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 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, Mar 25, 2010 @ 09:04 AM
For this weeks blog, we would like to take a few minutes to cover some keywords and definitions that are common in the material handling world. Remember, Storage Solutions is here to help you with all of your material handling needs, so feel free to give us a call at 866.474.2001 if you have any questions.
Batch Manufacturing
--The production of parts or material in discrete runs, or batches, interspersed with other production operations or runs of other parts or materials.
Distribution Center--Intermediate warehouse(s) where products from different sources are assembled for shipment and distribution to specific customer locations.
End-of-Aisle Picking System--High-density mechanized binnable parts systems such as mini load or carousel units provide dense storage and maximize the use of available storage height. These systems are particularly useful when high transaction rates and large inventory levels result in unacceptably high travel times for man-to-part order picking methods. By delivering the part to the order picker, operator travel time is eliminated. These systems are also effective in situations requiring additional packaging, checking, or 
processing which would be impractical to provide on an order-picking industrial truck.
Logistics--The science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of operations. Deals with the design and development, acquisition, storage, movement, distribution, maintenance and disposition of material.
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 @ 10:31 AM
Hello again, and thanks for visiting the Storage Solutions weekly blog post! This week we will be providing the specs for a package of used pallet rack that we have just purchased. All of the pallet rack is Frazier Structural Rack, and it is available as both Drive-In and Pushback pallet rack. Let's take a look at the products.
Frazier Structural Drive-In Pallet Rack:
- 2 Deep x 4 High--18 Bays with 144 Pallet Positions
- 3 Deep x 4 High--66 Bays with 792 Pallet Positions
- Drive-In Pallet Rack Uprights are 252"H and the entry uprights have Cant Legs angled back at 12"
- Drive-In Pallet Rack Uprights are on 54" Centers
- Drive-In Pallet Rack Beams are 50"L
Frazier Structural Pushback Pallet Rack:
- 3 Deep x 4 High, 2 Pallet Wide Pushback Pallet Rack--164 Bays with 3426 Pallet Positions
- 3 Deep x 4 High, 1 Pallet Wide Pushback Pallet Rack--5 Bays with 57 Pallet Positions
- 3 Deep x 2 High, 3 Pallet Wide Pushback Pallet Rack--4 Bays with 72 Pallet Positions
- Pushback Pallet Rack Uprights are 288"H
- Pushback Pallet Rack Lanes are 150"D from front to back
- 4 Spans of safety netting is available for the 3 Pallet wide pushback pallet rack for the tunnel lanes
- Structural end-of-aisle protectors are available at various lengths
Please contact
Storage Solutions for more information on this used pallet rack package or to inquire about other
new/used pallet rack and other
material handling equipment.
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Feb 11, 2010 @ 03:47 PM
Storage Solutions is excited to announce that we have a new team member! Dan Stroh has just joined our team of Project Managers at Storage Solutions Inc. One of Dan's main responsibilities as a project manager will be taking care of the logistics for the shipping and receiving of pallet rack and material handling equipment. He will also coordinate with our pallet rack and material handling vendors to make sure that we have an appropriate amount of new storage equipment in stock. However, his most important responsibility at the moment is assisting in the order entry for new and used pallet rack and storage equipment. This is to ensure that we are able to process all of the purchase orders and cater to our clients' needs in a timely manner.
Dan has also been brought on board to help organize a large project we will be undertaking in the near future. Storage Solutions has decided to add a large refabrication center to our current facility. We will soon have the ability to refabricate pallet racking uprights and beams, allowing us to customize our storage equipment to the exact specifications of our customers. This is yet another step we are taking towards becoming the industry leaders for pallet racking and material handling equipment.
Now let's get to know Dan:
Hometown: Columbus, IN
Education: DePauw University
What is the most interesting job you had before coming to work for Storage Solutions? "The most interesting job experience I've had was working as an intern with the American Leadership Academy. The Academy is based out of Indianapolis, but they host students in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico every spring. The added joy from being able to swap the dismal Indiana winter for the sun and beaches of Cabo, along with getting to meet and become friends with many different succesful leaders made for a truly unforgettable experience."
What excites you the most about being part of the Storage Solutions team? "While terms like pushback rack, carton flow, and roll form pallet rack were very confusing on day one, I am beginning to understand many of the different terms and applications for the equipment in this industry. I am just excited to continue learning more about the pallet racking and material handling industry so that I can have a positive impact on the Storage Solutions team."
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Feb 04, 2010 @ 03:41 PM
Due to the poor economic conditions over the last 12 months, many companies have decided (or been forced) to consolidate and/or close some of their facilities in an effort to minimize expenses. This process can be much more difficult than some might expect, and can be the cause of some very large headaches if not handled appropriately. However, Storage Solutions offers a number of services that will make your transition simple and easy.
- In addition to selling new material handling equipment, we also purchase used material handling equipment. This provides an easy option for any company that has been forced to close one or more facilities and liquidate their assets.
- We also offer trade in value for your used equipment, if you are looking to alter or modify the equipment in your current storage facility.
- We have our own team of professional installers, which allows us to help make your transition into your new facility as seamless as possible. Many companies hire third party contractors to perform their installation and demolition services. Our crews are specifically focused on installing and tearing down pallet rack and racking components. This enables us to get the job done in a quick and efficient manner, while maintaining an exceptional level of quality in our work.
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
I'm sure that most of you are probably relieved that 2009 is finally over, and I hope all of you have gotten off to a much better start to 2010! Things certainly seem to be looking up for 2010, and one thing that we are excited about is the arrival of our new 2010 Storage Solutions catalogs. This year's catalog is bigger and better than ever before; we've expanded our inventory and increased our facility in order to better serve the needs of our clients. In addition to the pallet rack and shelving that we have always focused on, we have added additional material handling equipment, shop equipment, safety products, and much more! Please click here to request a new Storage Solutions catalog, and find out what all the fuss is about!