Tag Archive for: Storage Solutions

And…. here it is. The finished project. Take a look at our time lapse video to see how Project Ohio came together.

Storage Solutions Project Ohio

Are you interested in Storage Solutions designing and installing a new warehouse for you? Be sure to call us for more information on what we can do for you! 866.474.2001

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!

Here we are with week number three for Project Ohio in our Project Spotlight Series.  This week we are focusing on what Storage Solutions installation crew members have installed in this facility.

PROJECT OHIO Installation Details:

Storage Solutions Project Ohio Week 3

  • 6,021 inside selective pallet rack bays
    • All bays incorporating new and used materials
    • Approximately 116,000 pallet rack locations provided
    • Over 90,000 pallet rack beams and wire decks installed (90,000 of each, 180,000 combined)
    • 400 cantilever columns installed
    • Over 8,500 cantilever arms
    • Interior racking area footprint > 450,000 Sq Ft.
  • 246 outside selective rack bays
  • Over 2,200 bin sections in two-level mezzanine
    • Bin mezzanine footprint nearly 45,000 sq ft.
    • Supports installed for 3rd level expansion when necessary
    • Lighting and sprinkler provided in bins area
    • 2 VRC lifts installed
    • 3 stairs
    • Approximately 14,000 sq ft of Resindek and RoofDeck installed for walking
  • 1.086 million sq ft building

We have made a lot of progress from the first Project Ohio post, week two, and now.  Check back next week for our final Project Ohio post for time-lapse video that will take you from start to finish!

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!

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!

The second posting of Project Ohio is all about numbers.  As we’ve mentioned before, it doesn’t matter if we’re working in a 5,000 sq. ft. space or a 1 million sq. ft. warehouse.  Our installation teams are among the best in the business and do an oustanding and efficient job.  This particular warehouse stands at 1.086 million square feet.  Check it out…

Storage Solutions Project Ohio Week 2

Project Ohio By The Numbers:

Project Ohio Term Of The Week: Mezzanines

Mezzanine is a structure that stands alone and is constructed within an existing building. This structure is designed to maximize space under and above it which creates additional space for storage or offices. You’ll notice in the photos that these structures are optimal for high-density storage and can withstand heavy loads.  They’re great for creating additional floorspace and are engineered to fulfill specific needs of each user.

Stay tuned next week to check out the project specifics and see photos of how things are progressing.  Click here to view last week’s Project Spotlight: OHIO posting and to view past Project Spotlight postings as well.

TOTW Pushbackpush back pallet rack system allows palletized goods and materials to be stored by being pushed up a gently graded ramp. Stored materials are allowed to flow down the ramp to the aisle.

This rack configuration allows for deep storage at each rack level and last-in, first-out storage. All of the loads are stored and retrieved from the aisle. When a new load is deposited into a lane, it pushes back the one already at the front and all those behind it. Then, when that load is picked, the contents of the lane all move forward again, hence the term “push back rack.”

Why use a push back pallet rack system?

  • The nested carts make placement and retrieval easy
  • It saves storage space which leads to less cost
  • They offer the same storage density as and drive-in/drive-through racks

If you are looking to utilize space in your warehouse make sure to get some information on the push back pallet rack system. Storage Solutions would love to help you create the perfect warehouse for your company.

Source: WikiMheda_PushBackPalletRacks

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.

“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…

We are excited to introduce you to the newest addition to our Storage Solutions team!  Not only will he be one of our project managers, but he will also be the newest contributor to our blog!  We will let him tell you about that in his introductions below.  So without further adieu, here’s what you should know about Blair.

Blair YoderHometown:  Indianapolis

Education:   Ball State University
Lawrence Central High School

Favorite Teams:  Chicago Cubs, Indianapolis Colts

Fun Facts:  Studied abroad in Australia for 3 months, living in a small surf town on the east coast, about 2 hours south of Brisbane.  Also spent a week traveling around New Zealand.

How Did You Come To Work At SSI:  The coordinator of the Entrepreneurship center at BSU, Brian Geiselhart, hosted a networking event for BSU alumni called The Cardinal Business Forum.  It just so happened that Storage Solutions owner, Craig McElheny, was scheduled as a facilitator for the event and was introduced to Brian.  Soon after this event I asked Brian if he knew about any possible job opportunities and he passed my name along to Craig.  I was eventually informed that Storage Solutions was hiring for an Inside Sales position and the rest is history.

EXCITING ANOUNCEMENT:
“A Day In The Life Of A Rookie”

I am excited to inform everyone that I will be writing a new blog for Storage Solutions!  Michelle and Jill approached me with the idea to have me blog about my experiences learning the material handling industry.  As most people come into the industry with little prior knowledge, I think documenting my experiences sounds like a great idea.  I hope everyone finds it useful and interesting.

Like we said, we are so excited to welcome Blair to our team.  Keep your eyes open.  His new blog column, A Day In The Life Of A Rookie, is coming soon!

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!