Tag Archive for: material handling

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.

A Day In The Life Of A Rookie

“Do you know anything about material handling or pallet racking?”

In my first interview, I was asked this question.  Now, in most interviews, you might consider that a make it or break it kind of question.  And in most interviews, I would have an answer prepared for this sort of inquiry.  After all, why would I be sitting in an interview if I didn’t have the first clue about the industry in which the business operates… Right?  Wrong.

A Day In The Life Of A Rookie“Actually, no.  I don’t have any previous knowledge or experience with material handling.”

I was positive this sort of response was going to hurt me, but luckily, my interviewer, Nate Storey, said, “That’s okay. Almost no one comes into this business knowing anything about pallet racking or material handling.  It usually takes about 6 months for people to understand everything.”

Phew.  Really?  Well, sign me up, I thought.

After a second interview, and much deliberation, I decided to accept the job with Storage Solutions.  Before starting, I decided to do more in-depth research on the industry so I could get a head start before my first day.  During my research, it occurred to me that this business isn’t extremely difficult.

So going in to my first day I knew:

  1. A pallet is a pallet.
  2. A beam is a beam.

Six months to learn everything.  How difficult could it really be, right? Wrong.  Again.

It occurrs to me early on that material handling and pallet racking is much more detailed than it appears.  A pallet isn’t just a pallet and a beam definitely isn’t just a beam.  Connections, uprights, braces, shelving, decking… there’s A LOT to learn.

The type of business Storage Solutions does was best described to me by CFO Bill Beeker when he said,

pallet rack“This isn’t a sexy business, but it’s still needed.”

This made sense to me.  The type of work Storage Solutions does isn’t flashy or noticeable… but it’s important.  We provide something certain companies have to have.

Now, my first eight days have gone by and I’ve learned a lot about the industry but have still barely scratched the surface.

Other Things I’ve Learned In My First 8 Days:

  1. Ball State University alumni rule this office, with Wabash coming in a distant second!
  2. A few employees of Storage Solutions were actually in the same fraternity at BSU. (Sigma Chi)
  3. I work with friendly, helpful people who want this business to succeed and grow.

I still have a lot more to learn, and who knows, maybe six months from now I’ll look back on this first blog and realize I was wrong about even the small things I thought I knew! I guess we’ll see…

To Be An Intern, Or Not To Be… That Is The Question

Some people find it entertaining when I explain to them what my job entails.  More often than not, it is difficult for them to imagine how one could possibly talk about the material handling industry, pallet rack, shelving and the like through social media.  “Are other people in your industry even USING social media?” Pshhh… OF COURSE THEY ARE!  In this day and age, most people are using social media in some way, shape or form.  Whether it’s reading a blog post or newsletter sent out through an email marketing campaign or asking around on Twitter about where one can find more information on safety equipment and affordable solutions, people are talking.

That’s what makes my job so fun.  And it’s why I am so excited about our search to find the next Marketing/Social Media intern.  As a former Storage Solutions marketing intern myself, I can tell you first hand that it is one good gig.  Instead of talking about the exact same things everyone else is, this position is about taking what you have learned in school or through your own social media usage and applying it to a less conventional topic.  So…I have put together a list of the top 3 reasons you (or someone you know) should apply to be an intern this fall.

THREE REASONS YOU (OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW) SHOULD APPLY TO BE A STORAGE SOLUTIONS INTERN

_____

1.  You will have the opportunity to help develop a comprehensive social media plan using Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and blogging to talk about one of the nation’s leading material handling companies.

2.  You will learn the do’s, don’ts, how’s and why’s of using social media and marketing in an industry that is still new to this digital marketing age.

3.  You will get to work with two fabulous other marketers (if I may say so myself) who have experience in marketing within multiple industries and love to explore new ideas and marketing opportunities!

So if you or someone you know may be interested in applying, check out our job description and send us your resume!  Our schedule is flexible and the experience is great!

PS:  If you’re on Twitter or Facebook… Share the info about this internship opportunity with your friends!

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 Awarded Nashville Wire’s 2010 PREMIERE DEALER AWARD

It may not be an Oscar, but we’re pretty excited to have recently been awarded the Nashville Wire 2010 Premiere Dealer Award!  We take a lot of pride in our partnerships, and Nashville Wire has been a consistently positive one since the beginning.  We got on the phone with Nashville Wire’s Vice President of Sales, Steve Johnson, to find out why Storage Solutions received this award and what role our partnership plays in their company’s success.

Nashville Wire

According to Steve, there were three main criteria required for a company to be considered for this award:

nashville wire decking

  • Sales Volume
  • Communication
  • Professionalism

“Obviously sales volume is an important characteristic when it comes to these things,” Johnson said.  “In 2010, Storage Solutions far surpassed other partners in promoting Nashville Wire products.”

