT

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

twm@thejobline.com

New Wall Panel Lift

• 8' to 12' Wall Heights

• 1,000 Lb Capacity

• Weight: 120 Lbs

• Excludes: Electric Hoist & Freestanding Bridge Crane $1,850 FOB NE

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

New Panels Plus floor framing machine, supports the structural members creating floor sections from 2" x 6" LVL through 2" x 10" to 2" x 12" dimensional lumber, 20" deep wood floor trusses or engineered wood / I-joists. Standard footprint of floor panels (cassettes) up to 12' wide x 45' long. Table consists of a fixed section and a track-guided, moveable section controlled by either a foot switch or push-buttons.

Includes a series of color-coded locator pins at 16", 19.2 and 24" on-center spacing and clamping with squaring feature including foot pedal control. The locators individually flip down if a joist comes out on top of them. After the floor is complete and unclamped, the floor section can be raised up on skate-wheel conveyors and rolled out or lifted off the table using an overhead crane. Table height is 24.5", OAL 45.5 ft, OAW 14.5 ft. 120 volt, 1 phase, 15 Amp electrical required. 90 to 120 PSIG at 15 CFM air required.

“Over the years Alpine ensured our quality and production kept improving. Working with Alpine has been a 22 year friendship as well as a partnership!”

— Roy Bedient Manager/ Production Manager, Warman Truss

/ Viking Wall Equipment

Triad squaring table with two bridges and one Viking power conveyor. Either bridge fits on the squaring table. Builds from 6′-9″ to 12′-3″ tall wall panels to 16′-0″ long. Triad squaring table, model G2SHSQ, has powered clamp / unclamp controls on either end of the fixed side of table.

Triad nailing bridge, model PSTT, has (24) tool mount locations with Paslode tool mounts, auto return and bottom plate

sight mount. Changed by owner from staple tools to

tools. Router bridge is manual travel. Viking powered conveyor 23 ft long with support platforms alongside both chains. Forward powered drive only. Foot pedal controls for drive motors. 120 volt, 1 phase electrical required. 100 PSI air required.

AN ITW COMPANY

By Russell Tangren, PE

Understanding Plate Tooth Count and Placement

Imagine a third-party truss inspector is in the yard checking truss plates as part of quality control. The plate placement diagram indicates the web needs twenty-five teeth; however, the inspector counts twenty. Even though the shop positioned the plates as designed, is the plate placement correct?

In short, yes. The size and placement are acceptable. The inspector is seeing the rounding done by the software. Alpine software will engineer plates by the coverage of the plate on each wood member as well as the plate’s angle. The Plate Placement Diagram is produced by the software and will highlight the expected number of teeth for each member covered, as required by TPI. Note that this number is rounded to the lowest whole tooth. The diagram will also include additional placement considerations for quality control.

Plate Placement & Teeth –The Technical Answer

Counting teeth on the end or edge of members

The teeth on the end and edges of the connected members should be included. The Alpine Software adjusts for some “dead zones” at the ends and edges of the members, these dead areas are accounted for in the plate size. Understanding the end and edge distances, the ES Report (ESR1118) has two values for plates, “net” and “gross.” Table 1 illustrates how the net capacity per square inch of plate is larger than the gross capacity. It is important to remember the capacities given in this table are on a per square inch of covered wood. The gross area omits the end and edge distances. This reduces the capacity of the entire plate to account for losses in the dead zone.

Table 1 from Alpine’s Acceptance Report outlining the capacities of Alpine’s connector plates and products (ICC Evaluation Service revised January 2021).

To illustrate, a 1.5×3 plate holding a compression web to a chord. The web is DF-L. The plate is in the AA orientation on the web. The plate is entered on the web/chord joint. Per Table 1, the gross capacity is 206 Psi/plate. The available area for the gross capacity is 1.5”x1.5” or 2.25 in2. To calculate the plate’s tooth holding capacity, the equation is 2.25 in2 x 206 Psi = 463.5 lbs.

When using the Net Area Method, the tooth holding capacity is not reduced, and the end distances are removed from the available plate area (see orange areas in Figure 1). For example, 6×6 Plate on a 2×4 the covered area would be 3.5” wide by 2.5” long. The table shows the end distance for wave plates is ½”. The National Design Standard (NDS) addresses this information as well as specifies the fastener (plate teeth) capacity reduction due to distance from the ends of members. Whereas the gross area uses a reduced per-tooth capacity over the entire covered area.

Figure 1. Orange area is available wood for plate capacity using the net plating values. Grey is end and edge distances. Please refer to ANSI/TPI 1 for additional information.

How the software accounts for the end and edge distances of the connected members

Founded on extensive research, the IntelliVIEW Software calculates the capacity of plates based on the area of the member covered and angle of the plate. This produces a capacity per square inch of coverage area. The software then uses this capacity per square inch to calculate the minimum plate area. Understanding how many teeth per square inch there are in the plates and using the covered area, the software calculates the number of teeth in the member.

For example, two webs and a bottom chord being joined by a 3×5 plate, the IntelliVIEW Software calculates that each web needs 2.80 in2 of plate coverage to be able to transfer the loads, and 6 in2 in the chord. The CQ factor would allow the shop to have a placement tolerance of ¼”. The plate is centered where all three members touch. In this location the chord will have a Gross Plate Area of 7.5 in2. With the ¼” placement tolerance, the Gross Area in the bottom chord becomes 1.25”x5”, 6.25in2. Alpine’s wave plate has 8 teeth per square inch. The number of teeth in the chord is calculated: 1.5 x 5 x 8 = 60 nominal teeth, Figure 2. If the shop shifted the plate down, the Gross Area = 70 teeth (Figure 3). If the plate were shifted up, the Gross Area = 50 teeth.

Alpine engineers thoroughly tested the design of each connector plate type. The results are expressed as capacity per square inch of plate into the wood member. The IntelliVIEW Software calculates the smallest feasible plate for each joint. After many checks are performed and the smallest plate is determined, the software analyzes the area of coverage (in square inches) and multiplies that area by eight to report the number of whole teeth required. This calculation sometimes will result in a perfectly acceptable plate location, but the number of teeth may not match the reported number due to rounding. If the plate is located as noted on the Plate Placement Diagram, the joint will be sufficient to transfer the expected loads regardless of the number of teeth present.

For more information or questions, please contact your Alpine Structural Engineer.

Reference(s):

1. Truss Plate Institute (TPI) = ANSI/TPI 1–2014

2. National Design Standard (NDS) 2015 edition, National Design Specification® (NDS®) for Wood Construction, ANSI/AWC. Approval date September 30, 2014

3. ESR1118 = ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-1118, https://icc-es.org/report-listing/esr-1118/

Figure 3. Plate as built, with a ¼” shift down results in 70 teeth into the chord.

Figure 2. Plate in the nominal position with 60 teeth into the chord.

IT’S ONE THING IN LIFE TO MAKE THE CUT. IT’S ANOTHER TO MAKE IT BETTER.

Designed for high-volume floor truss web output with even greater safety, the Monet DeSauw FWA-500 AC (for “automated controls”) offers the very latest in operator-friendly saw technology. Perfect for manufacturers running floor trusses in large volumes with variable web design, the 500 AC features automation for all blades, including the fixed cut-off blade for minimal waste. And without any need to open the saw motor cabinets, except for periodic service, you’ll benefit from enhanced safety as well. You might say that with the fully automated FWA-500 AC, Monet DeSauw has set a new standard. Again. Contact us today to discuss how this exceptional machine can positively impact your production goals.

New Spida Wall Extruder Panel Assembly System

The concept of the Spida Extruder is to bring materials to a central location as the product is extended or “extruded” to create the framed wall panel. A single operator in one central location, feeds the studs and sub-components in-between the plates, while the Extruder does the nailing. The Extruder features (4) servo-controlled, indexing, bracket-mounted tools that can be coil or stick fed, hands-free clamping of plates and is adjustable for wall heights starting from 5’-11”, with options to build walls to 12‘3”, from 2×4″ to 2×8″ lumber.

An option is available to add an intermediate tool mount, for fastening blocking between studs, a notoriously slow process in wall panelization that usually reduces production. The Extruder design makes this connection much easier for the operator, keeping your wall production high.

The support stations are adjacent to the Extruder and operators at those stations build the sub-component openings, sub-assemblies (like ladders) which are conveyed to the central operator’s station, where they are dropped and nailed into the panel in sequence.

Conveyors and transfer tables of various configurations are used to bring the parts to the Extruder. Each design takes advantage of curved or raised conveyors to efficiently bring materials to the Extruder and fit within your plant’s material flow in the most efficient way possible.

Once the wall panel is framed, it proceeds by conveyor to a squaring station and a sheathing station for completion. Here too, the sheathing is fastened as the panel passes by the sheathing bridge with its’ (4) four, high-speed tools. There are options for router bridges and automated ply loading. The Spida Sheather is a fully automated, CNC machine that features touch screen controls and tilt nailing at seams.

Over ten years in development and use in Australia and Asia, there are now several locations using the Extruder here in North America. A typical system can be installed in about (5) hours thanks to the modular, “plug-and-play” design of the Spida wall equipment. 120 volt, 1 phase, 15 Amp electrical required and 110 PSI air @ 6 CFM required for each Extruder and Sheather station.

About Those Rising Interest Rates…

Carl Villella, CLFP President, Acceptance Leasing & Financing Service

It’s true that interest rates have been rising. With inflation at its highest in decades, the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) had few options but to raise interest rates in its attempt to cool the upward movement of prices.

And yet the job market continues strong, indicating the economy is still humming along. Here is what we are seeing: Business owners want to lock in rates, fearing they might go higher, and continue to finance the equipment they need to keep their businesses in a strong, firm position.

We see this trend as a win-win situation for our clients. If interest rates continue to rise, they’ve locked in a relatively lower rate now. If the Fed’s strategy is successful, and inflation is contained or falls, the economy will continue to provide the demand our clients will benefit from with their newly acquired equipment.

What is your strategy for these uncertain times? We invite you to talk to us about your plans to acquire new or used equipment that will propel your business forward.

There are many financing programs available. We’ll fit you with the one that best suits your particular situation. Our one-page application makes the process easy and effortless. Benefit from our expertise in the business to help you close the deal with the best rate and terms for you.

The only collateral will be the equipment you finance. Once the deal has closed, no additional financial reporting is required. In many cases, we can obtain an approval based on three months of bank statements.

We are Acceptance Leasing and Financing Service, Inc. We’re proud to be celebrating our 30th anniversary in business this year. Established in 1992, we pride ourselves on our Certified Leasing and Financing Professional designation. We are a member of SBCA and a frequent attendee of the BCMC tradeshow. We can provide financing for any new and, regardless of age, used equipment.

We look forward to working with you.

New PROSTACK

WALL PANEL STACKER

Developed in a commercial wall panel production facility this is the remarkable ProStack, fully automated wall panel stacker. The ProStack relieves 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 feet in height. The ProStack automatically centers each layer including multiple wall segments on the same layer, and the ability to “create” fork lift pockets for ease of loading in your yard or on the build site. (Please see video for more.) 208 volt, 3 phase, 45.3 full Amp load electrical required. No air required. Footprint is 26′-5″L x 19′-3″W.

Here are some of the features of the ProStack Wall Panel Stacker:

• Wall Length Max – 20’

• Wall Height Range – 8’ to 12’

• Material 2×4″ through 2×8″

• Total Weight capacity – 6,000 lbs.

• Total stack Height Max – 6’

• This unit stacks on-center

• System is able to stack on center layers that have multiple wall segments

• Siemens controls

• Full manual override controls via HMI

• Speed – 45-60 seconds per wall layer

$185,970 FOB NV

2016 Triad Wall Assembly Equipment

2016 Triad exterior and interior wall panel lines with conveyors and terminal stations. Builds 2×4 and 2×6 walls up to 16’ in length with wall heights from 6’-9” to 10’-2” and includes Component Nailer model FTN and panel lift model XPL1000:

Exterior line includes (2) sets of Rough Opening Assembly tables model RO-CAT, framing table model Gen II with manual nail-gun tool dollies each side & stud locators at 16” and 24” o.c., squaring and sheathing table model Gen II with staple & routing combo bridge & side shift for seams @ 3” & 6” o.c. fasteners, top & bottom plate gun mounts for 6” o.c. fasteners, auto stop & tilt features, (3) 10 ft skatewheel conveyors, (4) 20 ft x 36″ roller conveyors and (4) powered infeed conveyors with chain track.

Interior line includes Rough Opening Assembly table model RO-CAT, framing table model Diamond Quad with manual nail-gun tool dollies each side, pop-up rollers & stud locators at 16” and 24” o.c., (2) 10 ft skatewheel conveyors, (4) 20 ft x 36″ roller conveyors.

System sold for over $223,000 new. Sold as one system only. 110 volt, 1 phase electrical required. 100 PSI air required.

