Celebrating 80 Editions of Tech Talk: A Legacy of Knowledge, Collaboration & Industry Excellence

This month marks a remarkable milestone for our sector as we celebrate the 80th edition of Tech Talk - a publication that has become one of FTMA’s most trusted technical resources since its launch in 2018. What began as a simple idea to strengthen knowledge-sharing across the frame and truss community has grown into a powerful collective archive of engineering insight, practical guidance, and industry wisdom.

None of this would be possible without the extraordinary engineers who have generously contributed their time, expertise, and problem-solving genius over the years. Their willingness to unpack complex challenges, share real-world experiences, and collaborate openly has shaped TechTalk into the respected technical series it is today - an evolving knowledge base that supports safer practices, stronger designs, and a more confident industry.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re excited to announce the launch of the Tech Talk Archive on the FTMA Members App. Members can now browse, read and share every edition - from the very first release to this month’s 80th - anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re on the factory floor, onsite with a builder, or training new staff, the full collection is now in your pocket.

Tech Talk has always been about lifting the entire sector through shared knowledge. With the new archive now live, that mission has never been more accessible. FTMA wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the authors of Tech Talk that have tirelessly submitted 80 articles over the last 8 years. And to properly acknowledge all their contributions, we wanted them to have the spotlight in this article.

 

All the contributing authors of Tech Talk 

To understand the genesis of Tech Talk and the benefits it brings, who better to respond to that than the authors...

We asked some of the ongoing contributors a few questions to dig into the behind the scenes Tech Talk.

 

Q1. What were your thoughts on Tech Talk when it was first introduced as an idea? The ability it gave to showcase engineers / designers’ expertise?

 

"When I first started working as a structural engineer in timber frame and truss industry, tech talk was already up to its 40th edition. I experienced firsthand how beneficial these articles are as a resource not just for truss and frame designers, but for new engineers like me. For new professionals like me entering the industry, having a huge backlog of technical articles written by engineers with decades of experience around the country, is invaluable. " Gabriel Martins, Structural Engineer, Multinail. 

 

"When Tech Talk was first introduced, I thought it was an excellent initiative for the industry. Engineering knowledge in our sector is often practical and experience-based, and much of that expertise traditionally stays within individual companies. Tech Talk created a platform to share that knowledge more broadly. It allowed engineers and designers to explain not only what we do, but why we do it — which is equally important.
It also gave engineers and designers an opportunity to demonstrate their technical reasoning and problem-solving skills. This helps elevate the professionalism of our industry and shows that behind every design there is careful analysis, compliance consideration, and responsibility." Siu Kong Fox, Structural Engineer, Multinail.

 

"I appreciated it, as it represents a positive step toward better collaboration between frame and truss manufacturers and engineers." Ranville Marmeto, Senior Design Engineer, MiTek.

 

"Wow, it’s about time!!! Each of the nailplate companies have their own literature, forums, newsletters and distribution methods but these are typically confined to their direct customers – not the truss & frame industry in a broader sense.
Having a common platform through FTMA, we can be sure that the topics being covered are going to a much wider agnostic audience, irrespective of which colour nailplate provider the reader belongs to.
It has been the best idea to communication of technical information in the past 10-15 years in my opinion!" Nick Cui, Design Services Manager ANZ, Pryda.

 

"Tech Talk are a great way to communicate current issues that are happening in the industry. MiTek having been doing what was called GN Guidelines for a long time, so ability to share similar articles with wider audiences has benefits to the wider industry. I also see it as a nice introduction to junior engineers in researching and writing a short technical article (mentoring from senior engineers)." Craig Klinge, Design Engineering Manager AU, MiTek.
 

"I often describe the role of engineering as solving problems before they happen. That means that good engineers easily go unnoticed! Tech Talk is an opportunity for them to draw attention to important issues that are being worked on and resolved, often quietly in the background, and reinforce the need for strong technical diligence in our industry." Adam Dawson, Engineering & Builder Solutions Manager ANZ, Pryda.

"Tech Talk is a fantastic way for the nail plate engineers to communicate with fabricators nationally about issues that we often come across, or to update fabricators on the latest engineering requirements.  After many years in the industry, I am amazed to still see the same design and installation errors being repeated regularly." Dean Ashton, Structural Engineer, Multinail.

 

Q2. What was your favourite Tech Talk and why?

 

"I may be a bit partial, but my favourite is the one I wrote on structural ceiling diaphragms. It provides the industry with insight into the different diaphragm systems that can be used to transfer lateral forces to vertical shearwall elements." Ranville Marmeto.

 

"In the August 2023 edition I got to share a personal story of an engineering compliance issue on my own home. I like to think it served as a reminder of the need for vigilance from everyone who contributes to the manufacturing of people's homes. The average homebuyer isn't going to have the knowledge or expertise to spot these issues themselves, and get them fixed, and nor should they need to. Tech Talk is one way we can improve education and awareness of engineering issues for a non-engineering audience." Adam Dawson.

 

"This is like asking who is your favourite child!!  They have all been equally important.  They were all relevant at the time of writing and doing a review of past articles, most are still very relevant now." Dean Ashton.

 

"Anything that improves the outcomes for the building industry, talking about how to avoid rectifications, best practices for installation of truss systems to be code compliant." Craig Klinge.

