You are molding your container to be exactly what you need for it to be an asset to your facility versus being 鈥渏ust another box.鈥� The decision to purchase a standard container versus a custom container can help or hurt your company鈥檚 efficiency, so be thorough in these steps and think ahead.
Do you ever wonder if the things that you are 鈥渕aking work鈥� are actually causing more work for you? For example, look at your roll-off containers. These large hunks of metal can be more than 鈥渏ust a box鈥� used to beat the snot out of and then replaced when you can see daylight through it. Your containers could be a valued asset to your company, making the job and workload easier for everyone. If you鈥檙e still thinking there is no way that these 鈥渂oxes鈥� could be more of an asset, ask yourself a couple questions that may benefit you and your company. Do you wish there was a dewatering feature for you to use? Or that there is a possibility of bolting on a roof for that once in a blue moon job you always get? Would you have preferred thicker sidewalls to keep that giant piece of metal from coming out the other side, and then making your container look like a quilt with patches? Does your equipment slide around on your diamond plate or smooth floors, and you鈥檙e thinking about apitong wood floors? Now that you have decided to look in to customizing a container for your specific needs, let鈥檚 walk through some steps to give yourself the best experience possible. You work hard enough, why make it any harder?
听Communication is Key
Building a custom container can take time to quote, and communication is the key to ensure that every single detail is covered. Everything starts with a phone call, but hold on before you punch those numbers. The first few decisions need to be discussed to get the ball rolling in the right direction. What will the application be for this container; will there be corrosive materials involved? How will you move your container, will it be stationary, on a skid, or have a roll-off style hookup? The size of the container should also be determined at this time, along with its shape. For example, if you plan on using it for mixing materials, a tub style container would be more ideal than a rectangular one. There is always potential to build a container in a unique shape making it exactly what you need in your work environment. Here is another tidbit of information to potentially speed up your quoting process: try to create a hand sketch on a piece of paper or napkin to explain the requested container with the dimensions marked out. No one is expecting Picasso to send in a drawing with every detail sketched out, so there is no need to worry about your artistic skills. Everyone should be there to help you get exactly what you need figured and laid out before you spend your hard earned money on it. Now, that you have answered these questions, contact the manufacturer and start your conversations.
Construct the Details
The communication does not end with the first phone call. There may need to be more information divulged to get the fine details ironed out. The decision could be as simple as paint color or as difficult as placing d-rings and hooks in a convenient location for your business. A common practice to nail these details down is to have calls between you (the customer) and the sales team with a production or design team member conferenced in. These calls will help construct all the details and offer suggestions to you that may save you money or time in the long haul. For instance, you could be looking into hauling a miniature frac tank and think you only want baffle walls, but a design team offers the suggestion of adding a sight glass gauge to check the fill capacity and custom fittings to increase the efficiency of your business. Or, if you are hauling a sticky, corrosive substance, they might have the suggestion to opt for a box made with an epoxy coating or a polyethylene style unit. These both help the materials slide out easier instead of sticking to the floor or sides of the container, which in turn, saves you man hours in unloading and cleaning. If you are going to haul corrosive materials, be sure to ask if the custom container will be capable of handling the acidity or base level of the product you鈥檙e hauling. If the corrosive materials ate away at your container like a ravenous rat in a restaurant鈥檚 dumpster, your purchase would be unproductive and therefore a waste of money.
Meet Face-to-Face
Perhaps you prefer a face-to-face discussion rather than talking over the phone. An appointment could be set up with the manufacturer to talk over the details on your custom container, and help pinpoint exactly what you want. A big bonus to taking this step would be seeing the facility where your container would be manufactured. You can look at their finished product designs and adjust your project accordingly based on their standard style units. If you would prefer to see your container while it is in production, to keep a keen eye on it through the manufacturing process, this should be discussed during the design process and then it can be set up accordingly.
Review All of the Paperwork
Once you receive your quote on pricing and the details listed out, you should receive a drawing for your custom container. Be sure to review all paperwork thoroughly before signing off on it. Humans are not perfect, no matter how hard everyone tries, errors do happen. Every detail can be spoken of accurately, but the men in the shop go off the paperwork given to them and they are the ones controlling the metal and the welds. Once you review and sign the paperwork, you may have to take a gulp before proceeding with the next step. No one really likes to say goodbye to the money they have earned, but look at the money you will save in man hours and efficiencies, because your employees are using a piece of equipment specifically designed for the job. The first custom container that you have built will always be a prototype for you. When you are ready for your next custom container order there may need to be a fitting moved or added, a different tailgate, or something unique you thought of to make your company even more efficient. The possibilities are endless.
An Asset to Your Facility
As you can see, this can become a very in depth, and involved situation that encompasses detailed planning. Step by step, you are molding this container to be exactly what you need for it to be an asset to your facility versus being 鈥渏ust another box.鈥� The decision to purchase a standard container versus a custom container can help or hurt your company鈥檚 efficiency, so be thorough in these steps and think ahead. Never be afraid to ask the manufacturer a question on your product because you are the one that has to work with it, and pay for it.
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