2003 JDH TRUSSMASTER SIDEOFFLOADING TRUSS TRAILER

10,000 Lb Tandem Axles (Dual Wheels). 26,000 GVWR. Deliver Trusses Vertically. Stretch from 18' to 38'. Raise Loads Hydraulically. Air Brakes. $6,900 FOB CA

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

2006 A-NU-PROSPECT

Step Deck Roller Trailer

40'-0" Lower Deck, 12'-6" Upper Deck

Hydraulic Tilt on Lower Deck

Lower Deck has 3 Split Load Lifts

Roller Locks (upper & lower decks) GVWR: 37,000 KG (81,400 LB)

Air Ride Suspension

Tires & Brakes are Good Winches & Straps Price in US Dollars

$30,000 NOW $24,900 FOB ON Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

1995 Pines 45' Chip Trailer

• Modified by LMI TENN

• 8" Floor Cross Members

• Reinforced Roof

• 22.5 Tubeless Tires

• Sl

Used 3-Head SLLasers System

Used (mix of 2013 & 2014) SL-Lasers, model PD-6, green laser system. Three head system with PC in stand-alone enclosure & one spare head that need diodes and galvos. (Parts are available for this model by OEM at an additional cost.) Lasers project roof truss, floor truss and wall panel design images accurately onto building surface, for faster setup and fabrication times. (For further details, please see listing on WTS website.)

$49,970 NOW $39,970 FOB AL 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Used 6-Head SLLasers System

Used (mix of 2013 & 2014) SL-Lasers, model PD-6, green laser system. Six head system with PC in stand-alone enclosure & two spare heads that need diodes and galvos. (Parts are available for this model by OEM at an additional cost.) Lasers project roof truss, floor truss and wall panel design images accurately onto building surface, for faster setup and fabrication times. (For further details, please see listing on WTS website.) $98,970 NOW $88,970 FOB AL 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Building Confidence: Understanding the Technology Behind MSR Lumber

By the MSR Lumber Producers Council

In our October article, Because Good Ingredients Matter, we focus on the word quality and the many ways that MSR lumber has become synonymous with high quality structural building components. Having laid the groundwork for why MSR has become so important for optimizing truss designs and an increasing potential to lower installed costs, this month we’ll take a look at another important piece of the puzzle: confidence

For more than 60 years, MSR lumber has documented and tested structural design values. In contrast to visual grades, machine graded lumber is produced by measuring physical properties of each piece of lumber in the production line, and manufacturers are required to test samples during each shift. Machine graded lumber certification and quality control procedures are based on lumber standards approved by the American Lumber Standards (ALS) Committee or the Canadian Lumber Standards (CLS) Accreditation Board, and QC testing takes place on a per-shift basis for all machine graded lumber products.

Depending on the grade requirements, machine graded lumber is tested for one or more of the following engineering characteristics of wood: E, Fb, and Ft (as defined in the graphic). There are three major types of grading machines available today. The first type directly measures the stiffness of the lumber. The Continuous Lumber Tester (CLT) is the most common type of stiffness-based grading machine in use. The second type of machine directly measures the density of the lumber. The X-ray Lumber Gauge (XLG) is the most common type of density-based grading machine in use. The third type of machine uses acoustic resonance and density to calculate the stiffness of the lumber.

These machines identify the lumber based on algorithms keyed to the predictor property (either stiffness or density). Specific visual overrides are applied and per-shift off-line testing is performed to verify the assigned properties. Because 100 percent of the production goes through the machine and the process is verified each shift, each board is sorted on the same parameters, ensuring production is uniform and predictable.

This non-destructive testing process verifies that production meets design requirements for all product shipped to customers. This means that, even as timber growing practices and environmental conditions change, the process ensures the consistent strength and performance of each board

As with visual grades of lumber, machine graded lumber is identified by the grade stamp of a lumber

grading agency approved by the ALS and CLS. The distinguishing characteristics of the grade stamps for machine graded lumber include supplementary design values for the grade. For MSR, the grade stamp includes both the allowable bending stress (Fb) and bending stiffness (E).

“We’ve been using MSR pretty much since day one when SCS was founded in 1987. It’s a crucial element for roof and floor trusses, especially with today’s challenging designs for residential and commercial construction. By using MSR, we reduce the overall fiber required for the design of our products. For example, a top chord on a roof truss might require 2x6 if only #2 is available but that can often be replaced with a 2x4 in MSR.”

—Dave Kipp, Structural Component Systems (SCS), MSRLPC member

Consider the Benefits of Membership

The MSR Lumber Producers Council (MSRLPC) represents the interests of machine stress rated lumber producers in the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, utilization, and technical aspects of MSR and MEL lumber. Suppliers, cus tomers, and professionals may join as Associate members. Members enjoy reliable market data and opportunities for education, networking and online marketing.

For more resources on MSR technology, including a video on MSR history and technology, visit the Education page of the MSRLPC website. If you’re interested in a more immersive MSR experience, plan now to attend the 2023 MSR Workshop, April 26–28 in San Antonio, Texas. LEARN MORE & JOIN

New Hain Company Micro Mini Measuring System

Video Here

$3,499 FOB CA Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

MISC.

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 $7,890

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

We create transformative website and app experiences

Since 2006, we've been helping businesses of all kinds build their online presence. We make websites and software for the construction industry to empower companies to reach a wider customer base and engage their audiences. Companies all around the world work with us to make websites and apps that people actually want to use. Reach out to Wolf X Machina if you're a business and you want a website that actually drives results.

WOLF X MACHINA

AMI Industrial Floor Carts

AMI's industrial floor trucks (material carts) are designed of hardwood construction, fitted with space-age phenolic, roller-bearing wheels, and ball bearing swivel casters for strength and durability. AMI's phenolic wheels resist shock without chipping. They are non-sparking, non-marking, and can be operated continuously between -50℉ and 260℉. They are unaffected by grease, oil or debris on your shop floor.

Series "B" AMI Industrial Floor Truck

Our swivel casters are precision built with perfectly aligned raceways. All cold-form parts are made to exacting tolerances from heavy-gauge steel, and are hardened for severe service and long wear. Series B-4 carts include four casters, one at each corner, to prevent "tri-cycling" of long lumber loads.

Standard Models Available

Max Load Weight (lbs.)

2748 27" x 48" Series "B" & "C" 2500 3248 32" x 48" Series "B" & "C" 2500 3260 32" x 60" Series "B" & "C" 2800 3660 36" x 60" Series "B" & "C" 2800 3672 36" x 72" Series "B" 4000 4072 40" x 72" Series "B" 4000 3696 36" x 96" Series "B" 4000 4896 48" x 96" Series "B" 4000

*Other models and sizes are available on request. FOB NC.

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

1 1/4" wide x .035 thick. $69 $59 per coil. $1,449 $1,155 per skid (21 coils). FOB PA. Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

www.wolfxmachina.com info@wolfxmachina.com

2017

2017 CMF-Stealth Live Deck, (6) rail/ pedestal design, 16′ wide x 20′ long, powered infeed for component saws. Handles lumber lengths from 3′ to 20′. Features guarded sprockets, heavy-duty construction, dual push-button controls at both ends of deck and adjustable base feet. Split-design, easily shipped and installed. Multi-voltage 3 phase motor. Steel panels between rails not included.

$28,497 FOB PA

INGERSOLL RAND ROTARY SCREW AIR COMPRESSOR Model UP6-15c-210. 15 HP. 38 CFM at 210 PSIG. 120 Gallon Tank $7,900 NOW $5,900 FOB NE Wasserman & Associates 800-382-0329 www.wasserman-associates.com

A dverti$er Component manufaCturing S erving the S tructural B uilding c omponent S i ndu S try The

From the Road...

Lessons From the Great Recession?

By Thomas McAnally President TheJobLine.com

Iremember the Great Recession and how many displaced candidates we had. Some stayed active but many went their way, finding new industries and career paths. From where I sat, it was 5 years of trying to find jobs for folks, knowing it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Single Family was practically dead, but Multifamily was doing well so I focused our efforts there. It seems like history is repeating itself, but hopefully not to the extent it did back then. Multifamily looks strong and Single Family is fading.

After the Great Recession, I was amazed how quickly employers rehired experienced designers. Although many had found work in other fields during the recession, their value was in their abilities as Senior Truss Designers so back they came. I placed more designers in 2012 than in the 5 previous years combined, but what struck me most was the average years of experience that truss designers had. As part of our Truss Design Skills Evaluation, designers are asked to list their years of experience in truss design, wall panel design, and EWP design. Then, their numbers are compared to the averages of all of the designers we have tested over the years. Well, in 2012, those numbers took a big jump!

What I saw was a 4–5-year jump in the averages. While younger designers left the industry, older more-seasoned designers stayed. The result was scores went up, but so did age. We went from an average of 6–8 years to 12+ years of experience.

When the recession ended and hiring came back strong, it was clear that we were going to have a shortage of Basic and Intermediate designers. Design Managers told me that they could only afford so many Senior Designers in their department. They had to balance high earners with lower experienced designers who could be productive on easier work. I can’t count the number of times I heard “Where are the young designers?”

The answer was complicated, because the blame lay at the feet of the questioners. During the recession, they retained the best people they could, usually senior designers. When Basic and Intermediate level designers disappeared, they couldn’t fathom why I couldn’t snap my fingers and have a room full of folks ready to get back to work. To complicate matters, advancement for Senior Designers during the recession came from the Multifamily sector. While Single Family was getting back on its feet, I was still placing Senior Designers into Multifamily jobs, further depleting the designer pool for Single Family.

What I should have said, and wanted to say more than once, is “you didn’t create any designers for 5 years, so where are they going to come from?”

Depending upon your outlook, this time around Basic and Intermediate Design functions can be outsourced to companies like Platinum Global, a MiTek/Berkshire Hathaway company, or All Points Technical, our newest advertiser. They provide the same services once relegated to Basic and Intermediate Designers, and they do it on-demand. While many MiTek companies are using off-shore services now, it may become more of the norm industry-wide in the future. It’s possible this could be a trend driven by another recession.

Consider how most design managers felt about remote designers back in 2015. There were a few remote designers out there, but most had earned the right to work remote part-time or even full-time after spending years at a company. I was told often by Design Managers that they had no system to manage remote designers and measure productivity. They stonewalled, until COVID made it one of the only options available if you needed designers. Managers who had never considered having a majority of their staff as remote have no problem with it today. They now have systems to manage as effectively as if someone was in the office.

So when we hit the next bump in the road, like another recession, outsourcing design off-shore may become as common as remote design is now. Like the transition from in-office to remote, circumstances create opportunities. You may find it more convenient to staff a percentage of your department offshore, to allow flex in your capacity. Still, remember to plant a few seeds and grow a few designers in-house for those key positions the current crop of Senior Designers fills now.

Will the coming New Year continue our descent into another recession? If it does, will new trends emerge during or after it? The distribution of designer positions may be shifting again – will you be ahead of the curve or part of its creation?

Your “recruiter down the hall,” I’ve been recruiting off-site manufacturing industry professionals for 30 years through TheJobLine.com. ConIact me for assistance with recruiting assignments or your outplacement job search: twm@thejobline.com.

IF ONLY YOU COULD NAIL EVERYTHING IN LIFE THIS EASILY.

With a Terminailer XP, it takes only one person to drive between 30% and 70% of the framing nails in any given job . And all this nailing is done within a secure enclosure, so your people are protected from costly nailing injuries while eliminating literally millions of repetitive motions ( 4,001,398 repetitive motions to be exact , judging from the total nail count tallied recently on a two year-old Terminailer XP).

That’s a lot of nails successfully installed to be sure, and a lot of debilitating repetition your workers’ hands are spared, without any complicated training, software or lengthy setup time required.

Developed by people who know wall panel production, Terminailer XP boasts multiple repeat buyers, 20-plus machines performing exceptionally in the field and tens of millions of nails installed. Thoroughly field-proven, Terminailer is ready to drive greater productivity for you. Contact us today for more information.

Wood

MISC.

Used 2015 Woodrunner Lumber Retrieval System

The WoodRunner WR-2 lumber retrieval system seeks and retrieves the exact boards needed to cut. The core of the system is a trolley with an automated picking head. The trolley moves back and forth on a runway truss positioned over lumber carts while the picking head’s laser scans below. After locating the specific piece of lumber needed, the picking head uses a powerful vacuum to hold the board while moving it to the infeed deck. Call

Scrap Incline

20′ belt scrap conveyor with 8′ incline, 2′ wide. 240v, 30 amp power.

$22,490 - FOB CA

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

New SL Laser Projection System

New, 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. Each laser head provides 21' projection length (@15 foot ceiling heights). Includes system computer, cables, mounting hardware for attachment to customer's structure, factory installation, training and choice of green or red laser. Works with each connector plate manufacturer's design software. Modular nature of the laser heads allows for easy, future expansion of system length. 120 volt, 1 phase. FOB NC Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

Generation 3, Used 2018 Triad Framing Table

Adjustable legs, side-rails, rough-top belt, 3-phase power.

