Powering Reliability with Strong Hold Storage Solutions in Northeastern Ohio.

Overview

Responsible for maintaining reliable electrical service across Northeastern Ohio, a regional energy provider recently partnered with STAC Material Handling to outfit one of its newly constructed service centers with a comprehensive inventory storage solution. The goal was simple: create an efficient keep-stock room that would allow technicians to quickly locate and retrieve the parts needed to keep power flowing to customers.

With millions of dollars in inventory supporting critical infrastructure, the utility needed storage solutions that were durable, organized, and dependable. Working together, STAC Material Handling and Strong Hold developed a storage system designed to maximize efficiency while protecting valuable inventory and maintaining workplace safety.

Challenge

As the new service center was being designed, the utility identified several key requirements for its inventory management program:

• Create a centralized keep-stock room for mission-critical electrical components.
• Maximize vertical storage capacity while maintaining easy access to inventory.
• Store and organize more than $2 million worth of parts and supplies.
• Provide secure storage for high-value inventory items.
• Safely store aerosol products and other flammable materials in compliance with OSHA requirements.
• Ensure all storage equipment was durable enough to withstand years of daily use in a demanding utility environment.

The customer needed a solution that would allow technicians to quickly find and retrieve parts while maintaining inventory control and workplace safety.

Solution

Working closely with STAC Material Handling, Strong Hold helped design a storage solution tailored to the utility’s operational needs.

The facility was outfitted with Strong Hold’s Forty Six Series Heavy Duty Closed Shelving Units, constructed from 18-gauge steel and featuring three shelves capable of supporting up to 1,000 lbs. per shelf. These units provided the ideal solution for storing frequently accessed inventory, allowing technicians to quickly identify and retrieve the components needed for service calls.

Because the storage area was located in a low-traffic inventory room, the customer determined that the additional impact resistance and shelf capacities offered by Strong Hold’s 12-gauge and 14-gauge product lines were not required for this application. The 18-gauge shelving provided the perfect balance of durability, storage capacity, and value while still delivering the construction and long-term reliability Strong Hold is known for.

Each shelving unit arrived fully assembled and ready for immediate use, minimizing installation time and allowing the facility to become operational quickly.

To address safety requirements, the customer also selected Strong Hold’s Extra Heavy Duty 14-Gauge Flammable Safety Cabinets to properly store aerosol products and other flammable materials. These cabinets helped the facility maintain OSHA compliance while protecting employees and inventory.

For inventory requiring additional security, the utility incorporated several Strong Hold locking storage cabinets to safeguard valuable components and maintain tighter inventory control.

Results

The new service center immediately benefited from the organized and efficient storage system.

• Improved Inventory Accessibility: Technicians can quickly locate and retrieve parts needed for field repairs and maintenance activities.
• Enhanced Organization: Open shelving provides clear visibility of inventory, reducing time spent searching for materials.
• Secure Storage: Locking cabinets help protect high-value inventory and improve inventory accountability.
• Safe Chemical Storage: Flammable safety cabinets provide compliant storage for aerosol products and other hazardous materials.
• Rapid Deployment: Fully assembled shelving units allowed the facility to begin operations without lengthy installation delays.

By combining open storage, secure cabinets, and specialized safety storage, the utility created a highly functional keep-stock room capable of supporting critical operations throughout the region.

Key Takeaways

This project highlights the importance of selecting storage solutions that align with both operational efficiency and safety requirements.

• Collaboration between the customer, STAC Material Handling, and Strong Hold during the planning process.
• Durable, industrial-grade storage solutions designed for demanding utility environments.
• Strategic use of open shelving to improve inventory visibility and accessibility.
• Secure storage options to protect valuable inventory.
• OSHA-compliant storage for flammable products and aerosols.

Conclusion

When keeping the lights on depends on having the right parts available at the right time, storage and organization become mission-critical. By partnering with STAC Material Handling and Strong Hold, this Northeastern Ohio energy provider created a service center designed for efficiency, safety, and long-term reliability.

From open shelving for everyday inventory to specialized storage for secured and flammable materials, Strong Hold delivered a solution that helps technicians focus on what matters most, keeping power flowing to the communities they serve.