"Oh my, so many to choose from. Without being biased and picking out of Pryda contributions, I have a keen interest in floor vibration and dynamics, so the Multinail article from all the way back in Edition #20 (Feb 2020) would be a favourite of mine. The article not only discusses floor dynamics relating to issues on site, but also introduces more advanced design principles from Eurocode 5, which Pryda adopted many years ago given that our Australian codes are way behind in the stone ages." Nick Cui.

 

"I don’t have one particular favourite — in many ways, they are all my favourites. Each Tech Talk brings something valuable to the table, whether it is a technical clarification, a practical detailing solution, or a lesson learnt from real project experience.
What I appreciate most is that every edition adds to our collective knowledge and experience. Even when the topic is outside our immediate focus, there is always something to learn or reflect on. That ongoing sharing of practical engineering insight is what makes the entire Tech Talk series valuable to the industry." Sui Kong Fox.

 

"I personally enjoy reading tech talks which take the time to break down important engineering concepts into terms that are easy for a non-engineer to understand and are worded and formatted in a way that makes it accessible to a wide range of professions. Making these resources as accessible as possible is important for maximising their reach." Gabriel Martins.

 

Q3. Why is it still relevant and important for the industry to have these resources?

 

"Nail plate suppliers and the manufacturers have the knowledge in relation to prefabrication, so are a good method of communicating this. A lot may not be totally applicable to the manufacturers, but their customers, so the hope is they also share to their customer base. We can share items of current issues, future Australian Standard changes that will affect our manufacturers, best practices to help the construction and lift standards." Craig Klinge.

 

"The building industry continues to evolve with changes to NCC requirements, certification processes, and compliance obligations. Having accessible technical resources like Tech Talk helps ensure the industry maintains a high standard of design and construction.
It is especially important in today’s regulatory environment, where documentation, accountability, and compliance are under greater scrutiny. Resources like Tech Talk help educate not just engineers, but also builders, certifiers, and project managers — creating a more informed and collaborative industry.
The new Tech Talk library on the members app is a great step forward. Making these resources easily searchable and accessible ensures that valuable technical knowledge is not lost and can continue to support better outcomes across the industry." Siu Kong Fox.

 

"FTMA Tech Talk is not just a great resource for learning… the contributions from engineers, technical and other staff members of Pryda, Mitek & Multinail brings with it a wealth of knowledge and forms a repository of information for future generations. Topics can range from current issues at the time, perfect example being timber shortages around COVID, hopefully we won’t go through another major pandemic any time soon but articles around this time gives a snapshot of what the industry was going through and how businesses & nailplate suppliers tackled these difficult times." Nick Cui.

 

"In my day to day, I often receive phone calls from frame and truss suppliers with technical questions which have already been addressed in detail in a previous FTMA tech talk. In cases like this, I can typically refer the client straight to the relevant FTMA tech talk article and encourage them read and share with their colleagues. 
For a frame and truss detailer, resources like this play a huge part in building their technical knowledge, strengthening their understanding of design principles, and ultimately building up their confidence. These articles are a way for truss and frame designers to “upskill” and to develop more of an “engineers” mindset. This ultimately benefits the industry as whole by minimising uncertainty, ensuring compliance and higher standard of jobs." Gabriel Martins.

 

"It provides the industry with guidance on safe practices, along with the collaboration and feedback we receive from manufacturers to help improve buildability on site." Ranville Marmeto.

 

"All the Tech Talk articles have been written to provide valuable information to the industry.  They should be referred to regularly as a reminder of issues that may arise, or to give guidance on better ways of doing things.  It is also a great resource for people new to the industry to be able to learn from the experienced nail plate engineers." Dean Ashton.

 

"Industry always moves faster than standards and regulations, and engineers are at the forefront of structural trends. We're already seeing 3 and 4-storey townhouses regularly, which are well beyond the limits of the prescriptive standards. That's just one example of where expert technical advice is critical to avoiding mistakes and delays, so it's important that we have an avenue like Tech Talk to broadcast these topics to everyone working in F&T." Adam Dawson.

 

Bonus Highlights!

 

"I would love to see a broader contribution from different authors in each of the nailplate companies. Articles are often written by a few, more seniors authors again and again, but I would encourage anyone and everyone to have a go. The content does not always have to be engineering related and filled with maths & equations! There are technical and other interesting topics no matter what department or role the author may be coming from. I personally encourage newer team members and junior engineers to have a go when ever the opportunity arises!" Nick Cui.

 

"I believe initiatives like Tech Talk contribute to raising the overall technical standard of our industry. Sharing lessons learned, practical detailing advice, and compliance insights helps reduce repeated mistakes and improves communication between engineers and builders.

Knowledge sharing strengthens the profession. The continued success of Tech Talk over 80 editions reflects the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement and professional development." Sui Kong Fox.

 

"A lot of time and effort goes into writing Tech Talk articles, and they are often highlighting issues that the nail plate engineers regularly see.  The articles discuss design or installation issues that can be improved, or to give innovative approaches to problems that may occur.  And coming from the 3 nail plate companies, and with engineers from all over Australia, Tech Talk provides a wide range of topics that will be of interest." Dean Ashton.

 

A massive thank you to all the engineers that are involved with Tech Talk. The industry thrives off your knowledge, wisdom, and innovations. And thank you to everyone that has contributed to this article.