$1,990 - FOB KY

Wood Tech Systems 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

The Generation 3 Framing Table has adjustable 20’ long walls, with wall heights from 6’9” to 14’3”. Studs are placed between color-coded stud locators. With just a push of a button, the width adjustment clamp is activated to clamp and square all components. The Generation 3 Framer features a wider table top, designed with the framer in mind. Our new Anti-Slip Surface that allows the operator to work on a comfortable and safe surface.

Call for Price Eide Integrated Systems, LLC 612-521-9193 www.eidemachinery.com

(60”)

(720”)

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.

Design Connections “Making” a Truss Designer

Reading Thom’s article in last month’s issue, “JobLine Turns 30!”, brought back many great memories of the times I have worked with him. I’ve known Thom for over 25 years and worked with him numerous times, with one of our best projects being the training business we created.

My first contact with Thom was as a job seeker. Too much time has passed to be certain, but I believe I found him through an ad in Don Carlson’s Automated Builder magazine. Thom went through his normal routine with new candidates and arranged for me to interview with a couple of companies. One company offered me a job which I declined, and the other had placed a freeze on hiring non-U.S. citizens which excluded me.

While working to find me a good job match, Thom also started to talk about the shortage of designers available in the industry and what he saw as a need to create new designers. Thom would be the first to tell you that he is not a truss designer, but he saw a need. He suggested to me that someone (i.e., Thom and I) should create a training program where students would come for four weeks of training to become truss designers. I hope I was polite enough not to laugh when he first suggested it, but I know that my initial reaction was that there was no way you could “create” a truss designer in four weeks.

As we continued to talk, I started to change my expectation of what the program might look like. Ultimately, my objective became not to try to make a truss designer, but to give someone sufficient blueprint reading and software skills along with an understanding of the basic math and geometry behind it. The goal, as we would later describe it to potential clients, was to produce an employee that could “Recognize when they needed help, ask an intelligent question, and understand a reasonable explanation.”

We eventually set up a temporary classroom in a St. Louis area hotel conference room in the summer of 1997, moving later that year to a more permanent location in St. Charles, MO. The training business was initially called Component Systems Institute (CSI), later Component Design Center (CDC). We started by offering training using MiTek software, and soon after we added Alpine as well. A few years later, we included TrusWal software too. Many times, we would have some students in a class learning MiTek software while others in the same class were learning Alpine or

Geordie Secord, Senior Recruiter TheJobLine.com – Canada

TrusWal. This meant that, as the instructor, I was constantly using two programs simultaneously. It’s been many years, but I still remember the headaches at the end of those days of bouncing back and forth between programs. Both students and their employers confirmed that graduates of the program quickly became productive designers, much faster than those who did not have any similar training. Recently, we’ve had some interest in reviving the training program, perhaps as an online offering. If this is something that you or your company would like to see, please contact either Thom or I and we can talk about how it might work.

From the years that CSI/CDC was in operation, I’m proud to know that we helped people get their start in the truss business. In fact, many of the students have contacted me over the years since. We had students come to us from Florida to Alaska, Arkansas to Maine, and across Canada. And now with the internet, who knows what could be possible next. If you are a past student or a potential student, please reach out, I’d love to hear from you.

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

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.

Through Buying, Selling, and Closing Yards, Dealers are Revealing Their Strategies

Craig Webb President, Webb Analytics

ABC Supply is going to Canada. Lowe’s is leaving it. SRS Distribution continues to diversify. Builders FirstSource is right-sizing its company in advance of America’s expected home-building slump. And US LBM is still hungry for truss plants.

These are among some of the strategic moves that construction supply companies have made over the past month. In all, Webb Analytics’ latest count finds 378 locations changing hands so far this year, along with 170 greenfield openings and 50 closures. Those numbers trail the number of yards (579) in deals at this point in 2021 but exceed the number of greenfield openings (125). There have been 128 purchase transactions so far this year, not far from the 136 by mid-November 2021.

BFS President and CEO David Flitman revealed to analysts during the company’s third-quarter earnings call Nov. 8 that BFS had already closed or was in the process of closing 17 facilities. He didn’t say then which they were, but Webb Analytics has learned the 17 include:

• Home centers in Norwood, Needham, and Canton, MA, that were part of BFS’ acquisition of National Lumber earlier this year.

• One of two lumber facilities in Columbia, SC.

• Lumber yards in the relatively small towns of Cokato, MN (population 2,800, located 50 miles west of Minneapolis), and Caro, MI (population 4,350, located 100 miles north of Detroit).

• A lumberyard in Flagstaff, AZ.

• An installed sales facility in Perris, CA.

The remaining nine locations are still in the process of being closed and thus remain unidentified, a company spokesperson told Webb Analytics.

“I just want to be clear, we are not taking out manufacturing capacity,” Flitman told analysts. “This is more consolidation, primarily in some of the smaller markets where we may have redundant assets that, given the last two years and the strength of the market, we have not needed to shut those facilities down. In fact, we’ve needed all that capacity that we’ve had, but times are different now.”

ABC Supply’s Canadian incursion came when the company bought Monarch Group, an exteriors specialist with five stores in the province of Alberta. ABC Supply’s other big deal had a Canadian connection when it bought 24 U.S.-based branches of the Canadian siding firm Kaycan. ABC Supply also opened a greenfield branch in Hamlet, TX, and Havre de Grace, MD, while its L&W Supply unit premiered in Queens, NY, and Pittsburgh, PA. All told, ABC Supply and L&W Supply have opened 18 greenfield sites so far this year.

There even was action at Town & Country Industries, a rarely mentioned ABC Supply subsidiary that distributes aluminum and sells pool supplies. It bought T&C Sales of Rockledge, FL.

Meanwhile, Lowe’s has agreed to sell its 450 Canadian operations, which do business under the Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt, and Dick’s Lumber banners. CEO Marvin Ellison said the Canadian operations represented 7% of the company’s sales but were diluting 60 basis points of operating margin.

SRS moved on several fronts. It purchased the two-unit, Tennessee-based Metro Roofing & Metal Supply and also bought Advanced Building Products of Tupelo, MS. Elsewhere, SRS opened a Superior Irrigation branch in Midlothian, VA, and opened new branches of its Heritage

LBM facilities acquired (blue pins), newly opened (green), or closed (red) YTD 2022. Black pins are locations of Builders FirstSource stores closed so far in 2022. Source: Webb Analytics

Landscape Supply Group in Little Rock, AR; Riverhead, NY; Chester Springs, PA; Aledo, Stafford, and Rockwell, TX; Alpharetta, GA; and Matthews, NC.

US LBM bought two truss plants: Georgia Truss in Gainesville, GA, and Comtech in Fayetteville, NC.

In other developments:

• Beacon made one of the month’s biggest splashes by purchasing Coastal Construction Products, which has 18 units in the Southeast. Beacon also opened exterior stores in Burnsville, MN; Hampton, VA; and Indianapolis, IN, while its Dealer’s Choice Distribution unit opened in Leitchfield, KY.

• Bliffert Lumber took in Milwaukee (WI) Cabinetry.

• Nation’s Best Holdings acquired Palmetto Home Center of Summerville, SC, and sister company Walterboro (SC) Hardware.

• Mead Lumber grew by four yards by acquiring Teague Lumber of Grandview and Liberty, MO, and Shawnee, KS.

• TAL Holdings bought Miller’s Home Center, which had three locations in La Grande, OR, and one in Baker City, OR. TAL also opened a new branch of its Marson and Marson unit in Ephrata, WA.

• Drexel Building Supply purchased millwork specialist McMahon & Co. of Jackson, WI.

• Outdoor Living Supply bought sister companies Landcare Stone of Madbury, NH, and Stratham Hill Stone of Stratham, NH.

• Kodiak Building Partners took in Goodrich Lumber of Kingston, MA, and Albeni Falls Building Supply of Oldtown, ID.

• New South Construction Supply acquired Malone Steel of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

• Interstate + Lakeland opened a design center in Westport, CT.

• Among other greenfield openings were Coltrain Hardware in Ayden, NC; Butters’ Ace Hardware in Thompson’s Station, TN; Curt’s Ace Hardware stores in Gray and Piney Flats, TN; and Grandfather Lumber Hardware in Pineola, NC.

• Duffy’s Island Hardware, located on an island that’s part of Portland, ME, closed.

About Webb Analytics

Webb Analytics is a data and research consultancy that helps executives in construction supply spot the trends, threats, and opportunities that matter most. It’s led by Craig Webb, one of the nation’s best-known industry figures and the former editor-in-chief of ProSales, the construction supply industry’s most honored publication. Aside from the Construction Supply 150, Webb Analytics also produces an annual deals report, consults with dealers, publishes research reports, and speaks at industry events. Contact him at cwebb@webb-analytics.com

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

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. More information Click Here Price based on configuration 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

giggles

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…

Price based on configuration FOB FL 765-751-9990 www.woodtechsystems.com

TheJobLine.com

Big Sky Living in Montana!

Truss Designer. MiTek software. Experience required: 2+ years. Components include: floor trusses, roof trusses and wall panel experience is a plus. Markets include lumber yards, single family, single family custom, and light commercial. Work Schedule: average 40-45 hours a week or more if interested.

Compensation hourly, plus overtime, and base pay from $22 to $28hr+-. ($45k-70's) Yr.+-) depending upon experience, monthly bonus based on production output/errors. Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, retirement programs, and ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). Relocation is open to negotiation. Low cost of living. EOE (Equal Opportunity Employer). J15235

Not a remote job but who wants to work remote when the office is in Montana?

See what we can

do for YOU!

visit: www.thejobline.com email: mail@thejobline.com

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!

TheJobLine.com

HIRING NOW!

Remote

Truss Designer

MiTek - J15228

Our client in Florida is looking for Remote Truss Designer NOW, before the end of the year! Work remote, or in an office location in Florida. They need ONE Basic or Intermediate level Remote Truss Designer. Fantastic benefits, compensation is very competitive, and they use MiTek software. Remote is an option if you have a home office and remote experience, or you can work in office. They may consider someone without remote experience, just depends on the skill level. Fantastic benefits, compensation is very competitive, and they use MiTek software. I can't say more about this opportunity here.

Compensation can be estimated based on your experience and skill 45 hours per week average.

Overtime hours are usually available. Call/email for details

See what we can do for YOU! visit: www.thejobline.com email: mail@thejobline.com

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!

Plant Manager - Truss/Panel J15258 Midwest

Operations Manager J15231 Southwest

Truss & Wall Panel Designer J15259 Midwest

Truss Design/Estimating Manager J14171 Texas

Remote Multifamily Truss Designer J15257 REMOTE

Project Manager - Yard/Site/Trans J15256 Southeast

Plant Manager - Truss J15255 Florida

Project Manager J15252 South

Residential Order Tech J15232 South

Truss Designer J15251 South

Truss Designer J15250 South

Remote Multifamily Truss Designer J15249 Southeast or Remote

Remote Truss Designer - J15248 Eastern US

Procurement Manager J15247 Remote or in Texas

Operations Manager - Truss ID: J15230 Southwest

Yard/Field Delivery Manager J15240 South

Truss Designer J15239 South or Remote

Truss Designer - Remote (MiTek) J15241 Remote

Truss & Wall Panel Designer J15226 Northeast

Remote Truss Designer - Alpine J15246 Midwest Candidate preferred

Outside Sales - Truss/Panel/EWP J10600 Southern IA

Truss Sales - Truss/Framing Packages J15245 Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma

General Manager - Truss J15242 Upper Midwest

Truss Designer J14164 Florida

Remote Designer - Truss/Panel J14179 KY

Components Package Estimator J15238 Western US

Truss & Wall Panel Designer J15237 Western US

Truss Designer J15235 Montana

Advancement Opportunity to Production Manager J15219 South

Remote Mega-Multifamily Truss Designer J14177 Nation Wide

Remote Multifamily Truss Estimator J15227 USA

Remote Mega-Multifamily Truss Design Manager J15234 Nationwide Mega-Multifamily Project Manager J15229 South/Southeast

Senior Truss Designer J14214 Remote - Central or Eastern time zone preferred

Remote Truss Designer - MiTek J15228 Florida

Senior Designer - Panel/Truss J14181 Midwest

Senior Truss Designer - Truss J13952 South

Senior Design/Design Manager | Alpine J15224 Knoxville, TN

General Manager - Truss J15221 South

Remote Truss Designer - MiTek J15215 Central Florida

Production Manager - Truss/Wall Panel/Shipping/Maintenance J15217 KY

Estimating/Inside Sales ManagerTruss/Panel Mega-Multifamily J15216 South

Outside Sales - Truss J14207 KY, TN, IN

Production Manager - Truss/Panel Midwest J13987

Design Manager - Truss/Panel J14014 Midwest

Remote Mega-Multifamily Design Checker J14187 Remote or in Texas

Senior Designer/Design ManagerPanel/Truss J14186 New England

Senior Multifamily Truss Designer J14117 Colorado

Truss & Wall Panel Designer J14182 Florida

ID: C18459

Remote Wall Panel Designer | Wall Panel Designer

Relocation: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario

8 Years' experience as a wall panel designer. Uses HSB CAD, AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit. Everything from Single family custom to multifamily and modular.

