Multinail has been developing highly specialised and technically advanced Australian made prefabrication machinery for over four decades leading many of the innovations that we now take for granted.

In 2018, we introduced the PieceMaker automated linear saw to the market. It turned out to be a timely introduction with fabricators across the country instantly recognising the productivity benefits from adding an automated linear saw to their manufacturing operation. Over time we received customer feedback that they wanted more speed which seemed a strange request as we know the saw is fast and most truss plants can’t press enough trusses to keep up with the saw when it’s running flat out.

We decided to take a deep dive into the saws data and discovered to our surprise that most plants were only running the PieceMaker for about 3-4 hours per day. We then asked the obvious question as to why the saw was so underutilised when we were told the machine operators were busy.

This confounding situation required even more in depth investigation across a wider range of truss plants. It revealed this was a common statistic throughout the industry with the main issue being the inability to keep an automated linear saw loaded and running because of several issues within both staffing and factory logistics.

• The machine is stopped while the operator walks around the yard looking for a piece of timber
• The machine is stopped while the stock pack in front of the saw is swapped
• The machine is stopped because the people on the outfeed are saying they can’t keep up
• The machine is stopped because the operator is distracted talking to other people in factory
• The loading of machine is stopped while the operator looks for trolleys

There are many other reasons that are just bewildering when you consider that a machine like the PieceMaker is a big financial investment and if fabricator plants want to get a return on their investment, they must keep it running!

We decided this was a situation ripe for innovation and our working knowledge of the PieceMaker meant we were in the best position to deliver an Australian made solution.

In 2020, we launched a development project involving a world-wide team of engineers and technologists with the sole aim of providing truss plants with an automated solution to ensure the PieceMaker Linear Saw was able to operate at maximum efficiency. What followed was an extensive research and testing program and in 2021 we welcomed yet another Multinail innovation with the arrival of PieceGiver.

The Piecegiver replaces the operator at the head of the linear saw. It picks up the timber and feeds it into the machine. It doesn’t stop. It doesn’t go hunting for timber around the factory. It doesn’t wander off and talk to his mate on the other side of the factory. It doesn’t stop the machine when he thinks the outfeed operator is too busy….it just keeps loading the machine.

The PieceGiver has been a game changing transformation in the efficiency and productivity of the PieceMaker saw. It can instantly deliver on its ultimate promise and all because we keep the timber loaded on the infeed deck and offer no excuses for stopping the saw….it just keeps cutting!

Customer feedback from people that own the PieceGiver have told us that one of the more surprising advantages of the machine is the comfort it gives the schedulers. They are now able to more confidently say to a builder “you can have your job when you need it” because we know the saw will have cut the job ready for pressing.

“We absolutely love the PieceGiver it has made a huge difference to our cutting productivity. I am convinced that once people are shown how the PieceGiver works, Multinail will not sell another PieceMaker linear saw without a PieceGiver.”
Ashley Young Fortruss Frame & Truss

We all know that sawing is considered an overhead and you don’t make any money until you press a truss. The Multinail PieceGiver in conjunction with PieceMaker linear saw combines to make this necessary part of your truss plant as trouble free, efficient and as simple as possible allowing you to concentrate on assembling trusses and making money.

There are many advantages to the Multinail PieceMaker and PieceGiver combination. Imagine the money you will bank if for the next 1-2 years your operation could make these labour savings and efficiency gains.

• You reduce labour costs
• You get control of your cutting. You know the capacity of the machine and you know it’s going to cut at that capacity so you can plan your deliveries with confidence
• If you need more production, the Piecegiver will dramatically improve your output. It will give you an extra 3-4 hours per day of cutting when compared to a standard truss plant
• If you don’t need more cutting you can deploy the outfeed staff to making trusses once they’re finished cutting. They’ll now cut flat out and not spread their small amount of work over a full day.

Truss plants can be difficult to run. Let’s take cutting off your list of problems and help you become more efficient and profitable.

For more information, contact Warwick Porter, National Machinery Sales Manager at Multinail Australia via warwick.porter@multinail.com

Image: The PieceGiver in operation, automatically delivering timber to the PieceMaker saw on this line and helping the saw and the truss plant operate at maximum efficiency.