NASHVILLE WIRE PRODUCTS has earned the prestigious MVS (Most Valuable Supplier) Award for achievements in 2021. The MVS Award is granted by the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association) to less than 10% of all member companies. This is the sixth consecutive year that NASHVILLE WIRE PRODUCTS has earned the MVS Award. This industry Award recognizes companies who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their dealer network, their employees, and their community.

To qualify for the MVS Award, NASHVILLE WIRE PRODUCTS was required to meet a series of criteria in a number of areas important to the distributor companies who do business with them. In addition to confirming an on-going commitment to safety and employee training, award recipients must provide documentation of active participation in a program that “gives back.”

MVS Award winners have demonstrated an overall commitment to business excellence by documenting programs in the following areas:

• Industry Advocacy
• Distributor Advocacy
• Business Networking
• Continuing Education
• Business Best Practices

“It’s certainly an honor to be recognized by both the MHEDA family and our distinguished distributors with the MVS award for the 7th consecutive year. While we at Nashville Wire work hard to supply the highest quality products in our industry we know we would be nowhere if not for our dealer network. Those folks work tirelessly to introduce our products to the world and to earn their recognition tells us we must be doing something right.” – Robert Rollins, Division Manager

“Achieving the MVS Award demonstrates a company’s dedication to constantly improving the material handling industry. It is an honor and privilege for MHEDA to have so many companies achieve this award that requires continual improvement in customer and employee satisfaction and never-ending education of our industry throughout your organization.” Tom Albero, Chairman and CEO of Alliance Material Handling, Inc. and 2022 MHEDA Chairman.

NASHVILLE WIRE PRODUCTS boasts over 85 years serving the material handling industry. With multiple locations across North America, NASHVILLE WIRE PRODUCTS is able to provide an array of material handling solutions to partners across the continent.

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier trade association dedicated to serving all segments of the material handling business community. MHEDA represents close 600 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices. For more information, visit www.mheda.org.

Does Your Wire Deck Do The Work?
Liabilities May Be Yours Unless You Quote Correctly!

by

Gunner Pendleberry
Regional Sales Manager

 

Most of the folks that know me know what I sell: wire mesh decking for pallet rack systems. Wire decks have become part of the warehouse storage equation as much as uprights and beams. But what a lot of people who sell decks are missing is the definition of what a wire deck does exactly. A deck does two things: (1) it fits the rack upon which it is installed and (2) it carries the load at which it has been rated. Since the first function is obvious to even the least informed among us, it is the second function that I want to discuss further.

 

When it comes to the load capacity of a wire deck, there should be no mystery. However, depending on how the capacity of the deck is defined on a quote could mean the difference in a well-placed solution and a failure. And the number one discrepancy when reviewing a deck capacity is how the “uniformly distributed load” (UDL) is defined by the manufacturer. If you Google “uniformly distributed load” you will see a multitude of different definitions from many sources. But when it comes to wire mesh decks, the true UDL is defined by the ANSI MH26.2 standard as stated in their work with R-Mark. Where a wire deck is concerned, it should do some work. As defined by ANSI 26.2, UDL is “Any static load which is evenly distributed over the entire surface on the rack deck independent of the support system.” While this is a bit of a “perfect world” scenario, we interpret this to mean the load needs to rest over all the support channels and the majority of the deck surface and come within 2” of the front and rear load beams. A common misconception in our industry is that the load must be resting over one of more of the beams to achieve the full capacity rating of the deck. This is not true of an ANSI rated deck! Under ANSI a deck is designed and rated to bear 100% of the load “independent of the support system.” In other words not relying on the rack beams at all. For example: A 38” deep pallet can rest centered on a 42” deep deck, with a width that will cover all the deck channels, and that deck should be rated to hold the load. This is a true UDL for wire decks. If you are quoting a deck capacity that requires the pallet to be resting on the load beams, are you really quoting a deck capacity? And if indeed you are quoting a deck that requires the load to be on the beams, are you conveying that to your customer at time of quote? A deck that is under-designed and won’t do work has potential for issues. And if a deck being used in true UDL situation is not rated for such, and that info has not been clearly disclosed during the quote process, who do you think is liable if the deck fails? I think you know.

 

The moral of the story is this… If you are selling wire mesh decks that require some part of the load to be on the beams at all times, then why are you selling wire decks that need to have a specific load rating at all? Perception is reality, and if a customer sees a deck rated for X, what are their expectations for loading? Situations like this are more common than you may think. The opportunity to educate the customer and become their “deck expert” adds more value to your offering. Decks are more than a commodity, and when treated as such can become a profitable part of your full warehouse rack proposal.

 

Be aware, be safe, and always pay close attention to how the manufacturer defines load capacity (pay attention to the fine print!). Make sure you understand it yourself and make sure, no matter what it is, that you communicate it clearly to your customer when you are quoting. Protect yourself and your company. And most importantly, protect the people that will make a living loading and unloading the rack.

 

Questions for Gunner? gpendleberry@nashvillewire.com or 502-682-5946

We are proud to announce that Nashville Wire Products has once again earned the distinction of Most Valuable Supplier Award for 2018 from the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association). Our endless commitment to our dealer network and their employees and community is being recognized for the third consecutive year.

To qualify for the MVS Award, Nashville Wire met several criteria: In addition to our continuous safety efforts and our programs that give back to our community, MHEDA recognizes our industry & distributor advocacy, business networking, continuing education, and ongoing best practices.

Thank you again for supporting Nashville Wire Products. We will continue to provide you, our esteemed customers, with super-consistent, high-quality products and services in 2018 and beyond.