A few words from our General Manager
Greetings from Panels Plus! I can’t believe it’s already the 4th quarter. The year has gone by quickly as business has been strong in 2021. This year has been full of new challenges.
Panels Plus was at BCMC 2021 in Omaha, NE. We debuted the new Automated Sheathing Station. This is the first piece of equipment released for the new Panels Plus Platinum Series. All of the machines in this series will be designed to further automate the building process. The new Automated Sheathing Station receives files directly from the MiTek ShopNet™ software and uses the wall data to sheath wood wall panels. This increases nail accuracy, reduces product loss, increases performance to design, and reduces labor as the operator can line up the wall starting point, start the bridge and walk away to work on something else while the sheathing is being fastened. Two of these sheathing stations are currently in product testing and this new product will be available for order starting in 2022.
Being busy highlights the supply chain issues we are still facing in the United States. Panels Plus is working to minimize the impact of our supply chain by finding different suppliers, using different models of the same brand, or finding other part brands. I have read and heard news stories stating that the shortages should end by the middle or end of 2022. Until then, we will continue to find a way to get the equipment delivered when you need it, and we will keep you informed of any issues as soon as we know of them.
With the continued supply chain challenges, it is possible that some components will require the use of substitutions, resulting in your new machine having some different parts than your prior equipment. We are doing our best to avoid using components that are not direct replacements, however, direct replacements are not available in all cases.
In addition to the delivery issues from our suppliers, our costs have continued to rise. Panels Plus has worked hard to hold our pricing and keep costs level from year to year. As a result of the extreme price increases, Panels Plus has had to raise prices in 2021. I assure you that we will keep the increases to the smallest amount possible.
In a prior newsletter, I talked about adding staff to keep up with our growing business. We have since added on a few new team members and are also adding two more installation and service technicians to help install Panels Plus equipment and train customers on equipment operation. Our sales and engineering team have many years of experience and are happy to assist if you are looking to start an operation in a new or existing building. We are dedicated to your success, and we will help you to figure out the most productive plant layout and equipment for your needs.
If you haven’t been on the Panels Plus website lately, I encourage you to visit. Our internal staff has been working to continuously to keep our website and literature up to date. Panels Plus is also on LinkedIn and YouTube. Please visit us at www.panplus.com or write to us at sales@panplus.com.
We are reminded by the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to be thankful for the things we have. I would like to thank each of you for trusting Panels Plus for your equipment needs. I wish you a happy and joyous holiday season!
Best Regards,
Tim Grahn, General Manager