Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
Hello again, and welcome back to the Storage Solutions weekly blog. This week, I would like to focus on new versus used pallet rack. As an integral aspect of any warehouse dynamic, we’d like take a few minutes to discuss the benefits of buying used pallet rack.
WHAT IS PALLET RACK?
Standard selective pallet rack is designed for the purpose of the bulk storage of palletized goods and equipment.
- Pallet rack is typically found in warehousing operations.
- Consists of uprights, beams, and wire decks.
- Uprights are the vertical pieces of these storage units which are typically anchored to the floor and provide the support for the racking system.
- Beams clip into the uprights and provide the horizontal supports in these units.
- Wire decks are the final element of these units which sit on top of the beams and create the shelf that the pallets and/or goods sit on.
WHY BUY USED PALLET RACK?
- Used pallet rack is less expensive— Since the global economy has fallen off the proverbial deep end, businesses everywhere are looking for new ways to save money. So, it is easy to see why purchasing used pallet rack has become a more popular route for businesses trying to save a little extra money on their warehousing operations.
- Avoid manufacturers’ lead times—When pallet rack manufacturers are busy, it can take them as long as
8-10 weeks before they are able to fabricate your equipment. Used pallet rack, on the other hand, is available immediately. The time saved by avoiding manufacturers' lead times could be crucial if you are working on a project with a very short deadline.
WHAT’S OUR BEST TIP FOR PURCHASING PALLET RACK?
Be sure to purchase equipment that has been stored indoors.—Many used pallet rack dealers store their equipment in a field, leaving it exposed to the elements. Rusty uprights, beams, and wire decks are the number one reason people complain about buying used pallet rack.
Here at Storage Solutions, we pride ourselves on the fact that every single pallet rack you purchase from us has been stored in a temperature-controlled setting. With the recent addition of space, our 330,000 sq. ft. warehouse provides an ideal environment for storing new and used pallet rack. Rust can develop on the insides of beams that have been exposed to the elements, so merely looking on the surface isn’t enough.
Well, that just about wraps up another Storage Solutions blog session. But don’t forget to check out the clearance section of our website. We are constantly adding new equipment so be sure to take a few minutes to see if there is anything that catches your eye
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 @ 10:10 AM
Here at Storage Solutions, our goal is to assist our clients with any type of warehouse transition. We understand that selling or moving your current material handling equipment such as pallet rack, shelving, mezzanine, conveyor, etc, can provide a large headache. 
We would like to help you resolve that issue.
Are you closing down or consolidating one or more of your facilities? Let us buy your used pallet rack and other material handling equipment. Are you opening a new facility, or changing locations? We will help you transition to a new warehouse or redesign your current one. We can help you save money on your warehouse redesign, and we also remove the hassle of having to teardown and move all of your equipment!
Are you having trouble deciding what kind of storage equipment is best for your needs? Contact us today to get our free recommendation for your new operation!
Here is a brief list of equipment we would be interested in purchasing:
Pallet Rack: selective pallet rack, drive-in pallet rack, drive-thru pallet rack, pushback pallet rack, cantilever rack, wire decks, etc.
Shelving: open steel shelving, closed steel shelving, single rivet shelving, double rivet shelving, wire shelving, etc.
Conveyor: gravity conveyor, power conveyor, skatewheel conveyor, roller conveyor, etc.
Pallet Rack Accessories / Safety Equipment: row spacers, pallet supports, wire decking, column protectors, end-of-aisle protectors, column deflectors, guardrail, etc.
Pick Modules, Mezzanine, & Tape Machines
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Jul 15, 2010 @ 03:58 PM
Hello again. In this week's blog, we are going to cover a few basic terms and definitions as they apply to the material handling industry. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding material handling equipment.
Dedicated Aisles- An aisle in a warehouse serving only one 
function. This aisle can be for order selection, product storage, or both.
Buffer Storage- The part of a warehouse in which back-up or reserve stock is stored awaiting transfer into active storage.
Belt Conveyor- A continuous fabric, rubber, plastic, leather or metal belt operated over a suitable drive and tail end, and over belt idlers or slider bed for handling materials, packages or objects placed directly upon the belt.
Pallet Rack Shelving- Standard pallet rack can be equipped with shelf panel inserts so that pallet rack can be used for storing binnable, rackable or palletized materials as needs change.