ID: C10968

Senior Designer - Truss / Part Time

Relocation: Florida, Alabama Candidate desires to use his career long industry experience to be the best Part Time Remote Designer you have. Prior truss plant owner for 10 years, strong production and operations management background, and JobLine Senior Designer rating in truss design using MiTek software. Also has FASTBeam experience. Products: floor & roof trusses. Markets: Single family custom, multi family, tract and light commercial. Was successful in creating strong teams in production, design and customer service, but the local economy and overwhelming competition was more than he could overcome from a small plant perspective. Degree: BSEE Compensation: $26hr part time employee or $33 hr 1099 Thom's Notes: I have worked with this candidate as an employer for years. Very strong manager with the ability to combine individual strengths into one team effort. Fair, honest, and customer service oriented. Scored 98

ID: C13419

Truss Designer | Design Manager | Remote Truss Designer | Estimator

Relocation: Illinois

20+ years Truss Design experience. Manage estimating and design department. 4-5 employees. Handle all computer and software issues. Assist in network maintenance. Project

Available Candidates

coordinator for all multifamily and commercial projects. Train new designers. Schedule final designs for all orders. Assist in sales for 4 million dollar operation.

Past: Established and maintained remote design office. Assisted in adding 2 million dollars to operation along with a sales representative. Managed all communication with main office. Designed all components for local area.

Looking for a position suited for a self-motivated person with a very knowledgeable background in component and housing design industry. Enthusiastic about working for a professional, well organized and establish environment that will allow someone to achieve their fullest potential while adding efficiency and profitability to the operation.

Scored above average using only a Construction Master Calculator. Very fast!

ID: C18468

Truss Designer | Wall Panel Designer

Relocation: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah

Designer, truss and wall panel, MiTek, AutoCAD, iLevel, almost considered a senior designer. In addition to design, was responsible for training new designers. Also has iLevel, Open Joist 2000 experience. Wall panel design experience is in AutoCAD and later in Sapphire. Started in the industry in sales, then wall panel design, added truss, and I-Joist. 7 years' experience in truss design, 3 in wall panel, 10 in I-Joist design. Will consider relocation to indicated areas only. Will consider remote.

$26-28 hr.

ID: C18456

Plant/Location/Production Manager - Truss & Panel

Relocation: USA - Eastern Exceptionally dedicated and highly motivated Plant and Production Manager offering a 30-year background in leadership, oversight, and development of high productive environments through coaching and development strategies maximizing profitability, optimizing output, and minimizing operating costs.

Past framer, framing contractor with 14 years' experience in truss and wall panel manufacturing.

MBA, retired veteran.

ID: C18387 Division Manager, VP Operations, President - Truss | Panel | Building Materials | Pro Dealer

Relocation: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Texas, USA - South, Virginia, Washington DC, Wisconsin

Executive level manager, VP, President with $1+B P&L responsibility. Lumber, building materials, trusses, wall panels, and CFS background. Inquire to discuss this candidate.

ID: C18449

Estimator | Designer - Truss, Panel | Prior carpenter Relocation: Ohio, Pennsylvania Prepare and distribute estimates to competing bidders. Calculate labor, time, and material estimated per individual job. Read, analyze, and interpret residential and commercial blueprints. Ensure projects meet the proper building codes and standards for the industry. Communicate with prospective bidders both over the phone and in person. Design and engineer roof trusses, floor trusses, pre-fabricated wall panels, and EWP. Gained first-hand experience setting trusses in the field during prior construction job. Design roof systems to be most

inc. 800-289-JOBS

Time To Hire?

We’re here when you need help! visit: www.thejobline.com email: mail@thejobline.com or call Thomas McAnally for Personalized Service

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!

Available Candidates

efficient and inexpensive when being constructed in the field. Design complete models in MiTek Sapphire. Design and engineer roof trusses and transfer loads throughout the structure as need. Also design and engineer beams and hangers when necessary.

ID: C12414

Truss Designer | Wall Panel Designer | All Hats Relocation: Arizona

Engineered panel and truss design, developed material take off for turnkey build up, worked in coordination with multiple plants and design teams, worked closely with material suppliers on take offs and estimating.

I've worked for decades in the construction industry. Not only in new construction, but additions and remodels as well using innovative designs for added value and to drive down cost. In addition to experience with MiTek, Wallbuilder and other design software packages, I have extensive manual trig/ math skills. I use these to back check questionable loads as well to design from scratch in the field when needed. I have also written

TheJobLine.com, inc.

Time To Hire?

a plant hemorrhaging money into an extremely profitable facility, earning an 51% ownership stake in the company. I managed all aspects of the company from production and admin to Human Resources, design, and sales. P&L responsible for the financial management of lines of credit, accounting, and analysis. Worked directly with major accounts, trained and supported sales manager and staff. Developed market focus and worked closely with sales manager to support technical and design areas of expertise.

departmental policies, goals, objectives, and procedures, conferred with organization officials, and staff members as necessary.

ID: C10853

Remote Design Manager | Remote Offshore Design Project Manager

Relocation: Texas

Relocation: North Carolina

30 year industry veteran, started as a Truss Designer, earned his way to Design Manager over 20+ designers. MiTek - Advanced, AutoCAD proficient. BSCE - PE.

Compensation: Open??

tutorials for the training of others and checked other designer's work as a Design Manager at a Panel Plant. All things being equal, I love working in components whether designing, cutting, building or setting components at the site.

ID: C11636

General Manager - Truss Relocation: USA - ALL States, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Conneticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, USA - Eastern, USA - Northwest, USA - South, USA - Southwest, USA - Western, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

20+ Years truss industry experience from Design Manager to Owner/GM of a $7M truss manufacturing company. Turned

Organized manufacturing systems and procedures to control costs and quality, oversaw buying to keep costs at a minimum and inventory lean but available. Developed LEAN procedures that minimized labor steps, eliminated duplication between stations, and made sure that safety procedures and reporting requirement were maintained. Overall, I had a hands on role in all areas of the company to make sure it operated efficiently and very profitably. Market conditions and competition from larger competitors ultimately required us to close the company.

ID: C18357

Division/Regional Manager, Multiplant Operations Manager - Components & Lumber to Site | Mega Multifamily.

Relocation: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, USA - South, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado Oversaw Operations of multiple Component Facilities with annual Sales exceeding $100MM. Assisted with the start-up of three Facilities. Reviewed financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement to determine areas needing cost reduction and program improvement. Established and implemented

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+

ID: C18430

Truss Designer | Remote Truss Designer

Relocation: USA - South, USASouthwest, USA - ALL States Extensive experience in truss estimating and design. Proficient in designing roof and floor trusses for a variety of projects including: custom homes, track homes, multi-family, mega-multifamily, and light commercial projects. I always get everyone involved with the project like architect, engineers, homeowners, and sales personnel Many times I go to the job site for the convenience of the framer and see what kind of condition or changes they might have; this way we will be working on the same page. Also included in my experience is purchasing material, negotiating contracts, setting up deliveries, steel and cmu detailing for steel columns and beams, with almost 25 years of experience in the construction business. MiTek Sapphire.

ID: C10897

Thom's Notes: PE with Mid Atlantic seals

ID: C14510

Remote Truss Designer Relocation: Florida

20+ Years' experience in truss design. Alpine software but will consider other software if training is provided. Has extensive experience, except MegaMultifamily, but will consider positions that are MMF as long as a learning curve is expected. Scored Senior Designer on JobLine's Design Skills Evaluation, representing the best 5 % of Truss Designers nationwide. Has extensive remote and in office management experience but is looking to step back and focus on design and manage personal results.

Compensation: $30-32 an hour, depending on opportunity, benefits, and job expectations. Not looking to work 50-60 hour a week all year, but will consider high hours on a seasonal basis. Remote only.

ID: C18420

Senior CFS Truss Designer/ Detailer | Wood Senior MegaMultifamily Truss Designer | Design Manager | Checker | Remote or In Office Relocation: Florida

Currently CFS truss design, but has wood experience. Scored

Design Manager/Senior Designer/PE/Optimizer - Truss/ Panel/EWP

Senior Designer in the JobLine Truss Design Skills Evaluation, that is primarily wood truss focused. Currently an advanced Alpine TrussSteel user, but has used MiTek in the past. Also has AutoCAD, Keymark experience. Projects include $700k MegaMultifamily apartments. Designs/ Layout using Alpine, CAD shop drawings, designs connections and hardware, creates department procedural and standards program, trains new designers.

ID: C18278

General Manager | Operations Manager - Truss/Panel Relocation: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, USAEastern, Virginia, Florida General Manager over floor and roof truss manufacturing facility producing $15-20M, 110-135 employees. Supply clients in the NC, SC, Eastern TN, and VA markets. Turned around volume, safety, and profitability of a failing plant. 6 Sigma, Lean, BA.

ID: C11667

General Manager - Truss/Panel Relocation: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, USA - Eastern, USA - South, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia I have worked in the residential and multi-family construction industry for 25 yrs. I started as a framer and have held numerous positions throughout my career. I have held a position as a Division Manager for a Wall Panel Facility that was part of a Building Material Supply Company. In this position, I was responsible for total operation of the division including P&L responsibility. I have also been a Department Manager of a Wall Panel Facility at a second Building Material Supply Company. During my career, I have held positions as a Director of Purchasing and a Purchasing Manager for Home Building companies, as well as an Operations Manager at a Soffit & Siding installation company. In

Available Candidates

this position, I was responsible for the day to day operations of the company.

ID: C18367

Wall Panel Designer | Remote Wall Panel Designer | MegaMultifamily Relocation: Utah

Remote wall panel design for medium to large scale MF. Remote estimating using MiTek Sapphire to get a more accurate material count. 100,000 - 500,000 sq ft MF projects primarily in the New England Market with the panel plant being in New Brunswick. Also worked on projects in the Arizona, Texas, and California markets.

Compensation: $70's+ (45+hours)

ID: C18365

Intermediate Canadian Remote Truss Designer - Sapphire Relocation: Ontario

Remote Truss Designer available.. Currently provides technical support and designs to lumber distributors for roof systems for residential and commercial applications. Provides technical assistance and support to the distribution staff to meet client demands for engineered wood structural applications. Ensures that wood truss fabricators, lumber distributors and specifiers have adhered to established building standards, codes and practices. Maintains extensive knowledge of structural analysis programs such as MiTek SAPPHIRE Structure design software. Analyze/ prepare engineered wood designs and details for Design Engineer review and approval. Generate manufacturing information and quotations for sales team and management. Prepares the job for production. Canadian codes and standards experienced.

ID: C18399

Full or Part Time Lumber Buyer/Logistics

Relocation: Colorado

Personally managed, purchased all lumber products and manage a $100 million spend for this industry leading 6 plant location manufacturer, VMI, contract developer and manager. Responsible for supply, programs, demand cycles, strategic planning, and purchasing excellence. Purchased MRO, machines, trucks, assembly lines, buildings and ongoing CAPEX projects. Team member for new construction projects for plants, 3rd party labor. Products used for construction in North America focused on multifamily engineering products. Direct mill purchasing from major US/Cano vendors.

ID: C15958

Operations/Plant Manager - Millwork | Doors | Ply |

Flooring

Relocation: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming 30 years' experience starting in production and advancing to multi-plant operations manager. Door experience includes managing three Production Managers and five Production Supervisors, consisting of 300 hourly employees producing 11,000 doors and 10,000 face frames per day. Responsible for the manufacturing functions of all mill operations, five frame component machining cells, three frame assembly operations, four door component machining cells, three door assembly clamps, three door profiling lines, two wide belt sanding lines and specialty machining and assembly cells.

Flooring experience: Responsible for all plant functions including budgeting and P&L. Managed six Department Managers: two Production Departments, Quality Assurance, Materials, Human

inc. 800-289-JOBS

Time To Hire?

We’re here when you need help! visit: www.thejobline.com email: mail@thejobline.com or call Thomas McAnally for Personalized Service STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!

Available Candidates

Resources including SHE, and Plant Engineer/Maintenance Manager including the CI program. Their staffs consist of eleven Supervisors and 330 hourly employees. The door plant operation dries lumber, cuts dimension stock, assembles and sands the doors. The panel plant produces the veneered flat and raised center panels, by cutting engineered wood and veneer from flitch and pressing the veneer to the substrate. Both plants are equipped with finishing lines.

ID: C11638

General Manager/Division Manager - Truss/Panel/EWP/ Lumber

Relocation: Colorado, Conneticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, New Hampshire, Vermont

An energetic, out-of-the-box, problem-solving, executive with a science-based holistic approach to manufacturing, building products and other business operations; I am recognized for my vision,

Time To Hire?

batch fabrication process and continuous production flow. Enhanced scheduling system to accurately track production and achieve on-time delivery, established QC metrics, quality assurance and OSHA-approved safety programs. After 2006, helped company downsize and then worked as a consultant for turn around opportunities. Computer literate, Alpine and MiTek experience, Microsoft Office.

