Tag Archive for: installation services

Storage Solutions Installations Fall 2011: Where Are We Now?

Per your request, dear readers, we’re back with the second “Where Are We Now?” post, which focuses on our most recent list of installations, both near and far that our crews are working on these days.  As we have mentioned before, it’s pretty easy for people to assume that we are a company that only sticks to local jobs.  But just because we’re located in central Indiana doesn’t mean we don’t love the east coast, the Great Plains or California any less!  As a company, we have always taken pride in the fact that our skilled installation crews are constantly going the distance, both literally and figuratively to give our customers the absolute best in material handling and installations.

Storage Solutions MapWhere Are We Now?

Charlotte, NC – Pallet Rack Dismantle

Dallas, TX – Bin Mezzanine Expansion

Chicago, IL – Pallet Rack and Bin Mezzanine Install

Lebanon, IN – Pallet Rack reconfiguration.  Wide aisle to VNA.

Memphis, TN – Pallet Rack Dismantle

Dayton, OH – Bin Mezzanine Install

Indianapolis, IN – Various jobs

Trenton, NJ – Pallet Rack Install

 

Check out previous installation locations from our last “Where Are We Now?” post.  Whether a job is 5,000 sq. ft. right next door or over 1 million sq. ft. five states away, we’re always willing and able to get the job done.  If you’ve got a project you’d like us to work with you on, give us a call at 866.474.2001 or contact us!

A Day In The Life Of A Rookie: There’s A Long Learning Curve

As week three comes to a close, I begin to reflect on what the previous two hectic weeks have taught this wide-eyed rookie and what differentiates me from the SS employee I was during my first blog.

I’ve started assisting and coordinating on the installation side of Storage Solutions more and more which has been great. Although I’m still a rookie, it’s satisfying to know that I’m able to contribute to a company that’s doing business with incredible clients, located all over the nation. Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina and Illinois are just a few states we’re operating in! (Check out our Project Spotlight Blog to see what we’re working on!)

Now, I’d like to say I’ve improved immensely with the added responsibility over these last two weeks, but that wouldn’t necessarily be true. By no means have I regressed, but I’m slowly catching on… to the little things. The biggest “little thing” being the lingo.

A Day In The Life Of A RookieCoordinating with installation crews and rental equipment companies may not sound tough, but when you don’t understand the lingo, it can be frustrating for both sides.

The heavy equipment our installation crews use is something that was new to me. Not anymore. Have you ever had those moments where you see something for the first time, and from that point forward you see it everywhere you go? That’s how I feel about forklifts and scissor lifts.

Forklifts as far as the eye can see. I see them on the back of trucks driving down the highway, when I’m sitting next to a construction zone in traffic, never in my life did I stop to notice a forklift or think about its functionality and why they’re so common. And then there’s fork/scissor lift lingo; Trimast, 5k, ES, RT, dual fuel, the list goes on.

Luckily with the equipment the lingo is self explanatory. For example, a 3394 scissor lift is called so because it raises 33 feet and has a 94 in. wide platform.

I was talking with Nate Storey, Operations Manager, earlier this week and he asked me how things were going. I said “Some days I come in, and everything is a breeze. Others, I feel lost”

“There’s a long learning curve in this industry” Nate told me. “Things will eventually start to click.”

I’m confident things will start to click, I’m learning everyday and already feel 10x smarter than when I wrote my last blog. I’m sure this trend will continue!

Storage Solutions Project Spotlight: OHIO

Aaaaaand we’re back!  We are finally ready to introduce you to another project in our Project Spotlight series.  This time, we’re taking a look at “Project Ohio”.  This project was located in midwestern Ohio, but for confidentiality’s sake, we’re just going to call it OHIO.

Storage Solutions Project SpotlightFeatured Products:

  • Selective Rack Bays
  • Bin Sections In Two Level Mezzanine
  • Resindek and RoofDeck

Objective – Optimize the use of warehouse space to provide the customer with efficient racking systems.

Make sure to come back next week to see how this project is progressing.  To take a look at past Project Spolights, click here.

