Search
Lay-On Gables are an opportunity for component manufacturers.
One CM’s decision to reach out to a local community college is a win-win for all involved.
Designers and production crews found some creative ways to say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018.
I’m a firm believer in supporting the industry you work in. If you’re going to pour your heart and soul into it, well, pour your heart and soul into it. For instance, I’ve been a very active member of the Structural Building Components Association of Minnesota (SBCAMN) and Builders Association of Minnesota (BAM) for decades because I’ve learned associations are one of the more effective ways to help my business while also helping the component industry thrive in Minnesota.
“We need to take every opportunity to sell more trusses!” That was the sentiment of many of the component manufacturers (CMs) sitting around the table at the most recent SBCA Marketing Committee meeting in Tampa, Florida.
Communicating cost increases with our customers
Imagine purchasing a new piece of equipment and then finding out once it’s installed you can’t make it work the way it was intended because it doesn’t understand what your software is telling it.
SBCA will be voicing the industry’s concerns on Capitol Hill.
Can’t make it to Washington, DC for SBCA’s Fly-in this June? Consider hosting a plant tour instead!
Learn more about Student Day at BCMC 2018 in Milwaukee.
Most of the conversations I’ve had with component manufacturers (CMs) about increasing production efficiency inevitably focus on one thing: bottlenecks.
How someone interprets your email matters more than what you mean
Changes in state laws require a fresh look at drug use policies.
Getting information up front on sprinkler systems can ease the design process.
An unusual design project gives this CM international exposure.
CM builds relationships with students by giving back.
Cascade Manufacturing Company • Cascade, Iowa
On May 7-11, construction crews across the nation took part in OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down, an annual opportunity for framers to discuss safety with their employees and emphasize the importance of fall prevention.
When times are good and business is continually flowing in as it is right now, it’s easy to just keep the foot on the gas pedal and deal with what’s right in front of me. However, I make better decisions when I have the ability to look at the bigger picture. If I am only comparing myself to my past performance or my pre-determined expectations, I’m missing a huge opportunity.
The case summary shown below, from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), rationalizes some homeowner reactions to recent media coverage surrounding [toxic] mold. It is a legitimate fear. It can cause physical harm to sensitive people who are exposed to it. But, the type and amount of harm are uncertain.
The below article is an update of the article, "Who's Mold Is It?" published in the January/February 2003 edition of SBC Magazine.
Builder complaints regarding the growth of surface mold on the lumber contained within wood structural components, while not as frequently encountered as in the past, continue to pose a dilemma in some markets. The dilemma comes in the form of builders either demanding moldfree wood based products, or when mold appears on a component at the jobsite, they are demanding that suppliers provide an immediate remediation (e.g., removal) of the mold, regardless of the cause or the cost. And, where structures are improperly designed or constructed and mold growth appears years later, component manufacturers (CMs) have found themselves into construction defect litigation with various types of complaints being asserted.
Mold contamination is becoming a nationwide concern among homeowners and builders. Mold in homes and mold lawsuits have gained extensive media coverage from talk shows to feature articles in national publications. Even Erin Brockovich is making news in the mold litigation arena. Insurance companies are becoming increasingly concerned as well. They feel that they are unfairly bearing the brunt of the expense in remediating mold, thereby leading to revisions in homeowner and builder/contractor liability policies.
Mold can be found almost anywhere and can grow on virtually any substance, provided moisture is present. Several lumber associations are knowledgeable on this topic, including the American Forest & Paper Association's (AF&PA’s) American Wood Council (AWC), the Western Wood Products Association (WWPA), the Canadian Wood Council (CWC), and the Southern Pine Council (SPC). Surface molds, which can come from a variety of sources including airborne spores, feed off of the sugars and starches readily available in wood. Thus mold can and will occur naturally on lumber under certain conditions, normally due to the presence of moisture in or on the wood and warm temperatures. Therefore, component manufacturers and lumber dealers must realize that all lumber and wood components are susceptible to mold growth.