ID: C11465

Sales/Operations/ManagementTruss/Panel/Building Materials

16 years of management and leadership experience, and am seeking a management position with a progressive company that offers advancement commensurate to job performance.

ID: C11370

Office Truss Designer | Design Manager

Relocation: Ohio

business acumen, integrity, work ethic and capability to cultivate durable professional relationships. Practitioner of “Lean and JIT” manufacturing principles, setting metrics, improving key performance indicators, reducing costs, expanding production capacity and sales – all improving the bottom line. Skilled in business analysis, strategic planning, market and sales development; ability to drive multi-million dollar growth, institute “Best Practices” for small to medium emerging and expanding companies, managing budgets to $ 30M with full P&L accountability and oversight.

20+ Years of truss/panel/EWP manufacturing and business management experience. In 2006 at the height of residential construction distributed $ 24.0 in Lumber, Architectural Millwork and Windows and $ 8.5 M in manufactured wood components. In this position optimized design and production process, which increased output and reduced labor and material costs. Hired trained and mentored middle management; negotiated union labor contracts. Implemented “Lean and JIT” fabrication procedures; consolidated raw material inventory, implemented

Relocation: USA - ALL States, USA - South 10 years industry experience. Successfully managed operations. Plant production, national sales team, licensed engineers, project managers, CAD designers, erection/installation division and office staff. Significantly increased productivity, sales and profit in all areas. Previously founded a wholesale building material company specifically related to engineered lumber, wood trusses, structural steel, turnkey installation and custom Millwork. Sales in excess of $7 million in less than five years. Successfully negotiated and executed the sale of these companies in 2006.

ID: C11760

Management/Operations/Sales

- Building Components, LBM Manufacturing

Relocation: USA - ALL States, Arizona, California, Colorado, Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Hampshire, South Carolina I am an Accomplished Manufacturing and Operations Leader with a history of increasing responsibility. My proven experience covers contractor building materials and manufacturing to the construction and turnkey fields. I have over

Production/Plant/General Manager - Truss/Panel/Framing Package Relocation: Texas 20 years' experience. Started in production, advanced to Saw Supervisor, Production Manager, Plant Manager, now General Manager. As General Manager (2 years) operated a $125M truss plant. Tripled output and reduced errors and labor cost. As Plant Manager (4 years), manage all the operation of the manufacturing plant, such as Productivity, logistics, efficiencies, costs. As Production Manager (12 years), manage all the areas of the manufacturing across the plant. Safety, quality control, efficiencies, HR, etc... Software: MiTek, Word, Excel, OptiFrame. Products: R & F Truss, Panel, Framing package. Markets: Single Family, Multifamily, Custom Homes. Bilingual English/Spanish spoken and written. Degree in Industrial Engineering. Compensation: $90's+

ID: C15995

Truss Designer - MiTek Relocation: Florida

Truss Designer. Primary duties: design, layout, optimization, and cutting/production documents. Secondary duties: checking others work. Software used: MiTek and AutoCAD. Component experience includes floor trusses and roof trusses. Market experience includes single family, multi-family, light commercial, and agriculture. My volume was varied depending on projects. 2 years experience, MiTek software.

ID: C13437

Remote Truss Designer | In

If it is big, bad, ugly, or worse, I can handle it. I've done layout and profile work in autocad w/ some home brewed scripting, and ArchiCAD. Custom residential, a few track builders that had 3 base models and many options to track, some multi-family, and large commercial projects. Software: MiTek, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Truswal, Simpson, Eagle and others. Quick to pick up new software.

ID: C11856

Designer/Design ManagerTruss/Panel/I-Joist/Stairs/EWP Relocation: Ohio

18 years Design experience with 3 as a Senior Designer. Primary duties: design, layout, and optimization. Secondary duties: checking others work and repairs. Software used: MiTek Sapphire, Robbins, Keymark, and AutoCAD. Component experience includes floor trusses, roof trusses, wall panels, I-Joists, and hardware. Market experience includes tract, single family, single family custom, multi-family, and agriculture. My volume was varied depending on projects.

ID: C18310

Truss Designer | Estimator

Relocation: Virginia

Responsible for project management/design of commercial design -build projects up to $5 million. Directly manage subcontracted architectural, structural, and mechanical designers/ engineers, develop project estimates and designs utilizing Revit software. Work closely with project superintendents providing technical support while delivering projects within budget and on time. Initiate contact with new clients, answer sales calls, and develop project criteria. Prior Truss Designer a few years back with 2 years MiTek experience.

ID: C15678

Remote Truss Designer Relocation: Alberta

I have 25+ years of roof and floor truss design experience, with the last 3 years working as a remote designer using MiTek software. I also have experience designing engineered wood beams using various software versions. I have acted as a local Mitek software network administrator, trained junior designers and checked their work. I have extensive design experience in mid to larger size custom homes, Multi-Family, Independent Living and small to large Commercial projects and enjoy the challenges these projects bring.

Please inquire if you are interested in learning more about this candidate. Use our Contact Us page, or if you know me, send an email.

ID: C10789

Production Manager/ Supervisor - Truss/Panel Relocation: Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, USA - Northwest, Wisconsin 20 years experience. Responsible for all aspects of truss and panel production, inventory, performance reviews. 65 workers, $9M year. WTCA quality control certified.

ID: C18277

Professional Engineer | Engineering ManagerEngineered Wood Products, Components Structural Hardware | Codes & Compliance

Relocation: Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, USA - Eastern, Virginia, Washington DC

Experienced and successful professional engineering manager with over 25 years experience in improving productivity and resolving structural problems for engineered wood product and truss manufacturers and

Available Candidates

developing innovative design software programs. Also skilled in building outstanding teams and relationships among sales, manufacturing, and engineering stakeholders. Highly educated with exceptional employment history & experience.

ID: C18250

Remote Senior Light Gage Steel Truss/Panel Designer. Relocation: Texas Top level Light Gage Steel Senior Remote Designer with Truss and Panel and well as metal frame commercial project experience. Alpine, Truswal and Keymark experience.

ID: C17230

Remote Wall Panel DesignerSapphire Relocation: Newfoundland My objective is to be part of a team/company and prove I am reliable, show my ability and my willingness to learn! In addition to being a newer wall panel designer, I have learned software such as Mitek Sapphire, Revit 2017, Bluebeam Revu 2016. I have recently done jobs such as designing garages and adding on additions to homes. Jobs I have worked in wall paneling include a massive wall panel job for the US (500,000+ SFT) and designed units for a senior complex. In addition to wall panels...I also add in blocking, windows, doors, etc. I also do bundling and paperwork as well.

ID: C12220

Design/Design Manager - Truss/ EWP/Remote or at Plant Relocation: Pennsylvania

Remote / Satellite Truss Designer

Roof / Floor truss design utilizing Mitek Sapphire design software. Project estimating, including roof system, floor system, and wall panels. Responsible for 100% of quoting and preparations for production for our #2 and #4 clients. Maintained a database for

a major tract builder, producing 5-8 house a week.

Truss & Engineered Wood Products Design Manager / Sales. Oversaw all aspects of Truss & Engineered Wood Products operations and sales. Maintained personal sales accounts, as well as developed new clients. Customer service from the quote stage to production, including verifying sight conditions and field measuring. Produced production drawings and reviewed / corrected design staff, MiTek / Truss Joist software. Responsible for maintaining lumber / plate inventory.

ID: C17191

Remote Truss Designer/Part Time

Relocation: USA - Northwest My objective is to be a part of a Design Team where I can contribute to the success of the company, and establish a career as a remote truss designer. I love the challenge of tough projects, and consider it my job to complete my assigned work ahead of time, and to the best of my ability. I won't quit before the job is done fully and accurately.

In addition to 4 years experience with MiTek truss design software, I have worked in the shop as both a sawyer, and a truss builder, so I have first hand knowledge of how a truss should be designed to save time on the shop end. I also worked in framing and using wall panels. So I have first hand knowledge of how a house actually goes together in the real world, and how trusses layout on framing.

My long term goal is establish myself as a reliable truss designer, and to that end, grow and advance at the same company, based on proving my ability and reliability.

Time To Hire?

We’re here when you need help! visit: www.thejobline.com email: mail@thejobline.com or call Thomas McAnally for Personalized Service

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL! Available Candidates

More Candidates on our website

www.TheJobLine.com

December

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February

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

March 3 EduCode 2023 Conference & Exhibition Las Vegas, NV

February 28 –March 1 Northwestern Lumber Assoc. (NLA) LBM Expo—Nebraska La Vista, NE

MARCH 2023

March 1 Independent Dealers Education Association Services (IDEAS) Show King of Prussia, PA

March 1 – 2 Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) Housing Conference State College, PA

March 2 – 3 Northwestern Lumber Assoc. (NLA) LBM Expo—Iowa Des Moines, IA

March 8 – 9 Lean Summit 2023 Tucson, AZ

March 8 – 10 Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation (LMC) Annual Charlotte, NC

March

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By Simpson Strong Tie Staff

Mechanical Anchors:

Mechanical Anchors: Screw vs. Expansion: Which is Right for Me?

Screw vs. Expansion: Which is Right for Me?

Not all post installed mechanical anchors are created equal. There are key differences between screw and expansion anchor types — differences that include how they gain their holding strength, installation requirements, and overall anchor performance. In the following article, field engineers Todd Hamilton, Chris Johnson and Derek Gilbert compare the two anchor types.

Post-installed structural mechanical anchors are generally categorized as either expansion anchors (aka wedge anchors) or screw anchors. These types of anchors are used after concrete is cured or CMU is placed and offer quick and easy installation in a wide range of applications. What’s the difference? When should you specify one rather than the other? This article will help you understand the similarities and differences and guide you in selecting the best anchor for your specific project need.

By definition, a screw anchor is a threaded mechanical fastener placed in a predrilled hole (see Figure 1). The anchor derives its tensile holding strength from the mechanical interlock of the fastener threads with the grooves cut into the concrete during anchor installation (see Figure 2). Screw anchors are tested and evaluated in accordance with ACI 355.2 and ICC ES AC193 for concrete (cracked and uncracked) and ICC ES AC106 for masonry (hollow and grout filled). In practice, screw anchors are used across a variety of structural applications and industries to anchor items such as sill plates, threaded rod uplift systems, shearwall bottom plates, wood and cold formed steel holdowns, column/post baseplates, ledgers, rigid kneewalls, racking systems, railings, mechanical equipment, electrical conduits, cable trays and piping supports.

In contrast, a wedge type expansion anchor consists of a steel stud with nut and washer, threaded on the top end with a formed tapered mandrel on the opposite end around which an expansion clip is positioned (see Figures 1 and 2). The anchor is installed in a predrilled hole and set by tightening the nut to a specified torque, thereby causing the expansion clip to expand through deformation or torque over the

Figure 1: Simpson Strong-Tie® Titen HD® and Strong Bolt® 2 Anchors

tapered mandrel to engage the base material and create a frictional connection (see Figure 2). A wedge anchor may also be referred to as a torque controlled expansion anchor. Expansion anchors are also evaluated in accordance with ACI 355.2 and AC193 for concrete (cracked and uncracked) but ICC ES AC01 for masonry (grout filled only). Typical industry applications for expansion anchors may include: column/post baseplates, ledgers, stair stringers, rigid kneewalls, racking, fire protection pipe attachments (UL listed for vibration), and mechanical electrical plumbing (MEP) bracing supports (UL listed for vibration).

Simpson Strong Tie offers a wide variety of code listed screw- and expansion type anchor products in multiple material types (carbon and SS) and coatings (zinc plated or galvanized) — see Figure 3. This article focuses on the high strength Titen HD® (THD) concrete and masonry screw anchor and the Strong Bolt® 2 (STB2) wedge-type expansion anchor.

To get started, Table 1 presents similarities and differences between these two anchors across several characteristics. Most notably, the THD has a smaller minimum edge distance and spacing, has the ability to be removed, can be installed in both hollow and grouted CMU and comes in four different head styles (hex, washer head, countersunk, and hex coupler).

Since the STB2 expansion anchor clip exerts an outward radial force into the concrete (see Figure 2), it requires a larger minimum edge distance and spacing compared to a screw anchor. Figure 4 shows the relationship between anchor edge distance and spacing for ½” diameter sizes of both the THD and the STB2 in concrete. For the STB2, spacing and edge distance combinations must fall on or above and to the right of the blue line shown. For example, for an edge distance, c, of 10” (black dashed line in Figure 4), the STB2 cannot be spaced less than ~3”. By contrast the THD can be located at a minimum edge distance, c, of 1.75”, and be spaced no less than 3”.

