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It’s hard to find the right words to describe the International Builders Show (IBS) held this past January at the Orlando convention center. Enormous? Chaotic? Bewildering? Maybe all three. That description sheds some light on why the housing industry is as fragmented as it is.
Sometimes it’s hard to start a conversation. You know what you want to say, you think you know how the person you’re talking to will react, and yet finding the words to get the ball rolling and respond to the questions you know you’ll get is tough.
Metal plate connected wood trusses are sometimes used in applications or environments that require the trusses to be designed and constructed with chemically treated lumber. The two most common types of chemically treated wood used in trusses are preservative treated wood (PTW) and fire retardant treated wood (FRTW).
Last June, Truss Components of Washington started doing something unconventional: holding regular meetings of production, design and office employees. General Manager Chad Johnson and Production Manager William Blankenship reflected on their six-month-old experiment, sharing why and how they brought these groups together and what the meetings have accomplished.
“It’s too broad of a statement to say we post job openings on the internet. The type of position we are seeking determines where the ad is placed,” explained John Holland, of Clearspan Components, Inc. “For example, when seeking technical employees, there are all kinds of stratifications.”
SBCA’s library of technical design and installation best practices has been expanded over the past year to help CMs navigate a wide array of code-related challenges in their markets.
If you’ve been in the truss industry for any length of time, there’s one phone call you absolutely dread receiving: “We have a problem; your trusses collapsed!”
For this general manager, other start-ups were more of a model than other CMs.
Quality marks are not substitutes for grade marks—FRTW will include both!
Your company does it every day: load components and deliver them to jobsites. Ben Vadnais, assistant plant manager at Windsor Building Systems, has a few tips for keeping your loading and delivery operations running as smoothly and safely as possible.
In May 2007, SBC Magazine highlighted the uniquely curved trusses used for the “keeping room” of a custom home in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.
The concrete podium of the mixed-used Mercer building sat out the recession. Now, the redesigned building is one of a handful of developments creating a new high-rent suburb of Las Vegas.
On February 7, 2017, the structural building components industry lost one of its leading advocates and innovators, Dwight Hikel. His contributions to the industry can be found today not only in the success of his company, Shelter Systems Limited, but also in the words and actions of many of the industry’s leaders who were his peers and fellow members of the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA).
In an industry that requires competition and innovation, one man separated himself from all the others for over forty years: Dwight Hikel. Many in the industry know his story but some may not. Shelter Systems Limited started out as a small, 14,000-square-foot plant in 1976 and has grown into a cutting edge, 120,000-square-foot truss manufacturing facility. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident.
Contrary to the popular marketing slogan, not everything that happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas, like the “youth movement” that unexpectedly sprang up during those two days of discussion. What started as a frank observation that industry leadership needs greater participation and buy-in from the younger generations led to several productive ideas on how to begin achieving that goal.
A best practice for building designers: find a friend to check your load paths.
Meet SBCA board member Gene Frogale, President of Annandale Millwork and Allied Systems in Chantilly, Virginia.
What’s the secret to great IT support in the component industry? Find a process that’s simple enough that you’ll actually do it, and detailed enough that it’s useful.
When Mandere Construction couldn’t get the trusses it needed to frame its projects, owner John Mandere went looking for the best truss folks he could find—and hired them
One of the biggest changes to OSHA regulations in 2017 might be injury and illness reporting.
When PDJ Components opened its doors for a plant tour, it was an education for everyone.
It is important for our industry to have a voice and to shine a light on the issues we face. Going to DC lets us take part in shaping the future.
SBCA members gathered in Las Vegas for the most recent Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM), a regular member event that combines an open-door board meeting with a variety of opportunities for networking, discussion and, of course, fun!
One strategy for employee retention might be training your recruiters.
High temperatures and humidity combined with heavy physical labor can lead to serious illness and even death. Without proper hydration and rest in the shade, your body temperature can rise to unsafe levels and cause heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Prevent heat illness by keeping four simple things in mind: Water. Rest. Shade. Watch.
Do all the builders, contractors, framers, fire officials, building inspectors and lawmakers in your market understand what makes your products so great? Do they know why using components is the best way to frame? If you’re answering “no” (which is very likely), it’s time for a tour.