Casual Discussion Leads to Real Solutions
A Riekes salesperson met up with a friend who worked at a large, utility trailer company that offers equipment, service and parts. They started talking about warehouse operations at their four locations and the challenges the company was facing while preparing to open a new facility. That simple interaction opened the door to a deeper discussion about equipment, layout and storage strategies. Even though the company had never worked with Riekes before, they appreciated our interest in their success, which created the opportunity to share a few ideas. From that point forward, Riekes stayed close to the project, learning about their needs and helping shape a solution that would fit their goals, space and schedule.
INITIAL CHALLENGE
The 50+ year-old company planned to use turret trucks in their new warehouse to create narrow aisles and make better use of space--but they ran into a major obstacle. Turret trucks weren’t designed to unload pallets from trailers, which meant they would also need a second forklift to get materials from the dock into storage. During a visit to the facility, Riekes spotted a second issue. The company had long aluminum extrusions stored directly on the ground outside the building. This created safety hazards, used space inefficiently and exposed valuable materials to potential damage. While these issues hadn’t been the main concern, Riekes recognized them as places where the right solution could have a big impact.
OUR SOLUTION
To fix the equipment gap, Riekes recommended an articulating mast forklift. This type of truck could enter trailers to unload pallets and then operate within narrow aisles, handling both sides of the operation with one machine. It gave the customer a true “dock-to-stock” solution and removed the need for a second forklift, simplifying material flow and reducing equipment strain. For the outdoor storage problem, a cantilever racking system was designed specifically for long, heavy materials like aluminum extrusions. Instead of laying these items on the ground, the new racks stored them vertically in a secure and organized way. The racking was delivered ready to install, which helped keep the project timeline on track.
THE RESULTS
The new facility opened on time with the right tools in place. The articulating mast forklift allowed operators to unload trailers and place pallets into storage without losing time swapping equipment. This single forklift also improved safety, reduced handling time and increased efficiency. The cantilever racking system transformed the outdoor storage by freeing up extra space. Now, materials stay off the ground, better protected from damage and easier to access.
Riekes stayed in constant communication, listened to concerns and provided solutions that matched the customer’s desired workflow. When they needed scissor lifts later in the project, they reached out knowing Riekes could support their evolving needs. By offering a full-service solution and treating every detail like it mattered, Riekes helped the customer set up a smarter, safer facility ready for the future. In the end, a casual conversation turned into a successful project and a partnership built to last.