Figure 2: Screw Anchor and Expansion Anchor Mechanical Connections

Figure 3: Simpson Strong Tie Mechanical Anchors

Table 1: THD vs STB2 Comparison Summary

Figure 5 illustrates a typical column base plate and anchor detail for two conditions: minimum edge distance (cmin) and minimum spacing (smin). If the STB2 is located 4” from the concrete edge (as shown in the detail to the right in Figure 5), adjacent anchor spacing can be no less than 4” on center. If the STB2 is located 12” from a concrete edge (as shown in the image to the left in Figure 5), adjacent anchor spacing can be no less than 2¾” on center. The THD can be located 1¾” from a concrete edge and adjacent anchors spaced no less than 3” on center. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, edge distance and spacing requirements, along with design loads and concrete substrate geometry (e.g., slab, stem/foundation wall, pier/pilaster) have the ability to impact the column base plate size, concrete element geometry, and anchor spacing. If the existing concrete element geometry is narrow or requires small concrete edge distance, the THD and its lower minimum edge distance may meet the design constraints.

Figure 4: Edge Distance and Anchor Spacing Graph (1/2” Diameters)

Figure 5: Edge Distance and Anchor Spacing Column Base Plate Details (1/2″ Diameters) Figure 6: Installation Sequences for THD and STB2

Table

2:

THD vs STB2 Installation Comparison Summary

With regard to the anchor installation sequence, Table 2 and Figure 6 describe the installation differences between the two anchors. In this comparison, the THD has fewer overall installation steps, does not require a specific installation torque, and can be snug tightened with a hand wrench or impact driver. In addition, the THD does not need to be hammer driven into the drilled hole. Lastly, the overall installation time of a THD is about five times faster than that of a wedge type anchor.

In a performance comparison, Figures 7 and 8 display the tension design output values for ½” diameter anchors in uncracked and cracked concrete (4,000 psi) with the same effective embedment depths using the Simpson Strong Tie Anchor Designer software. Figure 9 displays the governing tension design results as a bar chart. The STB2 capacity is controlled by the pullout failure mode, whereas concrete breakout was the THD controlling limit state. Collectively, these results indicate that for the same effective embedment (~2.5”) and diameter, the THD has about a 20% increased capacity in uncracked concrete and a smaller 5% increased capacity in cracked concrete. This specific design example assumes a single anchor located away from a concrete edge condition. Therefore, there was no capacity reduction due to edge distance, spacing or anchor group conditions. Note, the total number of anchors, embedment depth, edge distance, and spacing among other factors need consideration when comparing different anchors and design results.

It is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mechanical anchor for a given project specific application. Screw and expansion anchors have distinct installation, substrate, edge distance, spacing, and performance requirements that will fit different project applications and field conditions. The Titen HD® Heavy-Duty screw anchor saves on overall installation time, offers greater application flexibility, and is less susceptible to installation error. On the other hand, the Strong Bolt® 2 wedge-type expansion anchor has a lower product cost but requires additional installation time and larger edge distances and spacing. Collectively, these code-listed mechanical anchors help construction professionals design and build safer, stronger structures more efficiently.

Visit strongtie.com for more information on our code listed innovative anchor solutions for your commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and residential projects.

The article, Mechanical Anchors: Screw vs. Expansion: — Which Is Right for Me?, appeared first on Simpson Strong Tie Structural Engineering Blog. To sign up to receive the Engineering Blog, go to seblog.strongtie.com/subscribe Copyright © 2022 Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. All Rights Reserved

Safety First! Safety Meeting

Topics

From State Fund CA.

Roofing (Heat) Hazards

Don’t

Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the Adverti$$er

Peligros de los trabajos en techos (Calor)

El trabajo en techos usando asfalto, quemadores o soldadoras expone al trabajador a calor, quemaduras y esfuerzos excesivos que pueden resultar en lesiones graves o agotamiento por calor.

Roofing work using tar, torches, or welding exposes workers to heat, burns, and overexertion that can lead to serious injuries and heat illness.

During work, wear light-colored, flame-resistant clothing with long sleeves and cuffless long pants to protect you from heat and burns. Collars and cowls protect your face, neck and ears. Wear a hard hat, safety boots with a non-slip sole and heel, and leather or heat-resistant gloves. Don’t tuck your pants into your boots. Face shields, side-shielded safety glasses, or goggles protect your eyes. A respirator protects your lungs from fume exposures.

Check the weather before you work. Work in high temperatures and humidity can lead to heat illness. At the job site, try to work in a cooling breeze and keep fumes away from workers. Do the heaviest work in shaded areas and the coolest part of the day. Stay hydrated by drinking frequent, small amounts of water. Remove your protective equipment when you take breaks.

To prevent fires, clear flammable material, gases and/or liquids off the roof. Mark and protect permanent building fixtures, gas, and electrical lines. Seal off air intakes and roof openings to keep fumes and flame out of the building. Have fire extinguishers available. Make an emergency plan. Know the roof escape routes. Set up communication between the roof crew, building, and ground workers. Know the local emergency numbers for fire and medical services. Know first aid for heat illness and severe burns.

For hot tar roofing, wear a face shield when you add tar chunks or kegs to the tanker truck or kettle. Pumping the hot tar to a hot lugger tank on the roof and then to a mop cart is safest. Hot tar from hand-carried buckets can splash and burn you. Don’t carry hot tar buckets up a ladder; use a hoist line. When you carry a hot tar bucket, walk cautiously to avoid slips and falls. Keep buckets and carts covered until you use or dump the materials.

Hand-held or walk-behind roof torches can exceed 2000°F. Dont torch directly onto building materials, flashing, or voids in the roof. Be careful on heavy slopes; walk-behinds can roll away or tip over. Don’t pull a walk-behind backward on roofs that exceed a 4:12 slope. When you set the torch down, always turn it off and set it upright on its legs. Don’t hang a torch over the roof edge. To turn the torch off, turn off the propane fuel tank first, then allow the gas in the line to burn off. Stop work 2-3 hours before you leave the job to prevent hot spots or smoldering fires.

Welding machines to apply plastic roof membranes reach 1100°F and use up to 220 volts of electricity. To prevent electric shock, use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and avoid rain or wet areas. Dont touch grounded objects such as pipes or scaffolding while operating the equipment. Dont overheat plastic membranes, they can emit toxic compounds.

Durante su trabajo, use ropa de color claro y resistente a las llamas, con mangas largas y pantalones largos sin vueltas para protegerse contra el calor y las quemaduras. Los cuellos y las capuchas le protegen la cara, el cuello y las orejas. Use un casco, botas de seguridad con suelas y tacones antideslizantes y guantes de cuero o resistentes al calor. No se meta los pantalones en las botas. Las caretas, lentes de seguridad con resguardos laterales o gafas (goggles) le protegen los ojos. Un equipo de respiración le protege los pulmones contra los gases. Infórmese sobre el pronóstico del tiempo antes de trabajar. Trabajar en temperatura y humedad altas puede causar agotamiento por calor. En el sitio de trabajo, trate de trabajar donde haya brisa y trate de mantener los vapores alejados de los trabajadores. Haga los trabajos más pesados en áreas de sombra y en la parte más fresca del día. Manténgase hidratado bebiendo agua con frecuencia y en cantidades pequeñas. Quítese los equipos de protección durante sus períodos de descanso.

Para prevenir incendios, elimine del techo los materiales, gases y/o líquidos inflamables. Marque y proteja los artefactos permanentes del edificio, las tuberías de gas y electricidad. Selle todas las tomas de aire y aberturas en el techo para evitar que los vapores y las llamas entren al edificio. Tenga extinguidores de incendio disponibles. Prepare un plan para emergencias. Conozca las rutas para escapar del techo. Prepare comunicaciones entre las cuadrillas de trabajo del techo, en el edificio y en el suelo. Conozca los números de teléfono de emergencia en caso de incendio o emergencia médica. Conozca los primeros auxilios para agotamiento por calor y quemaduras graves.

Para trabajar con asfalto caliente en techos, use una careta cuando alimente el asfalto a la olla o al camión tanque. Lo más seguro es bombear el asfalto caliente a un tanque de transporte en el techo y después a un carrito para aplicar con trapeador. Llevar asfalto caliente a mano en botes puede resultar en salpicaduras y quemaduras. No suba botes de asfalto caliente por escaleras de mano, use un elevador o cabrestante. Cuando lleve asfalto caliente en un bote, camine con cuidado para evitar resbalones y caídas. Mantenga los botes y los carritos cubiertos hasta que use o deseche los materiales.

Los quemadores para techos de mano o sobre ruedas pueden exceder los 2000 °F. Nunca se debe aplicar el quemador directamente a los materiales del edificio, tapajuntas o espacios vacíos en el techo. Tenga cuidado en pendientes pronunciadas; los quemadores sobre ruedas pueden escapársele o volcarse. No tire de los quemadores sobre ruedas hacia atrás en techos que excedan una pendiente de 4:12. Cuando deposite el quemador, siempre debe apagarlo y colocarlo vertical sobre sus ruedas. No se debe colgar el quemador sobre el borde del techo. Para apagar el quemador, primero cierre la válvula del tanque de propano, y después deje que se consuma todo el gas que permanece en la manguera. Pare de trabajar unas 2 a 3 horas antes de irse del sitio para evitar puntos calientes o incendios que ardan lentamente.

Las máquinas de soldar para aplicar las membranas plásticas en techos pueden alcanzar hasta 1100 °F y usar electricidad de 220 voltios. Para evitar choques eléctricos, use disyuntores de falla a tierra (GFCI, por sus siglas en inglés), y evite la lluvia y las áreas húmedas. No toque objetos conectados a tierra, tales como tuberías o andamios, mientras opera estos equipos. No caliente demasiado las membranas plásticas porque pueden emitir compuestos tóxicos.

The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be relied upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us and relate only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or standards.

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Builder Confidence Declines for 11 Consecutive Months as Housing Weakness Continues

Posted November 16, 2022 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders Reprinted with permission.

Elevated interest rates, stubbornly high building material costs and declining affordability conditions that are pushing more buyers to the sidelines continue to drag down builder sentiment.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes posted its 11th straight monthly decline in November, dropping five points to 33, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This is the lowest confidence reading since June 2012, with the exception of the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.

“Higher interest rates have significantly weakened demand for new homes as buyer traffic is becoming increasingly scarce,” said NAHB Chairman Jerry Konter, a home builder and developer from Savannah, Ga. “With the housing sector in a recession, the Biden administration and new Congress must turn their focus to policies that lower the cost of building and allow the nation’s home builders to expand housing production.”

To bring more buyers into the marketplace, 59% of builders report using incentives, with a big increase in usage from September to November. For example, in November, 25% of builders say they are paying points for buyers, up from 13% in September. Mortgage rate buy-downs rose from 19% to 27% over the same time frame. And 37% of builders cut prices in November, up from 26% in September, with an average price of reduction of 6%. This is still far below the 10%-12% price cuts seen during the Great Recession in 2008.

“Even as home prices moderate, building costs, labor and materials – particularly for concrete – have yet to follow,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “To ease the worsening housing affordability crisis, policymakers must seek solutions that create more affordable and attainable housing. With inflation showing signs of moderating, this includes a reduction in the pace of the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes and reducing regulatory costs associated with land development and home construction.”

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 35 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. All three HMI components posted declines in November. Current sales conditions fell six points to 39, sales expectations in the next six months declined four points to 31 and traffic of prospective buyers fell five points to 20.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast fell six points to 41, the Midwest dropped two points to 38, the South fell seven points to 42 and the West posted a five-point decline to 29. HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at Housing Economics PLUS (formerly housingeconomics.com).

Single-Family Housing Contraction Continues in October

Posted November 17, 2022 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders Reprinted with permission.

Elevated mortgage rates, high construction costs for concrete and other building materials and weakening demand stemming from deteriorating affordability conditions continue to act as a drag on single-family housing production.

Overall housing starts decreased 4.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.43 million units in October, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The October reading of 1.43 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 6.1% to an 855,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate. Year-to-date, single-family starts are down 7.1%. The multifamily sector, which includes apartment buildings and condos, decreased 1.2% to an annualized 570,000 pace.

“Mirroring ongoing falloffs in builder sentiment, builders are slowing construction as demand retreats due to high mortgage rates, stubbornly elevated construction costs and declines for housing affordability,” said Jerry Konter, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Savannah, Ga.

“This will be the first year since 2011 to post a calendar year decline for single-family starts,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “We are forecasting additional declines for single-family construction in 2023, which means economic slowing will expand from the residential construction market into the rest of the economy.”

On a regional and year-to-date basis, combined single-family and multifamily starts are 2.9% higher in the Northeast, 1.5% lower in the Midwest, 2.6% higher in the South and 5.1% lower in the West.

Overall permits decreased 2.4% to a 1.53 million unit annualized rate in October. Single-family permits decreased 3.6% to an 839,000 unit rate. Multifamily permits decreased 1.0% to an annualized 687,000 pace.

Looking at regional permit data on a year-to-date basis, permits are 2.8% lower in the Northeast, 0.2% higher in the Midwest, 1.1% higher in the South and 4.0% lower in the West.

Multifamily units under construction climbed again in October to 928,000, the highest tally since December 1973.

Multifamily Developer Confidence Declines Significantly in the Third Quarter

Posted November 17, 2022 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders Reprinted with permission.

