Author name: Midwest MH

President Trump’s new 145% tariffs on China will have a dramatic and significant effect on the sale of NEW (and as a result) USED Pallet Rack as well as Wire Mesh Deck Panels, including all steel storage equipment, sold in the United States.

At the end of the day, Pallet Racking, like all steel fabricated products are commodity based. Pallet Rack and Wire Deck pricing fluctuates, based off the cost of raw materials, primarily the cost of unfabricated steel and steel wire. Since so many domestically manufactured steel products are fabricated out of imported steel, Pallet Rack will be on the rise. The bulk of steel used in US Pallet Rack and Wire Deck manufacturing originates from China.

A little history… During Trump’s first term, the US assessed a 25% tariff on all imported products from China. To avoid the tariffs, many China based Pallet Rack and Wire Deck Panel Manufacturers opened up factories in neighboring Vietnam. Then unexpectedly, COVID hit and presented new challenges to the international freight/shipping channels. Freight costs from Asia to the US skyrocketed. Since then, international shipping has returned to more moderate levels.

While it is uncertain WHEN these costs will rise, as a result of these new tariffs, it is a certainty they will. For the past several years, we, as a distributor get monthly price pages for “quick-ship” Pallet Rack/Wire Deck from one of the largest Pallet Rack Manufacturers in the US. Over the past several years, prices fluctuate slightly from month to month. One month it may be an increase in Pallet Rack Uprights and Beams and the next on Wire Decks (which are built primarily of steel wire). Prices will rise and then fall. We expect the increases to be significant and impact both products starting May 1.

Our hope is these changes are temporary and they will result in lasting positive changes for our industry. Hang in there, things will get better!

            

Plain City, Ohio– Occasionally, though not often, we will get a call for Pallet Rack to be installed on an uneven or unlevel surface. In applications where the concrete is old, cracked or uneven, steel shims can be utilized to help level the base. It is imperative that Pallet Racking be installed on flat or level surfaces. So simplistic in design, steel Shims can help!

Shims come in a range of different styles. It is important that you pick the correct pallet rack shim plate to match the brand of upright and size of the footplate. Upright footplates can vary in design, as a result, it is very important to use only factory approved shims, as the are specifically sourced for the design of the Uprights.

Depending on the severity of the base, there may be a need to use more than one shim. If that is the case, there are very specific guidelines to follow as to how many are safe and how to secure them in place to prevent shifting.

• Shim stack cannot exceed six times the diameter of the largest anchor bolt.
• Shim stack that is less than two times the anchor’s diameter does not require locking shims together by welding or installing a second anchor.
• Shim stacks between two times but less than six times the diameter of the anchor must be locked by welding or adding a second anchor. If shims are not welded or secured with a second anchor, they can spin out, causing rack instability.
• Shim stacks may require longer anchor bolts.

Charleston, WV- We were contacted by a long time Customer in the Charleston, WV area inquiring about large volume Steel Hopper that they wanted to replace. This particular Hopper was damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced. These large volume Hoppers are commonly used in the mining industry. It was located in a large coal mine in Western West Virginia.

What was unusual about this existing hopper (which was primarily used for waste removal within the mine) was its large size and heavy capacity. What we replaced it with was a Jesco Industries Large Volume, Low Profile, Super Heavy Duty Structural Base Hopper constructed of 7 GAUGE STEEL. This HD Hopper had a 10 cubic yard capacity and 10,000 lbs. weight capacity. The Hopper measured 91″L x 135″W x 70″H…135″ wide and 91″ long-WOW!

We also added an optional lid (steel piano hinged split lid). This was the largest Steel Dumping Hopper we have ever sold… the Hopper with Lid weighed well over 3,600 lbs.!

We serve a wide range of Customers in a wide range of industries with often times really unique applications. Every project is uniquely different. Contact the experts at Midwest Material Handling, LLC with any Steel Dumping Hopper application from large to small-common to unusual!

WORTHINGTON, OHIO– We recently got a call from a large Ohio based Manufacturer of industrial products with a bit of a unique Pallet Rack protection application. This customer recently purchased an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and requested Post and End-of-Aisle Protectors for their Pallet Rack. The big issue was these Column Protectors could not extend into the open shelf space as every inch was needed for the AGV to operate there.

