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We’ve been kicking around the idea of changing things up in the pages of SBC Magazine for quite a while. The changes you see in this first issue of 2016 are the culmination of countless conversations with component manufacturers, suppliers and the general readership, as well as a lot of strategizing on how we can best help you keep abreast of all that is going on in the structural building components industry. Ultimately, our desire is for this to be your magazine, full of content written collaboratively with your peers.
I recently talked with Gene Frogale (Allied Systems) and Jack Dermer (American Truss Systems) about their experiences at the International Builders Show (IBS) in January.
Three months before its grand opening in June 2007, wall panels were installed in the Structural Building Components Research Institute (SBCRI) testing lab.
A CM in Pennsylvania is taking a proactive approach to dealing with exception four of IRC provision R501.3.
SBCA President Jess Lohse and his wife, Elizabeth, recently welcomed a new addition to the family. Judge David Lohse was born at 6:04 pm on March 21 and weighed in at 7 pounds 5 ounces.
In this issue, we take a look at the Framing the American Dream (FAD) project and the value it has for component manufacturers (CMs). This FAD overview lays the foundation for future articles in which we’ll go into greater depth on specific benchmarking data. A comment from Jack Dermer, president of American Truss, sums it up: “Now that the latest study is completed, the next step is for component manufacturers to look at their own markets and find different ways to talk about the study so it’s applicable to their own unique situations.”
Fresh into my new adventure of fatherhood (see Parting Shots), I’m reminded of the iconic Beastie Boys song from the mid-80s. While my days of fighting for my right to party are long behind me, my days of fighting for my family are just beginning. My wife Elizabeth experienced some minor complications with her pregnancy that required us to stay multiple days in the hospital. Most everything with the stay went well and according to plan, up until the final day.
One CM explains that, despite a few challenges, virtualization is “potentially huge in its impact on IT efficiency.”
Adding a warm-up or cool down to your routine is a great way to bookend the physical labor of component manufacturing.
In-Plant Wood Truss QC is an easy-to-implement step toward improved productivity in your plant.
SBCA chapters deploy unique initiatives on the local level, proving there is no one way to reach your market.
“More often than not, if it’s a flat roof, it has a green roof on it.”
Whether increasing fines can force a change in industry safety practices remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure—the cost of failing to comply with OSHA standards is about to rise.
A tour can seal the deal with potential customers or cement a relationship with established ones.
Young candidates today get more interested when they tour a facility and see the drafting and design part of the process.
OSHA isn’t really all that scary; most of it boils down to policies and procedures.
Planning ahead for hardware and software upgrades is an essential part of avoiding a worst-case scenario.
Having a voice and a united group of CMs to drive the industry forward is one of the primary reasons for belonging to our trade association.
Thank you to everyone who took time to comment on the new look and feel of the January/February issue of SBC Magazine.
What will happen if the plies of a multi-ply girder truss are not fastened together properly? Overloading and, potentially, chord fractures can occur.
Truss placement diagrams (TPDs) may be one of the more misunderstood documents in our industry.
Implement proven strategies now to prepare for another busy building season
The slow season is a perfect time to get sawdust cleaned up in your plant
Talking about manufacturing automation often leads to discussions about new equipment, software or other technology. But Buddy Raney of Raney Construction and Dana Rector of Universal Forest Products are quick to point out that what’s critical is workflow planning and people.
Few issues have demanded the attention of the SBCA Board of Directors more over the past five years than the variability of lumber design values. SBCA Legal Counsel Kent Pagel provided guidance to component manufacturers (CMs) on ways to mitigate the potential risk and liability that have arisen in the market as a result of how the lumber industry has chosen to deal with the issue of variable design properties.
It’s one thing to have a salesperson from an MSR producer tell you the advantages of using MSR lumber in your production process. It’s an entirely different thing—and much more persuasive—to have four veteran component manufacturers (CMs) give you the reasons they’re convinced it’s better than visually graded lumber.