Ted Miller lost his courageous 10-year battle with Stage IV cancer on October 9, 2012. His monthly “Ted’s MCM Corner” feature will be carried on by his devoted employees. You can read about Ted’s passing on our blog at www.millerclapperton.com/blog/tsm.
Back in the mid-1970s, when MCM panels were just beginning to be utilized by designers it was a simpler time in the construction industry for many reasons. The MCM panels seemed to be utilized in large contiguous 
areas. These areas were generally flat and the geometry relatively simple.
However, the advent of the following combined to allow the MCM panels to become more complex:
- The “coming of age” of AutoCAD allowed designers to select very complex shapes.
- Combining AutoCAD with the introduction of Computer Aided Machining Centers also allowed for more complex panels to be utilized.
I will suggest to you that in the field of design, when something becomes possible, it will eventually be done. One of the consequences of the use of more complex MCM panels and combining them with other “design friendly” materials is that the depth of wall sections at various points along a wall elevation will become complex.
In earlier years, we may have utilized a simple one-depth hat-shaped subgirt outboard of the wall sheathing for the entire supplemental framing system. Today, it is not unusual to have four or five wall section depths on the same wall
This change requires that a full-service highly engineered wall system subcontractor develop a new set of skills to solve the inherent problems of varying depth wall substrates.
Outlined to the right are a few of the supplemental wall framing systems that have been developed for MCM panel systems.
As the number and complexity of panel types continues to increase, the MCM fabricator/subcontractors who are able to develop economical and easy to install supplemental framing systems will become or continue to be the leaders in the industry.
For more information on The Miller-Clapperton Partnership Inc., Austell, Ga., visit www.millerclap perton.com