We supplied them with Handle-It 12″H Steel Column Protector with optional HD steel Rack Protector Extender, which was custom cut to 28″L. Not sure if it is clear in the photos but these Column Protectors only extend into the shelf space by an inch, at best, allowing the AGV to operate in and out of the Rack sections as designed. Like all of the Pallet Rack protection products we sell, we also furnished concrete anchors (1/2″ x 3.75″ and 3/4″ x 4.25″) for installation. The finished product came out great and has been incredibly effective. These were furnished and installed throughout the entire distribution center facility.

These Corner Protectors are also effective for use at building wall corners and guard doorways.

We get pictures like this sent to us all the time… “Our Leveler is down and we need this part ASAP”!

One of the more unique services we provide is the sale of Wholesale Dock Leveler, Dock Seal and Dock Shelter parts including Vehicle Restraint Parts. At the end of the day, Dock Levelers really are relatively simple devices. Like all mechanical equipment and in addition to the harsh way these devices are used, parts wear out and need to be replaced. So many Dock repair companies will come out, charge you a small fortune to evaluate a repair and say the entire Leveler has to be replaced. This is RARELY the case when just a few simple parts will put the Leveler back in service in a relatively short period of time! With a little time and willingness to repair the Lever yourself, time and money can be greatly saved.

We sell parts from all major Manufacturers including: Blue Giant, Serco, DLM, Overhead Door, Rite-Hite, Kelley (Kelley-Atlantic for older units), Poweramp, McGuire, Penta-Lift, Pioneer and Vestil Manufacturing.

OUR SPECIALTY… allow us to put our our 30 years of experience to work to help you identify those hard to find parts! As an Authorized Blue Giant Distributor, contact us with any Blue Giant Loading Dock Equipment part application!

Some (but not nearly all) of the more common parts we sell are: Main Springs, Springs (Lip Kick-Out and Snubber), Hold Down Boxes, Dock Bumpers and Hydraulic Pumps and Cylinders.

More times than not, Dock Levelers have no Manufacturer serial plate on them which makes identifying what you have and who made it a challenge. Call us and let us put our 30+ years of experience to work to provide complimentary advice and help identify what you have as well as provide part numbers and parts costs. Additionally, most parts can be shipped in overnight air for the more time sensitive repairs.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN- The uses for Storage and Pallet Racking are endless! We thought we would highlight a customer of ours, located in Northern Michigan, who is a vintage and classic wooden boat restorer. They have been one of the most experienced and respected wooden boat dealers, parts suppliers and vintage boat restorers for decades. They have been a customer of ours for well over 25 years.

There are so many different and unique uses for Pallet Rack and Storage Shelving! This customer uses standard Teardrop style Pallet rack for boat motor and parts storage. The picture you see here is just a small portion of their extensive parts warehouse. Look at all of those Chris-Craft, Hacker Craft, Garwood and Lyman motors! We dont believe they have ever bought anything NEW… it’s all been USED.

“OLD PALLET RACK FOR OLD PARTS” our customer always says. We always reply… “old pallet rack for old guys”, they always chuckle.

As you might imagine, our USED inventory changes weekly (if not daily). Contact us and allow our team of professionals to assist you with any USED Pallet Rack project.

Pretty cool… Randomly ran into this UPS driver with an OLD Aluminum Convertible Hand Truck we sold them roughly 24 years ago (our “worn” company sticker was on the other side). We have sold these Hand Trucks to UPS facilities throughout the years. This Hand Truck was manufactured by Harper Hand Trucks out of Wichita, KS. Back then, Harper was a small regional fabricator but they have grown into the largest Hand Truck manufacturer in the world! We have been both a Magliner and a Harper Dealer for nearly 30 years.

We sell a wide range of Hand and Platform Trucks from quality Manufacturers like Harper Trucks, Magliner Hand Trucks, Vestil Manufacturing, Wesco Manufacturing, Fairbanks, Milwaukee Trucks, Little Giant, New Age Industrial, Safco and B&P.

Look at the worn handles, think about how many times this hand truck has been taken out and put back in his truck. This truck definitely has had some wear and tear, but he tells me it works great… UNBELIEVABLE!

Cincinnati, Ohio– Floor Scales are an essential part of any modern commercial warehouse. When Customers are setting up a new facility, a Floor Scale should be one of the first purchase considerations made.

