How STEELSTACK Replaced Wood Pallets and Cantilever Racks at Sheet Metal Supply Ltd. with Efficient Sheet Metal Storage
“After many years of debate, we were thrilled to finally place an order for 10 double stack units. Not only are we able to get 4X (yes, four times the material in a given footprint), we are able to do it in a more organized, safer environment. We also purchased extra pallets that our main vendor rotates for their weekly delivery, saving lumber and hours. Wish we had done this sooner! STEELSTACK not only delivered on time, they designed and manufactured a tremendous product that represented a terrific value.” -Ben Kweton at Sheet Metal Supply LTD
We recently sat down with Ben and Zach from Sheet Metal Supply Ltd. to learn how STEELSTACK transformed their workflow.
As their shop grew, so did their challenges with space, safety, and efficiency. What started as a storage struggle with wood pallets and cantilever racks quickly became a story of innovation and productivity once they switched to STEELSTACK.
Below, they share their firsthand experience on how the right storage system completely changed the way they handle sheet metal.
Q: What challenges were you facing with your previous storage setup?
“When we expanded from 30,000 sq. ft. to 80,000 in March of 2020, we quickly realized how much shop space we really needed. Our old cantilever racks hit a tipping point. We were constantly fighting space constraints, balance issues, and inefficiencies. With wood pallets, materials were often off-center, which made handling unsafe and slowed us down. Switching to STEELSTACK cassettes solved that — they gave us fork pockets for guaranteed balance, reduced the number of skids we needed, and created a much safer and more efficient workflow.”
Q: What made you choose STEELSTACK over other options?
“We looked at a lot of different systems, but STEELSTACK was the best value by far. The racks are stronger, heavier-duty, and designed with integrated forklift channels that make handling faster and safer. What really stood out was how the racks and carts all work together as one system. That integration gave us more space, better efficiency, and ultimately a smarter investment compared to cantilever racks.”
Q: What improvements have you seen since implementing STEELSTACK?
“Before, we needed four skids to do the same job we can now handle with just one cassette. That alone cut down on material handling and saved us time every day. The stationary carts have also been a big win for staging — it’s simple to move a cassette from rack to cart without the guesswork. Overall, we’ve reclaimed a huge amount of shop space, eliminated wasted lumber, and doubled the amount of sheet metal we can store on a single cassette compared to wood pallets.”
Q: If another shop is struggling with storage inefficiencies, what advice would you give them?
“Investing in STEELSTACK gave us our space back. Instead of spending money on an expensive building addition, we maximized the square footage we already had. The racks make organization easy — every material has a dedicated spot, nothing is hanging off edges or causing safety issues, and it’s much easier to see and track inventory. It’s a safer, more sustainable way to work, and it saves both time and money.”
Learn how STEELSTACK helped Jake Burkey improve his Busted Knuckle shop — next!