“Zip-O doesn’t shy away from challenges. We literally get excited in the office when jobs come around to showcase what we can achieve when given the opportunity. We approach ever job as a team member towards its success, not as separate entities in a transaction."
In the summer of 2021, Zip-O-Laminators was tapped to produce monstrous Alaskan Yellow Cedar glulam beams for the exterior of the Golden One Credit Union in Fresno California. Spanning lengths of 92’ to 104’ and a height of 7’, these 6-3/4” wide glulams also needed a resawn textured finish. To complicate matters, the job also had a very tight delivery window to hit that would be a moving target until approximately 2 weeks prior to the job start, requiring steady coordination and communication between the jobsite and the lam plant.
Zip-O Laminators first step in this project was planning out a tight production timeline, flexible enough to be started at a moment’s notice and achieve completion in two weeks or less of the delivery date to ensure cranes and trucking were all in place and coordinated.
The project consisted of two glulam beams 6-3/4” x 84” x 92’ and one beam 6-3/4” x 84” x 104’, requiring special trucking and additional permits. When dealing with creating, delivering, and installing glulam beams of this size, communication and scheduling are paramount. Regular check-ins were done to coordinate with the jobsite updates and plans for the beam production schedule and logistical components.
Challenges & Solutions
Attempting to manufacture and ship these massive beams in a short window that was not determined at the start was an obstacle, but a manageable one. The sales staff coordinated incoming orders to ensure other large or space-eating projects could be done prior to or after Golden One was complete. The production teamed put together a plan from start to finish to manufacture the beams within 8 days and kept the schedule flexible in order to pivot and begin the project within hours of receiving the green light to begin.
Highlights
- 2 beams: 6-3/4” x 84” x 92’
- 1 beam: 6-3/4” x 84” x 104’
- Resawn texture finish
- Critical delivery window
Results
Zip-O-Laminator’s approach is always team-orientated; striving for on-time deliveries, clear communication with all parties involved in the process, as well as steping in to assist when needed. With the right plan, nothing is impossible. By laying out a plan of attack, Zip-O was able to hit the customer’s goal; delivering all beams on time, free of damage, and free of weathering from sitting while jobsite delays moved the initial start date back. Truly a clear definition of success in our books.