Storage Solutions Project Spotlight: FINAL Project H Post!

Aaaaand here it is!!  The moment we know you’ve all been waiting for.  We would like to apologize for our delay… after some video formatting issues we are finally good to go!  Check out this awesome video to see Project H from start to finish:

“We have worked with Storage Solutions on many projects.  Project H was one of the most versatile and they did a great job, once again, adapting to the changes.  They make the installation process smooth and effective and their professionalism is always commendable.  It’s safe to say I’ll be turning to Storage Solutions again for future project partnerships.”

–Chance, Project H Project Manager

Project H, as many of you know, was the first project in our Project Spotlight Series, intended to bring you into some of our projects to show you just what we do. We combined pick modules and pallet rack warehouse configurations to create a highly-effective operation for our customer.

Featured Products:

We’d love your feedback, so be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section!  We’ve got more project spotlights coming your way, so stay tuned!

Storage Solutions Installations: Where Are We Now?

When it comes to this business, sometimes it’s easy for people to assume that because we’re located in central Indiana, we serve businesses in and around our area only. Well… That’s just not true.  Storage Solutions prides itself on the fact that we have skilled installation crews who are constantly going the distance. Literally.

Where Are We Now?

WhereAreWeNow Peoria, IL

Seguin, TX

Lakeland, FL

Clayton, OH

Atlanta, GA

New Brunswick, NJ

Indianapolis, IN

Waco, TX

Whether a job is 5,000 sq. ft. right next door or over 1 million sq. ft. five states away, we’re always willing and able to get the job done.  If you’ve got a project you’d like us to work with you on, give us a call at 866.474.2001 or contact us!  We’ve got a great inventory of both new and used material handling products.  Be sure to check out our clearance section for great deals!

Storage Solutions Project Spotlight: Project H

Our Project Spotlight Series has officially started!  We would like to introduce you to the first project to kick off our series, which is located in Indiana.  For confidentiality purposes, we’re going to call this project PROJECT H.

PROJECT H

Business Objectives:  To maximize warheouse space for efficient storage of heavy duty machinery and manufacturing parts.

Storage Solutions Project Spotlight

Featured Products:

This is just the beginning.  With Project H off to a successful start, be sure to check back next week to see our progress.  Also to be featured next week: pick module installation specs, any installation challenges on the job, and more photos!

Storage Solutions Goes Green

SPRING IS HERE!  Well… it was.  And then temperatures dropped 40 degrees and now we’re freezing again.  But we’ve got faith that warmer weather is headed our way again any day now.  Along with spring’s arrival, we as a company have decided to take a hard look at what it means to be green and take the environment into consideration as we head into warmer months.

Storage Solutions GreenWhen it comes to going green, not only do we look to make greener decisions within our daily office functions (we’re talking more emails, recycling paper goods, ride sharing and fewer printouts), but we also pride ourselves on providing customers with opportunities to make more environmentaly-friendly business decisions.

What Are We Doing?

There are plenty of ways, both large and small, that we are aiming to contribute to having a more positive impact on the world.

  • Shipping Via Railway
  • Selling USED equipment
  • Ride-Sharing To And From Project Sites
  • Recycling Paper Products
  • Print Less, Email More

SHIPPING VIA RAILWAY

While it is certainly not always going to be the cheapest option, rail cars can provide a very competitive price for some shipments.  Storage Solutions has managed to save companies thousands of dollars on freight costs by shipping via rail. Check out our previous blog posting for more info on the benefits of shipping via railway.

  • 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

Selling Used Equipment

Purchasing pre-owned equipment is the most surefire way to have a positive impact on recycling. While companies often shy away from the “used” label on some steel products, used pallet rack can be just as effective albeit more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly.  Check out a previous blog posting on the benefits of buying used equipment.