But why? Floor Scales have a multitude of different uses. The most common use though is the weighing of inbound and outbound freight. LTL companies require an accurate weight noted on their bill-of-ladings. Not doing so can result in added fees (in this day and age, freight companies will do anything to add additional charges to your freight bill). Floor Scales are also commonly used in the weighing of bulk materials, quality control and inventory management.

Floor Scales come in a range of different sizes and capacities. The most common Floor Scale we sell is the standard 48″ x 48″ with a 5,000 lbs capacity. These scales are generally calibrated in 1.0 lbs. weight increments. The same scale can also be calibrated 10,000 lbs. x 2.0 lbs. at no additional charge. Another stock size is the 60″ x 60″. Any other combination of sizes and capacities can be made, please inquire for pricing.

Common options include steel access ramps (including level off platforms).

Floor Scales can be adapted for many other different applications. A few examples include…

Stainless Steel Floor Scales

Floor Scales if similar design as above but built entirely of Stainless Steel for washdown or hazardous environments.

Drum Scales

For weighing 55 gallon steel or poly drums

Coil Scales

For accurate weighment of large, dense metals in bars, tubes, sheets, structural beams and coils. The capacity of a coil scale is much greater than an average floor scale, often reaching up to 100,000 pounds.

Platform Scales

Smaller, generally lower capacity Scales for general weighing.

WE SELL QUALITY… we live in a day and age of online retailers advertising cheap, import scales which are unrepairable. These scales are considered “throw-away”… since they are unrepairable (few parts exist) and very difficult (if not impossible) to calibrate, these devices are to be discarded as soon as they fail. Warranties on these scales are comical as you would have to send the scale back internationally to get the issue looked at.

WE DO NOT SELL THESE TYPES OF SCALES! All of the scales we sell have full warranties (parts and service) and can be serviced and repaired locally!

MASON, OHIO- Today, we thought we would take a little walk down memory lane to one of the more unique projects we have ever completed…

 

In September, 2003 a severe thunderstorm passed directly over King’s Island Amusement Park in Mason (Cincinnati), Ohio. Though very little major damage was done to the park itself, the iconic King’s Island marquee sign, visible from I-71 literally blew over. That old sign had been welcoming visitors to King’s Island for 30+ years.

A month or two later, we were contacted by an engineering firm designing the new sign for the park. This new sign was going to incorporate a newly refreshed logo and be 4-5 times larger than the old one. We were asked for a ladder solution for workers to SAFELY access the upper levels of the interior of the sign for service or maintenance.

We along with the Engineering team at Vestil Manufacturing came up with and eventually manufactured and shipped a Steel Caged Walk-Thru Fixed Access Ladder system (very similar to the one pictured above) which started at the bottom of the sign and went nearly to the top. The sign was built with a series of work platforms. The series of ladders were positioned at different sides of each “platform”. These were all custom built. This allowed workers to maintain and repair the sign safely, entirely from the interior of the sign.

The final product… the sign still stands today. While we didn’t install the fixed ladders in the sign (the ladders were shipped to the sign company and they did) the collaborative efforts of our companies made for a very smooth (not to mention interesting) project!

Contact our team of experts for a wide range of OSHA and BOCA approved Steel Rolling Ladders of various designs and styles.

All of our Ladders are proudly manufactured in the United States!

DAYTON, OHIO– An often requested Pallet Truck accessory is the Rubber Pallet Truck/Jack Stop from Vestil Manufacturing. This inexpensive, rubber cradle is designed to secure your Pallet Jack in the back of truck beds during transit. This helps prevent trailer and door damage from “runaway” Pallet Jacks not to mention the valuable freight on the truck. So often we would see delivery truck drivers secure their Pallet Jacks with ratchet straps or bungee cords to the trailer when driving. It was so time consuming and often times did not safely secure the Pallet Jack to the truck.

These Pallet Truck Stops are simple to use… you simply roll the Pallet Jack load wheels (rear wheels) onto the rubber stop and it keeps the Jack from moving during transit. No straps, no cords or bungees!

Ideal for freight companies, trucking companies, and other material handling customers. These Pallet Truck Stops are easy to store as they only measure 11.5″ x 11.5″ and weighs less than 5 lbs. each.