Pallet Loader- An automatic or semiautomatic machine consisting of synchronized conveyors and mechanisms to receive objects from a conveyor(s) and place them onto pallets according to a prearranged pattern.
On behalf of all of us here at Storage Solutions, thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to join us again next week!
Posted by Jill McElheny on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 @ 07:17 AM
Today marks the final day of the 8th annual third-party logistics summit in Atlanta, GA. This tradeshow is the world's largest event for third-party logistics providers and is focusing on how to drive business and online sales during an economic rebound. Kevin and Chastity have been working hard to make Storage Solutions a known presence this year. Our booth highlights the three most important aspects of what we do: buying used products, selling products and installing the best available.
We have also chosen this event to present our new Storage Solutions Certified Pre-Owned Rack Program. Our team is committed to providing our customers with reliable, quality products... which is why we've created this Certified Program. The Storage Solutions Certified seal is only awarded to products that pass our rigorous five-point inspection to ensure that our customers are getting the best product available.
While not all of the pre-owned products we sell are required to bear the certified seal, our five-point inspection process helps to ensure that when you buy certified, you are getting the best quality rack.
As we wrap up this year's 3PL summit, be sure to stop by our booth for more information or visit our website at www.storage-solutions.com.
Posted by Michelle Coleman on Thu, Jun 10, 2010 @ 12:54 PM
These are exciting times for Storage Solutions! We recently expanded our warehouse which provides us with an additional 100,000 sq ft of inside storage space! When we first moved into our new facility on April 10th, 2009 we were incredibly excited to have the capacity to house 250,000 sq ft of warehouse equipment. However, in the last few weeks we have acquired an additional 100,000 sq ft, bringing us to a grand total of over 
350,000 sq ft of inside storage! We plan on utilizing this new space immediately by purchasing as much quality new and used equipment as possible.
Storage Solutions is constantly striving to be your number one resource for new and used material handling equipment. In an effort to become the sole destination for all of your new and used material handling needs, we are in the process of unveiling an incentive program that will pay a finders fee to anyone who helps us find quality used equipment to purchase. The incentive will depend on the quality and quantity of the equipment. We are still finalizing the parameters for the program, so be sure to visit our blog over the next few weeks for additional details!
Don't forget to check out the clearance warehouse equipment on our website!
Posted by Dan Storey on Mon, Jun 07, 2010 @ 12:20 PM
Hello all. We have a new 
clearance special to announce! This week we are featuring a 3M Automatic Case Sealer, model 800R/3. These retail new at $11,804.47, but we are only asking $5,000.00 for these very lightly used units. Here are the details:
Random case sealer automatically adjusts for case size. Self-centering side belt drive for consistent flow of 
narrow-width cases at up to 15 per minute. Includes 3M AccuGlide II Taping Heads for low-impact application of tapes up to 72 mm wide.
As previously mentioned, these are very lightly used--see pics. Please call 866-474-2001 for more details. Or click contact us to send us an email.
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Apr 15, 2010 @ 10:10 AM
According to many industry experts, steel prices are set to soar in the next 12 months, and it could have an impact on everyone. Naturally, this will leave many people asking, “How is this going to affect me?”
In the material handling, distribution and warehousing industries, steel price fluctuation has a huge impact on the price of new and used storage equipment. Pallet rack uprights, beams, shelving, mezzanines and wire decking are the main components of the material handling world, and all are made from steel. What this means is that even products that don’t have steel in them will still be stored in warehouses and distribution centers that are built with steel based products. Therefore, their costs will rise, which will mean they will have to charge more for their goods and services. All of this is going to trickle down to the consumer level, and the end result will be an increase in general prices of consumer goods.
We are seeing an increase in quoting activity due to this steel price concern. Due to projected demand and current low inventories we recommend identifying your needs for any new and used material handling equipment as early as possible. We are already seeing manufacturers decrease the amount of time you have to respond to a quoted price because they are anticipating the increase in steel prices. It is in everyone’s best interest to be proactive and purchase any storage equipment that will be needed over the next 6-9 months as soon as possible.