Over the years, we have prided ourselves on the fact that our teamwork, customer service and start-to-finish attention to detail parallels no other material handling company. According to Johnson, “Storage Solutions has consistently kept a great communication record,” from engineering, to quoting and lead follow-up.

“The professionalism from the beinning of the quoting process through the last step of the installation has been tremendous,” Johnson said.  “Everything in there is flawless.  [The] support staff makes the difference for your sales team.”

Partnerships mean so much to the success of our business.  Are you looking to partner with a material handling company for a project or series of projects?  We’ve got the kind of experience and customer service it takes to establish a long and fruitful business relationship.  Give us a call at 866.474.2001!

Storage Solutions Has A Conveyor Package Available!

We’ve got a great new used conveyor package available!  Currently located in northeastern Ohio, this conveyor package includes accumulation conveyor, trashline conveyor and a bi-directional Unisort XV sorter.  All products are six years old and manufactured by FKI.

Package Includes:

Conveyor

FKI Bi-Directional Unisort XV Sorter

trashline conveyor

2,100 ft. of 42″W FKI Trashline Conveyor

Price  |  $70 per foot Includes new belt

used conveyor

800 Ft. of 24″W FKI Accumulation Conveyor

Price  |  $90 per foot

 For additional information, please contact our Online Sales team at [email protected] or by calling 866.474.2001.

Storage Solutions Nominates Gleaners for 2011 Charity of the Year

We are excited to announce that Storage Solutions is partnering with Gleaners Food Bank here in Indianapolis as our Charity of the Year for 2011.  Over the course of 2011, Storage Solutions will be donating time, money and food to Gleaners, which provides foods and services to multiple food pantries and other locations throughout central and southeastern Indiana.

Gleaners Logo

So WHY Gleaners Food Bank?

One in six Americans struggles with hunger and food insecurity.  That’s a pretty astounding statistic when you actually think about it.  With a food bank like Gleaners, we are able to reach so many struggling Hoosiers in the communities in which we live and work.  Since 1980, Gleaners has provided over 250 million pounds of food to hungry Hoosiers across the state.  In partnering with a food bank as opposed to a food pantry, Storage Solutions is able to better spread resources to reach a broader number of people.

HOW Storage Solutions (And You) Can Help

Gleaners Food Bank offers an array of services, programs and special events that cater to all age groups.  Storage Solutions employees and their families are excited to donate their time to helping provide weekend and after-school meals to low-income and at-risk children, stock the shelves of food pantries, and provide hands on help to Hoosiers who need it most.

Visit www.gleaners.org to learn more and find out how you can help!

Storage Solutions has a New Office Location!

Storage Solutions Is Expanding!
Storage Solutions, Inc. has announced the opening of a new office location in Minneapolis, MN. The Minneapolis office, led by Vice President Mike Dubbs, is the newest addition to the nationwide company, which is based in Indianapolis.

With over 34 years of experience in the material handling industry, Dubbs will lead a team of seven other employees.  Each member of this team is an industry veteran, each with a minimum of 10 years experience.

“We’re very excited to be part of the Storage Solutions team,” Dubbs said. “We feel that being part of Storage Solutions will help us to better serve our marketplace and provide our customers with a bigger and broader product offering.”

Founded in 1978, Storage Solutions has maintained the tradition of a company dedicated to material handling, with a reputation for quality products and reliable service. With a deepening national base, Storage Solutions offers customers across the country services that range from warehouse design to the buying and selling of new and used equipment such as pallet rack and industrial shelving.

“We are fortunate to be in a position to consider another expansion opportunity,” Storage Solutions President Kevin Rowles said. “Our Minneapolis office is staffed by a seasoned team that operates on the goals for our organization. With their help, Storage Solutions will be able to further our reach nationwide.”

Storage Solutions is currently headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, with an additional office located in Kansas City.

Storage Solutions USA

14139 21st Avenue North

Minneapolis, MN 55447
P: 952.920.9415
F: 952.941.8412

Minnesota Team Roster:

Mike Dubbs | Vice President

Todd Cartwright | National Accounts Manager

Rob Dubbs | National Accounts Manager

Mike Essen | CAD Designer

Patty Mullen | Project Coordinator

Mark Golberg | Warehouse Manager

Thanks for stopping by this weeks Storage Solutions blog post!  Remember, if you are in need of any help with your current or upcoming warehouse projects, contact our trained professionals today!  Call us at 1.866.474.2001 or visit us online at www.storage-solutions.com.