Set Up Your Own On-Farm Storage Business

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #4, Page #09

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Looking for a sideline business on your farm? Creating a self storage business is easier than ever, if you live near a city or recreation area, says Pat Watson, VP of self storage systems at Flexospan.
    The Sandy Lake, Penn., business has been manufacturing steel buildings since 1969 and self storage buildings for more than 20 years. By using prefab parts, Flexospan can custom engineer a building to whatever size and configuration a customer wants. The partitioning system makes it easy to change the size of the units, which typically start at 5 by 10 ft.
    “We roll form everything here. So we can send replacement parts right away,” Watson says. Plus they can match parts when customers want to expand. Exterior steel comes in 15 colors.
    Built with heavy 24-ga. steel, the company stresses quality material and engineering. Watson says she works with customers to come up with the right design, materials and roofing system for their location and zoning requirements. The company’s design includes heavy gauge steel load bearing walls so no support posts are needed. Interior walls are fastened from both sides for increased security for renters, and there are no gaps at the top of walls to ensure privacy.
    When all the parts are made, Flexospan workers load them on one of the company’s trucks to deliver to the customer’s site. Due to cost of transportation, Flexospan sells only to customers who live east of the Mississippi River. They also have crews to erect them, but about 30 percent of customers put up their own buildings. Prefab parts bolt together and steel is screwed on.
    “If they have any questions, we give them technical support from our engineering department,” Watson says.
    “We are hands-on and take pride in what we do,” she says. “We’re here to help customers grow their business.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Pat Watson, Flexospan, P.O. Box 515, 253 Railroad St., Sandy Lake, Penn. 16145 (ph 800 245-0396; www.flexospan.com).

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Set Up Your Own On-Farm Storage Business BUILDINGS Miscellaneous Looking for a sideline business on your farm? Creating a self storage business is easier than ever if you live near a city or recreation area says Pat Watson VP of self storage systems at Flexospan The Sandy Lake Penn business has been manufacturing steel buildings since 1969 and self storage buildings for more than 20 years By using prefab parts Flexospan can custom engineer a building to whatever size and configuration a customer wants The partitioning system makes it easy to change the size of the units which typically start at 5 by 10 ft “We roll form everything here So we can send replacement parts right away ” Watson says Plus they can match parts when customers want to expand Exterior steel comes in 15 colors Built with heavy 24-ga steel the company stresses quality material and engineering Watson says she works with customers to come up with the right design materials and roofing system for their location and zoning requirements The company’s design includes heavy gauge steel load bearing walls so no support posts are needed Interior walls are fastened from both sides for increased security for renters and there are no gaps at the top of walls to ensure privacy When all the parts are made Flexospan workers load them on one of the company’s trucks to deliver to the customer’s site Due to cost of transportation Flexospan sells only to customers who live east of the Mississippi River They also have crews to erect them but about 30 percent of customers put up their own buildings Prefab parts bolt together and steel is screwed on “If they have any questions we give them technical support from our engineering department ” Watson says “We are hands-on and take pride in what we do ” she says “We’re here to help customers grow their business ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Pat Watson Flexospan P O Box 515 253 Railroad St Sandy Lake Penn 16145 ph 800 245-0396; www flexospan com

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