June | 2024

HAPPY 33RD ANNIVERSARY TO STOR-LOC

HISTORY OF STOR-LOC

The Stor-Loc Modular Drawer System was invented in 1972 in Switzerland by Electrolux Constructor.

It was introduced into the United States in 1982 by Richards-Wilcox in Aurora, Illinois, a Division of White Consolidated Industries which was owned by Electrolux Constructor.

On June 1^st, 1991, Ryan Metal Products purchased the Stor-Loc patent and started manufacturing the product in Kankakee, Illinois. The company assumed the name Stor-Loc and operates under this name.

33 Years later, Stor-Loc has grown because of its loyal customer base. Over 50% of its Annual Business is from repeat customers. In 2009, our competitors began abandoning their original Full Suspension, 100% Extension, 400 Lb. Capacity Roller Carriage Designs and began purchasing Drawer Slides from various manufacturers. Although this is cost effective, it relies on outside suppliers to insure drawer capacity and performance.

By 2024, all manufacturers in the Modular Drawer Industry have adopted outside purchased Drawer Slides. Stor-Loc is the only manufacturer that still makes its own Roller Carriage Drawer Suspension in house. The exact same design from 1972, which was based on previous heavy-duty designs since the 1930’s. Built the old-fashioned way, the Stor-Loc Modular Drawer System is the best available in our Industry and is guaranteed to perform for 55 Years. This is our Unconditional Guarantee to our valued customers.

Stor-Loc has invented many storage products over the last 33 Years. In 1996, we introduced our CNC Tool Storage Line with our CNC Tool Caddy and CNC Tool Rack. This provided our customers with maximum storage of CNC Tool Holders at an affordable price and ultimately eliminated high priced, light duty CNC Carts that had limited capacity. The savings our customers realized back then were over 500% less cost.

In 2003 with the help of our OEM Partner in the Automotive Industry, Stor-Loc introduced the first MM Series Tool Boxes that were designed for Service Technicians in U.S. Car Dealerships. The MM Series expanded when Stor-Loc entered the Agriculture Equipment Industry in 2010 providing Work Bench and Storage Solutions to the U.S. Farmer. This market segment is now over 25% of our Annual Sales and continues to grow.

We look forward to the future making the best storage products available with the highest value for our Customers in all Industries. 

FACTORY NEWS

Stor-Loc has Doubled its Capacity.

Thanks to our customers, Stor-Loc has been able to double its square footage to meet higher demand for our product.

We have added 35 Employees in the past few years and now have 75 total Employees.

We recently moved our Maintenance Department out of the main factory into a brand-new facility. The new facility saved much needed space in our Production Areas, and we can store the Maintenance Equipment required for Machine, Building, and Ground Maintenance in one location.

We plan on adding another building in 2025 to house our Trade Show Units, Maple Tops, Plastic Bins and Groove Trays, Aluminum Extrusions, and Powder Paint.

WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR 20 PLUS YEARS!

Diana Bates- 30 years

Thomas Bourgeois- 30 years

Linda Dockemeyer- 31 years

Thomas O'Shaughnessy- 20 years

Valerie Regan- 32 years

Agustin Romero Andrade- 23 years

Victor Romero Andrade- 27 years

Nicolas Romero- 28 years

Michael Ryan- 33 years

Stephen Ryan- 22 years

Antonio Vazquez Guzman- 20 years

Luis Villagomez- 23 years

SALES UPDATE

By Mike Ryan

Stor-Loc just completed a successful Farm Show Season exhibiting in most of the Winter/Spring Farm Shows in the United States.

The NFMS (National Farm Machinery Show) in Louisville, KY is always our Best Show of the Year. Over 300,000 Farmers attended the show which took place February 14^th thru 17^th. 

We want to extend our appreciation to all of the Farmers who have supported Stor-Loc since we entered the Ag Market in 2010 and to all of those businesses who believed in our product to fill their workspaces.

We added two Sales Engineers Mike Fassbender and Brittani Jones in the past year to give us better coverage in the Upper Midwest and New England and the Atlantic Coast. In Late Summer, we will also have our Sales Engineer Steve Hnat relocate to be based out of Greensboro, NC to cover the Southeast.

Are you looking to get a quote? Click here

MANUFACTURING

New CNC Equipment helped Stor-Loc become a World Class Manufacturer and insure Continuous Improvement of our Product Line.

Stor-Loc has installed a new Fiber Laser. This gives us Two Fiber Lasers to cut most of our parts within specification. We also recently installed a new Turret Punch to keep up with our Cabinet Accessory orders. These machines are incredibly fast and helps us keep up with production.

We also installed two new Punch Presses to run our Stamping Dies with the proper tonnage and maintain the parts needed to manufacture and process our 11 Gauge, Full Suspension Roller Carriages rated at 400 Lb. Capacity.

We added a new Orbital Spin Riveter to rivet our Roller Bearings into the Outer Supports that are key to the design and manufacture of the Suspension System. 

Stor-Loc is the only Manufacturer of Modular Storage Drawer Systems that makes its own Suspension System in House.

OPERATIONAL UPDATE: ANNUAL PLANT SHUTDOWN

Stor-Loc will be shutting down production and shipping June 29th-July 14th for annual maintenance. Our office will be open to answer your emails and calls during this time. Production will resume on Monday, July 15th.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 14th & 15th- Big Rig Challenge in Shipshewana, IN

June 20th- 23rd- Red Power Roundup in Spencer, IA

July 22nd- July 28th- EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, WI