The prospects for continued high levels of multifamily development declined significantly in the third quarter, as did the prospects for continued high occupancy rates, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by NAHB. The MMS produces two separate indices. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) decreased 10 points to 32 compared to the previous quarter while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) fell 15 points to 45.

The MPI measures builder and developer sentiment about current production conditions in the apartment and condo market on a scale of 0 to 100. The index and all of its components are scaled so that a number below 50 indicates that more respondents report conditions are getting worse than report conditions are improving. Even though both indices are now below the break-even point of 50, both multifamily construction levels and occupancy rates remain quite high compared to historic norms.

The MPI is a weighted average of three key elements of the multifamily housing market: construction of low-rent units-apartments that are supported by low-income tax credits or other government subsidy programs; market-rate rental units-apartments that are built to be rented at the price the market will hold; and for-sale units—condominiums. All three components saw decreases compared to the second quarter: The component measuring low-rent units fell nine points to 36, the component measuring market rate apartments dropped 13 points to 39 and the component measuring for-sale units declined 10 points to 23.

The MOI measures the multifamily housing industry’s perception of occupancies in existing apartments. It is a weighted average of current occupancy indexes for class A, B, and C multifamily units, and can vary from 0 to 100, with a break-even point at 50, where lower numbers indicate decreased occupancy. The MOI fell 15 points to 45, the lowest level since the first quarter of 2010, with the exception of the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.

Although demand for multifamily housing remains strong in many parts of the country, some multifamily developers are starting to see signs of a slowdown,” said Sean Kelly, executive vice president of LNWA in Wilmington, Del., and chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Council. “The ongoing problems of scarcity and high cost of land and materials is making it difficult to go forward with certain projects, particularly affordable housing projects.”

“Multifamily developers are becoming cautious, as supply constraints have caused a large backlog of projects started but not yet completed to accumulate in the pipeline,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Diez. “An emerging additional constraint is financing for new multifamily development, which 79% of developers say is somewhat or significantly less available than it was a year ago. NAHB is now projecting a significant decline in multifamily starts in 2023.”

For data tables on the MPI and MOI, visit www.nahb.org/mms. For more information on the NAHB Multifamily program, please visit NAHB Multifamily.

Funding Available for Skilled Trades Training Programs

Posted November 22, 2022 on NAHB Now | The News Blog of the National Association of Home Builders

Reprinted with permission.

Home builders associations and NAHB members can help create or enhance construction trades programs at their local middle and high schools by encouraging school leaders to apply for the Schools to Skills grant, supported by the Home Builders Institute (HBI).

The Schools to Skills grant program, funded by The Home Depot Foundation (THDF) and the National Housing Endowment (NHE), allows schools to launch or enhance career technical education programs using HBI’s nationally recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum. PACT is one of only three national curricula recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and many state departments of education. The curriculum is also supported and endorsed by NAHB.

PACT is a hands-on, competency-based curriculum. It aligns with the STEM educational model — a curriculum based on discipline areas increasingly prominent in the modern workforce, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics. HBI will work closely with school administrators and instructors to implement a skilled trades training program and provide industry-recognized certifications to middle and high school students.

Interested educators and school administrators can view a short on-demand HBI 2023 Schools to Skills pre-application webinar explaining the program and its benefits. (Registration not required.)

Applications are due Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, and schools are encouraged to apply now. Contact partnerships@hbi.org for more information.

Builders FirstSource Announces CEO Transition

DALLAS, Nov. 21, 2022 – Builders FirstSource, Inc. today announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Dave Flitman, has stepped down as President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors to accept another opportunity outside of the industry.

The Board has appointed Dave Rush, Executive Vice President, to serve as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, until a permanent successor is named. The Board has also formed a special committee, led by Chairman Paul Levy, to oversee the search for a new CEO.

Rush, 60, has spent 23 years with Builders FirstSource. In his current role as Executive Vice President, Strategic Management Office (SMO), Rush oversees the execution of enterprise-wide initiatives to advance the Company’s long-term strategy and provide enhanced value to stakeholders. Prior to this, he led the integration and synergy efforts for our acquisitions of BMC and ProBuild.

Board Chair Paul Levy stated, “With deep operational, financial and business development capabilities, we are confident in Dave’s ability to lead Builders FirstSource as interim CEO. Heading into the new year, we are well-positioned to continue to outperform the market, owing to a deep and experienced leadership team, fundamental strengths and advantages, a clear strategy and a strong balance sheet. The Board looks forward to supporting Dave and the leadership team in facilitating a smooth transition and continuing to deliver compounding shareholder value.”

Rush stated, “I’m honored and excited to serve as Interim CEO during such an important time for the Company. Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, Builders FirstSource has an advantaged geographic footprint, industry-leading market position, and a strong culture, which position us well for continued success.”

Levy added, “The Board is grateful for Dave Flitman’s many contributions. Under his leadership, the Company successfully merged with BMC, increased its share in value-added products, and accelerated its profitable growth strategy. On behalf of all Builders FirstSource team members, we wish him the best in his next role.”

Flitman stated, “It has been an honor to work with our great team, stakeholders and Board of Directors. Builders FirstSource is stronger than ever and I am confident the Company is poised to outperform the market over the next several years as it transforms the homebuilding industry. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this incredible company.”

Dave Rush started his career at Builders FirstSource in 1999, serving in operational roles of increasing responsibility including as Chief Operating Officer of the Company’s eastern division and Executive Vice President, Integration Management Office, responsible for the successful integration of Builders FirstSource and BMC. Over his 23-year career, he has developed extensive operating, finance, and M&A experience. Rush earned his bachelor’s in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

As noted, the Board of Directors has initiated a formal search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer and has appointed a special committee to direct the search and transition process. The Company will provide updates on the search process as appropriate.

About Builders FirstSource

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Builders FirstSource is the largest U.S. supplier of building products, prefabricated components, and value-added services to the professional market segment for new residential construction and repair and remodeling. We provide customers an integrated homebuilding solution, offering manufacturing, supply, delivery and installation of a full range of structural and related building products. We operate in 42 states with approximately 575 locations. For more information, visit www.bldr.com.

Industry News

International Code Council Releases New Revit Add-In to Help the Design Community Streamline Schematic Design Workflows

ICC Digital Codes Premium Revit® Add-In helps minimize time to construction with access to the latest building codes and standards

November 21, 2022, Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council announced the release of the ICC Digital Codes Premium Revit® Add-In. The new add-in allows architects, designers, engineers and building safety professionals to access and reference building codes and standards directly from within Autodesk Revit.

“We’re very pleased to provide Revit users with a tool that helps minimize time to construction,” said Joan O’Neil, Chief Knowledge Officer for the Code Council. “Until now, architects and engineers have had to look through multiple code books or switch back and forth with various resources in a separate browser. With this new add-in, design professionals can use the codes as they work, without interrupting their workflow.”

The Open API integration provides side-by-side access to ICC Digital Codes Premium, enabling design professionals to validate construction plans with authorized building codes and standards during the design process itself.

The Revit Add-In provides full features and functionality of the ICC Digital Codes Premium browser version. Design professionals can:

• View content in each title directly within Revit

• Perform advanced searching and save searches

• Create bookmarks and favorites, and use Quick Access tools

• Copy, paste, and print codes

• Use hyperlinks to quickly find and read support materials

• Create notes that can be organized and migrated to various code editions

• Highlight and annotate code sections

“We know our architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) customers are looking for better ways to validate their designs that will help expedite time to construction,” said Jim Quanci, Senior Director, Developer Advocacy at Autodesk. “Integrating access to building codes and standards from the Code Council directly while inside Revit is a real game changer. “

The add-in is compatible with Autodesk Revit 2023, Autodesk Revit 2022, and Autodesk Revit 2021 on 64-bit Microsoft® Windows® 10 or Windows® 11 operating systems and is available on both the Code Council website and the Autodesk App Store.

ICC Digital Codes Premium Revit Add-In is available to existing Premium Complete subscribers. To learn more, visit https://codes. iccsafe.org/revit

About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

International Code Council and Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation Develop Credential of Learning Achievement on Code Official Safety

The Code Council’s Credential of Learning Achievement distinguishes individuals who are committed to professional development in important areas of building safety

November 18, 2022, Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council recently launched its first credential dedicated to the safety of Code Official personnel. The Code Official Safety Credential of Learning Achievement (CLA), developed in collaboration with the Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation (CEOSF), will educate code officials and inspectors in all disciplines with officer safety skills that set the standard in the code enforcement profession.

The Code Official Safety CLA assessment will be offered via the Code Council’s Proctored Remote Online Testing Option (PRONTO), which will verify subject matter comprehension and competency. The Code Council’s PRONTO examinations are available 24/7, scheduled up to 45 minutes in advance and utilize advanced exam security features.

The assessment will be based upon training that has been developed by CEOSF, who is an ICC Preferred Education Provider. The Code Official Safety Specialist (COSS) training is comprised of five courses totaling 15 hours of officer safety training. The CLA is granted to those individuals who successfully complete the five training courses and pass the Code Official Safety assessment.

“We are committed to supporting those individuals who dedicate their careers to ensuring that our buildings and communities are safe,” said Dominic Sims, CBO, Code Council Chief Executive Officer. “The Code Council and CEOSF have a shared commitment to promoting the safety of code officials, and our combined efforts to develop this new CLA will provide further resources to support the profession.”

The Code Council and CEOSF joined forces in May of 2021 to expand career development resources for the safety of code officials and increase collaboration between the two organizations. Their united efforts promote best practices for the safety of code officials, providing up-to-date training that encourages the highest standard of professionalism throughout the building safety community and recognizing code enforcement professionals that have paid the highest price to protect their communities.

“Since last year, the Code Council and CEOSF have continued to collaborate together to improve the safety of code officials across the globe. This CLA sets the standard for personnel safety training in our profession. The topics covered in this training are pertinent to all code professionals, whether they work in the field or in the office. CEOSF is excited to provide important and relevant safety training for this new CLA assessment,” stated Justin Edson, CEOSF President.

Learn more and register for the Code Official Safety CLA here

About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

About the Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation

The Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation exists to promote best practices for the safety of Code Enforcement Officers throughout the United States, to provide a resource for officers, report incidents, provide up-to-date training, and to encourage a high standard of professionalism within our chosen profession.

Mead Lumber Purchases Teague Lumber Company, Inc.

The Kansas City Building Supplier Joins the Mead Lumber Family

Omaha, Nebraska, November 1, 2022 – Mead Lumber Company today announced the purchase of Teague Lumber Company, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri. Teague Lumber has served the Kansas City metro area as a full service lumber yard and building material supplier for residential and light commercial new construction since 2002. They have four locations in the Kansas City area: corporate office, including the millwork operation and a separate lumber yard in Grandview, Missouri, as well as lumber yards in Liberty, Missouri and Bonner Springs, Kansas.

“All of us here at Teague Lumber are excited to join the Mead Lumber family,” said Don Margritier, President of Teague Lumber. “We’ve had several parties interested in purchasing us, but when it came down to it, the values that Mead Lumber has, their culture and track record in the communities they serve, and the fact that Mead Lumber is 100% employee-owned, made it the best decision for us.”

“We are extremely excited to have Teague Lumber join our family,” said Dave Anderson, President and CEO of Mead Lumber. “Teague Lumber not only gives us our first locations in the state of Missouri, but also gives us a great opportunity to expand into the Kansas City market. Teague Lumber is a great fit culturally as a company, and we are looking forward to combining the strengths of our two companies to provide customers a continued superior level of service.”

The business will continue to operate under the name Teague Lumber Company. The current management team under the direction of Ron Avery, Kansas City Market Manager, will continue to lead day-to-day operations at Teague Lumber. All of the current employees will remain and become employees of Mead Lumber.

About Mead Lumber

Mead Lumber is a 100% Employee Owned company that has become one of the leaders in the building materials industry, ranking in the top 20 nationally for companies serving Professional Builders. Mead Lumber now has 52 locations in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming, including five truss and wall panel manufacturing plants and a countertop manufacturing facility. Mead Lumber specializes in providing a complete line of materials to builders and homeowners including lumber, building materials, trusses & wall panels, millwork, kitchen cabinets and countertops, siding, decking, windows, doors and hardware.

For more information on Mead Lumber, visit www.meadcompanies.com or call Barry Kriha, Director of Marketing, Communications and Branding at (531) 710-3200 or email at barry.kriha@meadlumber.com

Simpson Strong-Tie Engineer Rachel Holland to Co-Host 12 Episodes of The Structural Engineering Channel

08 November 2022, Pleasanton, Calif. — Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, has announced that US Southwest Engineering Supervisor Rachel Holland has been selected to co-host twelve 12 episodes of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast.

Published by the Engineering Management Institute, the podcast offers informative episodes on structural engineering and construction resiliency topics with professional industry leaders, system manufacturers, innovators, and academics. Holland will serve alongside Mathew Picardal, P.E., who has been hosting the show since 2019.

