PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 57

ROCK ISLAND, IL

As a member of our founding family, Lucas Walker was born and raised right here in our operating city of Streator, Illinois. As a young boy, Walker had already shown he shared the family’s interest in engineering.

“My father is an automotive and motorcycle enthusiast, which rubbed off on me. I started reading car magazines and sketching designs. I also began tinkering and taking things apart to understand how they work.”

It came as no surprise when Walker graduated high school he chose to pursue a degree in engineering at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. The school’s engineering program is ranked one of the best in the nation. It was as a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity that Walker got his first real taste of some leadership roles as well.

Working hard and keeping busy while remaining focused on his career training during his school vacation months, Walker took on a summer internship in the engineering department right here at Streator Dependable. During that internship, he worked on a rack for Honda of America, Mfg, which helped secure him a 12-month internship at Honda R&D in Raymond, Ohio.

“As an intern for Honda R&D, I worked in the safety crash testing department, where I set dummies and assisted in both component and full-vehicle crash testing,” explains Walker.

This experience helped afford him the opportunity to obtain a full-time career with Honda R&D America, Inc, upon graduating from Bradley—relocating him to Ohio. “As a full-time associate,

I started in the V6 engine design department. I spent three years there designing intake and exhaust system components,” states Walker. His interest in being a larger part of the actual process;

however, led him into his next position: “Wishing to work more with my hands and get away from my desk, I transferred to the Reliability/Durability department. I became a Fuel System Test Engineer, which I remained until I left the company. In the Fuel Testing field, we developed new fuel systems for both domestic and export market vehicles.”

The eight and a half years Walker spent in Ohio not only gave him a remarkable learning experience, but he also met his wife, who has turned him into a dog-lover.

“This past December, I was blessed with an opportunity to join the family business. My wife and two dogs (Jax and Libby) moved to Streator. We are now settling into our new home and enjoying time with my family,” he shares.

We at Streator Dependable are happy to have him and look forward to what he will bring to the team and the future of the company.

“We’re confident that with Lucas’s strong engineering background and his experience and knowledge of the family business that he will be a great fit to help both us and future customers.”

- Nathan Hovious

Meet our new Technical Sales Representative, Lucas Walker

“This past December, I was blessed with an opportunity to join the family business.”

SO MUCH MORE THAN YOUR STANDARD RACK

SPRING ‘14We have much experience in providing solutions for complex material handling challenges. Customers rely on our experience to design innovative, yet cost effective products, which address parameters that sometimes conflict with one another. There are numerous reasons why a customer might require a custom rack as compared to one of general nature. The customers may produce a product with unique qualities. The product might be fragile, oddly shaped, or extremely heavy. Other needs may arise from the process rather than the product itself. Customers may be looking to reduce assembly time or improve ergonomics. With the customer’s best interests in mind, we will guide them towards the solution that makes the most sense.

In this edition of Streat Talk, Lucas Walker is going to share some of his expertise on custom racks and why a design and build specifically tailored to your particular racking needs, can often be the better option for you and your business.

Thanks,

Nathan Hovious,Sales Manager

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Streator Dependable1705 N. Shabbona Street Streator, IL 61364

Opting to purchase an “off-the-shelf” or “standard” rack that almost does what you need, but not quite, can be an expensive mistake.All too often, we are asked whether a custom rack is a costly build compared to a standard rack? The term “costly” tends to have a negative connotation. Generally speaking, a custom rack will require more engineering time, thus creating an increase in price. However, with our experienced engineering staff, we can provide solutions quickly and minimize the impact to cost. Opting to purchase an “off-the-shelf” or “standard” rack that almost does what you need, but not quite, can be an expensive mistake. In order to avoid repair and replacement costs, damaged product and excess freight costs in the long run, it is best to choose a custom design and build that fits your business’s process.

As if avoiding expensive, future costs in the long run weren’t enough, there are several additional ways a customer will benefit from having a custom built rack made to exact specs. We can help the customer optimize capacity, which contributes to efficiency, while ensuring no damage to the product. We can also incorporate safety and ergonomic features for all stages of handling. Other benefits include considerations for sound dampening, environment and durability.

So how does the process of creating a custom product at Streator Dependable work?All steps require high levels of communication between our team and the customer. The project will start with a phone conversation or email exchange to obtain specifications and parameters. If possible, we ask the customer to provide photos of their current process, as well as any existing material handling equipment. In some cases, it is best to visit the actual site and observe the application. We are always happy to visit customers and meet face to face. Once we have all the specs, we will move into the engineering stage. Our engineers will create a design that satisfies all the criteria and generate an approval drawing. The customer will then be asked to provide feedback on the drawings.

Our dedication to “making it right” ensures quality product.Customers may require prototypes to test out in their facility before the entire lot is built. It is understood at the beginning of the design process that we may encounter unforeseen concerns after testing the prototype, which may lead to design changes. Engineering will make any changes necessary, and production will proceed. Our dedication to “making it right” ensures quality product. Excellent communication maintains a good flow of information and provides a stress free experience for the customer throughout the process.

Another question we often come across is regarding what the “typical timeline” is for a custom rack design and build. This is a difficult question for us to answer, as there is a wide spectrum of products and applications. Every job is unique. Standard containers and simple solutions may only require a couple of days of engineering and sail through production in a couple weeks. Other jobs require a few weeks of engineering. The more complicated the rack, the more time it requires, especially for dunnage and other purchased parts. We encourage our customers to contact our sales staff to provide an accurate timeline for their project.

Our customers value quality in their products as much as we do.We provide solutions, not just racks. We want the customer to be satisfied. They should not be forced to compromise in order to conform to a standard rack or product. Streator Dependable has a strong reputation in the industry. Our production capacity, capabilities and design experience are unparalleled. We are a family-owned and operated business right here in the United States. We will provide the best solutions and the best customer service that money can’t buy.

CONTACT US TODAY

Be sure to visit us online at www.streatordependable.com

Streator Dependable1705 N. Shabbona StreetStreator, IL 61364Phone: 1-815-672-0551Fax: 815-672-7631E-mail: sales@streatordependable.com

Nathan Hovious Sales Managernhovious@streatordependable.com

Lucas WalkerTechnical Sales Representativelwalker@streatordependable.com

SO MUCH MORE THAN YOUR STANDARD RACK