Posted by Dan Storey on Fri, Apr 30, 2010 @ 12:37 PM
Hello again. We here at Storage Solutions would like to take a few minutes this week to tell you about some clearance shelving units that we currently have for sale. Let's take a look at the product!
InterRoyal Closed Steel Shelving Units
These units are used, but are still in very good condition. All of the units are gray. They are all 99"H x 36"W, and are available in both 18"D and 24"D. In an effort to give our customers the best possible price on these units, we have put them together in a package of 8 units. These units will be situated in two rows of four, and will share side and back panels. 
Starter Unit- (1) Back Panel
- (2) Side Panels
- (7) Shelves
Add-On Unit
- (1) Back Panel (unless it shares a back with another unit)
- (1) Side Panel
- (7) Shelves
This package deal offers 8 units, with 7 shelves each for a cost of $600. If you wish to purchase fewer than 8 units, the price per unit will be $115/each. Additional units, shelves, shelf dividers, and front bases are available upon request.
Please contact Dan or AJ at 866.474.2001 if you would like more information, or if you would like to place an order. Thanks for listening. We hope you'll all check-in again next week!
Posted by Dan Storey on Thu, Apr 22, 2010 @ 03:55 PM
In recent years, many companies have been jumping on the "go green" bandwagon. While it is promising that so many companies have shown an increase in awareness and resolve to opreate in a more environmentally friendly manner, sometimes it is just not financially feasible to do so. Luckily, there are some business decisions that will keep both the environment, and your company's bean counter happy.
Using rail cars to ship equipment can save money, and is often times a more environmentally friendly alternative to shipping via tractor trailers. While it is certainly not always going to be the cheapest option, rail cars can provide a very competitive price for some shipments. Just recently Storage Solutions managed to save roughly $18,000 on freight costs by shipping via rail. However, sometimes the best reward is knowing that your business decisions are helping to make the earth a better place.
Here are a few stats that illustrate how shipping by rail can help your company be green!
- In terms of fuel efficiency, railroads are three times more fuel-efficient than trucks
- Railcars move freight without clogging freeways
- Railcars emit only 2.6% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emmissions, while truck account for 21% of that total
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!