A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Holland worked as a design and project engineer for BORM Engineering and ACK Engineering and Surveying before joining Simpson Strong-Tie as a branch engineer in 2011. A recognized expert in deck construction, Rachel is named on four patents including the Simpson Strong-Tie BVLZ ledger connector, designed to safely connect decks to homes through brick and masonry veneer.

“There are so many exciting things happening in structural engineering right now, and I’m looking forward to speaking to the experts and personalities in our field,” Holland says. “I’m sure we’re likely to take a look at mass timber and some of the newer methods of construction, as well as talk about some of the big projects and big issues in the industry — there are endless topics.”

Now approaching its 100th episode, The Structural Engineering Channel covers everything from framing to concrete to high-rise construction to designing buildings for resiliency against seismic, high-wind, and firerelated events. Episodes regularly address career building and professional networking for recent engineering graduates and emerging talents in the field, and past guests have included Simpson Strong-Tie Vice President of Engineering Annie Kao and Production Manager Aniket Borwankar.

Holland’s first episode as co-host airs on November 10, when she’ll talk about the work she does at Simpson Strong-Tie and share career advice for structural engineers based on her experience. To tune in or subscribe, visit The Structural Engineering Channel podcast page.

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.

US LBM Acquires Georgia Truss

National building materials distributor expands manufacturing capabilities in Atlanta metro area

ATLANTA, G.A., November 02, 2022—US LBM, a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has acquired Georgia Truss, an Atlanta-area manufacturer and supplier of structural roof and floor trusses.

Georgia Truss designs, manufacturers and supplies roof and floor truss components to contractors, developers and multifamily, commercial and residential builders in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.

Georgia Truss will operate as part of US LBM’s Brand Vaughan Lumber, which has multiple locations in Georgia, including a floor and roof truss manufacturing facility outside of Atlanta that opened earlier this year. Brand Vaughan supplies a wide range of building materials to professional builders, such as lumber, engineered wood products, windows, exterior and interior doors and trim, rebar, roofing and siding. Additionally, Brand Vaughan provides installation services, including structural framing, siding, windows, housewrap, millwork, and exterior and interior doors.

“Georgia Truss is a respected name in the Atlanta region, and we’re excited they have joined US LBM,” said US LBM President and CEO L.T. Gibson. “The combination of Georgia Truss and our recently opened truss facility expands US LBM’s manufacturing capabilities in the Atlanta area, allowing us to meet the continued demand for structural framing products in a key Southeast housing market.”

US LBM Acquires North Carolina Truss Manufacturer Comtech

National building materials distributor expands product offering in the Carolinas

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., November 03, 2022—US LBM, a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has acquired Comtech, a manufacturer and supplier of structural roof and floor trusses located in North Carolina.

Founded in 1970, Comtech manufactures floor and roof trusses and provides engineered wood products to builders in the Carolinas, including Raleigh, Pinehurst and Greenville, and along the coast from Morehead City to Myrtle Beach and Pawley’s Island.

Comtech will operate as part of US LBM’s Professional Builders Supply, which distributes residential and commercial building materials, such as lumber, siding, trim, doors, windows, decking and railing, to builders and remodelers across the Carolinas. Professional Builders Supply also provides turn-key installation services, including residential roofing and siding.

“The addition of Comtech’s truss manufacturing capabilities enhances the strength of US LBM’s network in the Carolinas, expanding our service offering and product mix across several key markets in the region,” said US LBM President and CEO L.T. Gibson. “With a well-earned reputation for quality and service, we’re pleased Comtech is joining US LBM.”

About USLBM

US LBM is the largest privately owned full-line distributor of specialty building materials in the United States. Offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialty products, including windows, doors, millwork, wallboard, roofing, siding, engineered components and cabinetry, US LBM combines the scale and operational advantages of a national platform with a local go-to-market strategy through its national network of locations across the country. For more information, please visit uslbm.com or follow US LBM on LinkedIn.

4Ward Solutions Group www.4wardconsult.com 623-512-6770 ben@4wardconsult.com

EstiFrame Technologies, Inc. www.estiframe.com 209-576-5000 cgifford@estiframe.com

Acceptance Leasing & Financing Service, Inc. www.acceptlease.com 412-262-3225 cvillella@acceptlease.com

Acer Inc. www.acerinc.com 507-864-2220 sales@acerinc.com

All Points Technical www.AllPoints.Tech 941-713-4395 Dave.AllPoints@gmail.com

Alpine www.alpineitw.com 800-521-9790 mschwitter@alpineitw.com

Clark Industries, Inc. www.clark-ind.com 800-743-9727 general@clark-ind.com

Eagle Metal www.eaglemetal.com 800-521-3245 connect@eaglemetal.com

Eide Integrated Systems eideintegratedsystems.com 612-521-9193 ext 204 tom@eidemachinery.com

Fitzgerald Group, LLC www.fitzgroup.com 719-528-5445 rfitzgerald@fitzgroup.com

HOLTEC USA Corporation www.holtecusa.com 813-754-1665 info@holtecusa.com

Hundegger USA www.hundeggerusa.com 435-654-3028 steve@hundeggerusa.com

LimTek Solutions limteksolutions.com 416-888-4457 edmond.lim@limteksolutions.com

MiTek USA www.mitek-us.com 800-325-8075 customerservice@mii.com

Panels Plus www.panplus.com 866-726-7587 tkaasa@panplus.com

ROGworx Automation www.ROGworx.com 707-333-4507 sales@ROGworx.com

Runnion Equipment Company www.runnionequipment.com 708-541-1063 barunnion@runnionequipment.com

Vekta USA www.vektausa.com 907-230-8276 info@vektausa.com

Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com 800-999-5099 web@strongtie.com Spida

www.spida.com 866-647-7771 sales@spida.com

The Hain Company www.thehaincompany.com 530-295-8068 sales@thehaincompany.com TheJobLine.com www.thejobline.com 800-289-5627 mail@thejobline.com Timber Products Inspection www.tpinspection.com 770-922-8000 Todd Drummond Consulting, LLC. www.todd-drummond.com 603-748-1051 todd@todd-drummond.com Triad | Merrick Machine www.triadmachines.com 800-568-7423 ext 133 mmcsales@merrickmachine.com

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

Wolf X Machina www.wolfxmachina.com info@wolfxmachina.com

Wood Tech Systems, Inc. www.woodtechsystems.com 765-751-9990 info@woodtechsystems.com

Wood Truss Plant General Manager 22-1130-1

Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Employer: Black Tie Components

As a member of the Black Tie Components management team, this position provides direction to activities of all associates involved in the production, maintenance, and shipping of wood roof and floor truss and wall panels. The Plant Manager is responsible for developing our people, continuously improving our processes, and aligning the production function with the Company’s core values, its commitment to lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, and overall strategic direction. Black Tie Components is a start up company with a brand new 60,000 SF manufacturing plant in Hartford, SD utilizing the most automated truss systems and wall panel systems available with an optimized layout.

General Manager 22-1125-1

Posted on Friday, November 25, 2022

Employer: Dutchcraft Truss & Component Inc.

Dutchcraft Truss & Component Inc. is seeking a motivated and hard working individual to fill the position of General Manager. The General Manager will oversee all day to day operations from design to delivery and everything in between. This is a great opportunity for the right candidate to have a long term career and great compensation.

Wall Panel Designer 22-1107-1

Posted on Monday, November 07, 2022

Employer: Mandere Construction

Mandere Construction was founded in 1992 and serves the Inland Northwest as the premier framing company in the area. We are sought after by the best of the best in the building industry and are trusted to complete framing, siding and wall panel projects of all sizes. While we are locally managed and operated and we have the privilege of being part of the Kodiak Building Partners portfolio of companies. We are looking to add to our Wall Panel Production Team. This position is responsible for the coordination, prioritization and drawing of Wall Panel Designs that will keep our wall panel shop working at capacity. The successful candidate will demonstrate a good working knowledge of construction principles, have good attention to detail and take initiative while working effectively as part of a team.

Lead Designer 22-0811-2

Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2022

Employer: ProTec Panel & Truss

ProTec Panel & Truss is looking to add a Lead Designer to our team. The designer will be responsible for the production of detailed shop drawings for component

manufacturing using Mitek Software. They will contribute to the Design Team's success by working with team members to check accuracy and assist entry level designers.

BIM/VDC Senior Designer 22-0426

Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Employer: Simple Homes

Simple Homes is seeking a highly motivated, experienced draftsperson/ component designer to join our architecture and engineering team. This role will primarily be focused on transforming both new and existing designs into detailed fabrication models using the MiTek Sapphire Suite. In addition, this individual will be responsible for the production of detailed construction and shop drawings for component manufacturing (wall panels, floor panels, and roof sections). Last but not least, the individual will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of new designs that are optimized for our unique panelized building system.

At Simple Homes we look for problem solving pros – folks who aren’t afraid to dive in, get their hands dirty, and figure out innovative solutions. As we are an earlystage startup, we need folks who can wear many hats and are energized by a fast-paced and ever-changing work environment. In this role, we also need you to have a passion for VDC and BIM.

Truss Designer - MiTek/Multifamily J14173

Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Employer: JobLine - Client Confidential

JobLine Senior Designer ranking and MiTek software experience (Sapphire preferred) is highly desirable for this position. Prefer someone with commercial and multifamily experience but strong Single Family Custom will be considered. Bring your friends! In-office position. Remote is not an option.

Remote Mega-Multifamily Estimator J15227

Posted on Thursday, November 18, 2021

Employer: JobLine - Client Confidential

Remote Mega-Multifamily Truss Estimator opportunity. Qualified candidates will already know the general duties and skills needed for this position and additional details can be obtained prior to approving presentation. Employer will consider 3+ years single family design experience. Training and position is remote. Expert level Remote MMF Estimators are afforded top consideration but the employer is very willing to train experienced single family designers wishing to become MMF Designers. This position is a stepping stone to a MMF Design job if you are interested.

TheLastWord on

Automated Material Handling

Joe Kannapell, P.E.

With automated saws and auto-jigging tables, what remains is automated material handling, and that’s what we find at Builders FirstSource’s (BFS) Austin plant. House of Design’s (HoD) robotic roof line there extends the floor truss pre-plating methodology found at their Atlanta plant (see The Last Word on the Promise of Robotics from August 2022) to the varied geometry of roof trusses. Beginning last April, Area Manager John Hansen and GM Jay Schroder worked with HoD technicians installing robotics on a new double-sided gantry line and they continue to improve uptime and output. These BFS initiatives continue their quest to gain a competitive advantage with automation, which is how they entered the truss business 30 years ago by buying leading-edge computerized saws and laser setups.

The HoD roof system again borrows from Professor Tuomo Poutanen’s patent (see The Last Word on Pre-Plating from November 2022), though it is not yet integrated with a saw. Currently Austin’s cutting is processed through an ALS and is staged manually in the sequence directed by the HoD software. Special attention is required to properly orient the end-cuts of each piece “up or down” and “leading or trailing” to match the display at the infeed to the table. While the picking process adds manual labor, this extra cost is somewhat offset by the reduction in lumber waste from optimization at the ALS.

From the cutting staging area, each part is manually fed into a trough-like track and is conveyed to a station at which the bottom side of chords and the top side of the webs are pre-plated hydraulically by a robot. Plates are located very accurately and fully embedded prior to assembly in the impressive four step process shown in the images. This increased accuracy enables a reduction in fabrication tolerance during truss design. Per ANSI/TPI 1–2014 Commentary, the “most commonly used fabrication tolerance has been 20 percent.” With HoD pre-plating, this tolerance may be reduced to 10%, effectively reducing plate sizes by 10% and decreasing truss cost accordingly. (Note that the fabrication tolerance still needs to account for the incidence of flattened or ineffective teeth due to lumber defects.)

The truss perimeter is preset on the table with automated pucks, and the chords are taken first from the track and set against the pucks by the robot. To provide for lumber tolerances, the pucks are initially offset approximately one-half inch from the outside perimeter. Since the pucks are only effective in controlling vertical dimensions, trusses with end verticals may require horizontal stops to be manually installed. Then the webs are placed in proper locations, with each end set on top of the plates that were affixed to the bottom face of the chords. When all pieces are in place, the pucks are tightened to close joint gaps.

The final assembly step is the manual adjustment of any out-of-place parts and the setting of plates by the roller press operator(s). As Hansen notes, this involves nearly a reversal of their former assembly techniques. Finally, with all pieces in place, the operator(s) returns to the gantry platform, traverses the gantry across the truss, and engages the truss lifters just as is done in a manual operation.

The result is a good, safe coordination of robotic material handling with proven automated truss setup. The advantage is the elimination of handling of all materials during assembly, both plates and lumber, which constitutes the bulk of labor cost. Yet this is a pioneering effort requiring the continual onsite support of two HoD technicians, just as BFS’s early adoption of computerized saws required the diligence of onsite engineer Michael Fuss. Once this operation proves itself, BFS plans to integrate the cutting and stacking in Austin, and to install similar systems in several other locations.