As far as the rest goes, we’re constantly looking for additional ways in which we can lessen our impact on the environment.  Using less paper, increasing our reliance on technology as a main way to communicate, sharing rides to and from job sites nationwide and more are way in which we are trying to do our part to be an environmentally-conscious company.

building-successful-warehouse

4 Stages to Building a Successful Warehouse

Building a successful warehouse can be quite an endeavor. Whether the full layout ends up covering 10,000 square feet or 1 million square feet, the best warehouses are built with foresight and growth in mind. What are the current needs? Should we design for growth? How often will our demand change? 

No one can predict the future with 100% certainty. However, because we have partnered with several types of warehouse construction projects, we have seen the best and worst practices. The most successful warehouses typically involve the following four-stage process.

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.  Our team of CAD specialists will assist you in designing the layout of your warehouse.

Select the Appropriate Equipment

Now that you know where you would like to put your storage equipment, determine what your specific needs are. At this point, 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 is to carefully analyze your unique needs. This examination ensures that your storage facility operates at the most efficient level possible.

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.  Alternatively, you could call a third-party contractor.

Upkeep

Next, 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.  Stay proactive to identify and resolve any potentially problematic areas.  Storage Solutions partners with the Safety Management Group to 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.

Before you get started on building a successful warehouse, start with the 1st step above and make sure your layout is designed for your current needs, while taking into account any planned growth. Contact us to speak with an expert who can design your layout with an optimal eye toward efficiency.

Did you know…Our Installation Team

Installation Scissors 2 large1We here at Storage Solutions would like to devote this week’s blog to recognizing some of the accomplishments of our installation crews in 2009.  As you may or may not know, we have our own team of professional installation crews.  This helps us provide you some very big benefits!  It allows us to save our customers a lot in the overall cost of purchasing new racking equipment.  Independent contractors can be very expensive, and this additional variable can substantially increase the total cost of your pallet rack purchase.  Additionally, our crews are specifically focused on installing and tearing down pallet rack and racking components.  This enables them to get the job done in a quick and efficient manner, while maintaining an exceptional level of quality in their work.  With that being said, let’s take a minute to look at some of their achievements from 2009:

pallet_img_1

  • Installed over 295,000 Sq Ft of Free Standing Mezzanines
  • Installed Shelf Supported Mezzanines consisting of 8,450 New and Used Shelving Sections
  • Installed 8.5+ Million Sq Ft of New and Used Pallet Rack
  • Installed 6,400 Sections of New and Used Shelving Sections
  • Installed 28,000 pallet positions of Push Back & Drive-In/Thru
  • Dismantled, Packaged, and Shipped over 9.5 Million Sq Ft of Used  Pallet Rack, Shelving, Mezzanines, Etc.
  • Moved numerous companies’ material handling equipment from old facilities to new ones
  • Employ 8 Crew Leaders and 45 full time “In House” Laborers
  • Completed projects in 27 States and Mexico including: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin

On behalf of the rest of us here at Storage Solutions, I would like to say thanks to all of our hard working installation crews.  Keep up the great work in 2010!

Meet Storage Solutions President, Kevin Rowles

Kevin Rowles, President, Storage SolutionsWe want you to meet our team, so we would like you to meet our President, Kevin Rowles! We will be including employee spotlights over the next couple of months so you know who is helping your project succeed.

Name: Kevin Rowles

Title:  President

Hometown: Resides in Carmel, IN. Born in Cincinnati, OH.

How long have you been with Storage Solutions? 15 years

What is your most rewarding or satisfying experience, your proudest moment, since you joined Storage Solutions? Being involved with the start up of new divisions and offices (Pharmaceutical / Laboratory, Installation Services, Kansas City, Evansville, Used Division, National Accounts, Marketing / Online Sales, and soon to be announced – Cincinnati) over the years has been very rewarding to me.  We have been fortunate to have hired good people to help sustain our steady growth.

Are you married?  Do you have kid?  What do you enjoy doing with your family? Jackie and I met at Ball State University and have 2 beautiful daughters (Jamie, 19 & Kelsey, 15).  Fortunately they look like their mother.  We enjoy playing sports, games, family cookouts and traveling.  We have been married for 25 years.

Favorite Cities: Durango, CO; Lake Tahoe, NV; San Diego, CA; Quebec City, Canada