Why could this happen? Iron ore is the main ingredient in steel. A few weeks ago, mining companies Vale and BHP Billiton struck a deal with Japanese and Chinese mills to end the 40-year old benchmark system of annual contracts and lengthy price negotiations. Under the new system, iron ore prices will be negotiated quarterly. The general consensus seems to be that this switch will see iron ore prices continue to rise over the next 12 months, and there does not appear to be an end in sight. This hike in iron ore costs will have an immediate impact on the price of steel. The overall cost of steel based consumer products such as automobiles, household appliances, and everything in between will be subject to rising costs. The end users of these products could ultimately be the ones paying for this increase in iron ore and steel prices. Time will tell…
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Apr 08, 2010 @ 02:31 PM
I'd like to begin this week by thanking those of you who have been following Storage Solutions on Facebook and Twitter. We now have 38 Facebook fans, and over 100 followers on our Twitter accounts! If you are currently following us add us now: Facebook and Twitter
This weekend marks our one year anniversary in our new and improved facility. For those of you that don't know, last year on April 10th we moved into a new facility that provides over 250,000 sq feet of warehouse space! As of today we are almost completely filled up with tons of new and used pallet racking beams, uprights, wire decks, and other types of material handling equipment, and it is all in great condition because we are able to store everything indoors. Having everything under one roof allows us to quickly access our inventory to meet your needs and make sure our quality of service exceeds expectations!
If you haven't had a chance to see our new facility, check it out on our virtual tour.
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Apr 01, 2010 @ 03:53 PM
Ah, April 1st is finally here. One thing that the beginning of April marks (other than a laundry list of pranks and jokes) is the beginning of this year’s Final Four! It has been a crazy tournament thus far, and with hometown heroes Butler appearing in the semi-finals this year, it promises for a thrilling conclusion.
In honor of this exciting occasion, we have decided to do this week’s blog on “4 Steps to Building a Successful Warehouse.”
1.
Plan the Layout—There are a few important factors that go into planning the layout of your warehouse. Your floor plan will have a big impact on the way you want to outfit your facility with pallet rack. For example, areas with offices, bathrooms, and exits will need to be taken into account when determining the location of your pallet rack or shelving units.
It helps to gather as much information about the layout of your facility, but a lot of this info should be available on the building’s blueprints. Our team of CAD specialists will assist you in designing the layout of your warehouse.
2.
Select the Appropriate Equipment—Now that you have a better idea of where you would like to put your storage equipment, you need to determine what your specific needs are so that we can help identify the best solution to your warehousing needs. Our sales representatives will help you select from a wide variety of storage options including pallet rack, drive-in rack, pushback rack, steel shelving, rivet shelving, etc. The key here is to carefully analyze your unique needs in order to ensure that your storage facility operates at the most efficient level possible.
3.
Installation—The installation of your storage equipment should be a relatively simple task.
If it is a small job, most of the equipment can be assembled by your warehouse workers. However, if you are outfitting an entire warehouse with pallet rack or shelving units, I would recommend calling a professional to help with the installation. Storage Solutions has a crew of professional installers that would be happy to help you install new equipment, or tear down and move existing equipment. Other options would be to call a third party contractor.
4.
Upkeep—Now that you have outfitted your warehouse with storage equipment, you need to make sure to keep tabs on the condition of your storage equipment.
The most important thing in your warehouse is the safety of your employees. Make sure to stay proactive; identify and resolve any potentially problematic areas before someone gets hurt. Storage Solutions is partnered with the Safety Managment Group, and we provide safety consulting, training, staffing, program planning and implementation on your job. If you have questions about the condition of your storage equipment, give us a call and we will be happy to help.
That’s it for this week’s Storage Solutions blog. Enjoy the rest of this year’s NCAA basketball tourney, and please join us again next week!
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Mar 04, 2010 @ 02:04 PM
Hello again. We have another exciting used package to discuss in this weeks Storage Solutions blog. This week we are highlighting the specs on a lightly used mezzanine that is currently located in Ontario, California. 
22,000 Sq. Foot Mezzanine
It can be resized to fit your exact needs.
Size: 181' x 127' (Approximate)
Column Spacing: 17' x 16' (Approximate)
Top of Deck: 167-7/8"
Clear Height: 149-7/8"
Decking: Roof Deck and Resindek 45; Color: Gray
Please contact Storage Solutions for more information on this used package or to inquire about other new/used pallet rack and other material handling equipment.