Component Connection

In this episode, Adam Finkenhoefer, general manager of the 84 Lumber component facility in Oxford, Georgia, shares how he eventually found his way to the industry and how things have changed as his facility transitioned into the 84 Lumber family.

In this episode, Issam Fakhoury and Tom Closser, owners of Apex Structural Innovation in Romulus, Michigan, discuss how their company grew out of the Great Recession and how they are successfully expanding into multifamily construction.

In this episode, Shane Soule, president of ProTec Panel and Truss in Bremen, Indiana, shares how his company seeks to both increase framer efficiency on the jobsite and production efficiency in the manufacturing facility. Shane addresses the value that can be captured through controlling the onsite labor, as well as targeted use of robotics.

In this episode, Shane Soule, president of ProTec Panel and Truss in Bremen, Indiana, discusses how his company has had success selling wall panels to framers. In addition, Shane shares how they are trying to make onsite labor even more cost-efficient through window installation, floor panels, and addressing their jobsite pain points.

In this episode, Shane Soule, president of ProTec Panel and Truss in Bremen, Indiana, shares how he ended up running his company, and how he’s positioning his component manufacturing business to thrive in the years ahead.

The successful release of SBCA’s Digital QC software would not have been possible without the knowledge and expertise of Q4US, a software development company headquartered in Finland. In this episode Sandun Dasanayake, co-founder and CEO at Q4US and, Jess Lohse, executive director of SBCA, provide some insight into Digital QC’s functionality and what it took to create it.

In this episode, Margaret Whelan, founder and CEO of Whelan Advisory Capital Markets, sheds light on what is driving investment into the component manufacturing industry and integration within the construction supply chain.

In this episode, Rachel Hoops, B2B Sales Manager for Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation (LMC), shares how their components group has grown rapidly in partnering up their component manufacturing and LBM members for mutual benefit. Rachel also shares the emerging trends they see in the market and what may lie ahead for the LMC component group.

In this episode, John Herring, CEO of A-1 Industries in Fort Pierce, Florida, explores the challenges he faced in opening a new, state-of-the-art facility for today that is also built to accommodate long-term growth. John also weighs in on what it takes to get into the component manufacturing business today.

In this episode, John Herring, CEO of A-1 Industries in Fort Pierce, Florida, explores what the industry was like in the early 1970s in the industry’s birthplace. John also shares how his mindset changed about running a component manufacturing company after the housing bubble burst in the mid-2000s.

In this episode, Barry Dixon, owner and CEO of True House in Jacksonville, Florida, and BJ Louws, president of Louws Truss in Ferndale, Washington, share why, as they seek to automate and innovate, they have invested time and resources in looking overseas. They also share what motivates them to push their family businesses forward to continually improve.

In this episode, Jeff Smith, president and CEO of Trussway, shares how Trussway is celebrating 50 years of business and the ways they focus on supporting, training, and recognizing the value of their employees. Jeff also talks about how they interface with their customers to ensure they have the best experience possible.

In this episode, Brian Kerkhoff, president of KA Components in Otterbein, Indiana, talks about how they strive to build trust and loyalty with their customers and how their non-integrated model serves LBMs well.

In this episode, Brian Kerkhoff, president of KA Components in Otterbein, Indiana, shares their approach to offering just the right structural framing products to their customers and why they have chosen to only work directly with LBMs.

In this episode, Jess Lohse, SBCA’s executive director, announces the Digital QC program is now available to all component manufacturers and is free to all SBCA members. Jess shares how this new software will benefit CMs and allow them to harness the full potential of robust QC data.

In this episode, Jimmy Broach, President and CEO of Atlantic Building Components in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, talks about the challenges of bringing a new plant online and getting another generation involved in the family business.

In this episode, Jimmy Broach, President and CEO of Atlantic Building Components in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, shares how he has used a 20-year-plan approach to expand steadily, and virtually debt-free.

In this episode, Jason Hikel and Mike Ruede, Jr., co-chairs of the SBCA Emerging Leaders Committee, share what the organization has accomplished recently to revitalize and refocus their committee to offer meaningful value to the next generation of members getting involved in the association. They also provide the motivation behind starting a Pinewood Derby tournament for the industry at OQMs and B...

In this episode, Sam Briggs, Purchasing Manager for Crane Johnson Lumber and Mid States Truss, shares how wall panels have become a profitable part of their business and how they protect their company in multi-family projects during a volatile lumber market.

This episode was recorded live at the International Builders Show (IBS). Luke Wiesen, General Manager for Truss Craft in Grand Island, Nebraska, talks about his education session targeted to builders on the benefits of converting onsite sticks to offsite components and fully utilizing the expertise and skills sets of CMs. Luke also shares the benefits of the IBS experience as a CM.

On this episode, Hayward Lumber Company’s Rudi Lokkart shares how they are leveraging their technology and creativity to solve the jobsite labor pain their single-family builders are currently facing. He also talks about how they evaluate production equipment options as they seek to meet customer demand.

On this episode, Todd Tomalak, principal at John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBREC), shares their forecast for Q1 2022 and what component manufacturers and the residential supply chain can expect in the near term.

On this episode, Casey Carey, President & CEO for Builders/Spelts Schultz in Aurora, Colorado, shares what he sees ahead in 2022 and why they are completely overhauling their entire operation this year.

In this episode, Blake and Pat Schwieters of JL Schwieters Construction near Saint Paul, Minnesota, talk about how their company has had great success perfecting and improving their framing products through direct feedback from their field labor.

In this episode, Blake and Pat Schwieters of JL Schwieters Construction near Saint Paul, Minnesota, share how their company grew from a small framing company to a fully-integrated contractor by gradually adding manufactured stair units, wall panels, floor panels and roof trusses—all to improve the efficiency of their field labor.