They don't have to be clean, they don't have to be tidy, but having functional, secure tool cabinets is the hallmark of a productive business. Having the right supplies on hand just when you need them is critical for efficiency; choosing and locating your storage units carefully can help streamline your employees' use of space and time.
It's not hard to find the right tool cabinets. You can start by taking inventory of what you need to store and the dimensions of what you expect to fit in tool cabinets; list your current needs in a place you can refer back to as you shop, using the following suggestions to get started:
1. Which of your business supplies need to be stored in tool cabinets?
2. What sort of supply/inventory expansion do you anticipate in the coming years?
3. Where should you locate the tool storage cabinets for quick, convenient access to the right supplies?
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Narrow down your choices by finding the right tool cabinets information
Which tool cabinets you purchase will be decided by two primary factors: which tools need storing and where there's room to put them. When you're shopping for tool cabinets, directory listings may be helpful, but it's usually less confusing to go directly to large manufacturers and shop their detailed inventory for the appropriate supplies.
I recommend: Sears offers a wide variety of tool cabinets, chests and carts to fit almost any size of tool and available space. Some of them also double as workbenches with integrated bench tops. The
Tool Box Store offers a wide variety of garage, warehouse and other functional storage cabinets for tools of various sizes.
Find tool cabinets to fit your present and future needs
When purchasing an item as large and expensive as tool storage cabinets, you must take into account any expansion you expect in the foreseeable future. Factoring the necessary space and flexibility into your purchasing plans now will save you time, money and a lot of frustration in the long run.
I recommend: AKRO-MILS sells modular tool cabinets for small applications. AKRO-MILS cabinets readily stack or fit side-by-side on standard 36" shelving, giving you ample options for expansion. The
Car Guy Garage modular two-door storage cabinet is intended for larger tools, but can easily be stacked with other cabinets of appropriate size and weight or docked beneath a workbench when ready access isn't necessary.
Choose your tool cabinets provider according to environmental needs
Not every tool cabinet is built the same. Specialty applications in medical or laboratory settings require ready access to and visual inventory of tools, in a cabinet that is sturdy, easy to clean and compliant with applicable safety regulations.
I recommend: Shark Stainless' Elite Series Stainless Steel Tool Cabinets are designed specifically for use in clean room or anti-corrosive environments, making them appropriate for use in high-security, high-risk environments like medical settings, wet processing or cleaning areas.
Terra Universal also offers stainless steel storage and tool cabinets suitable for clean room and anti-corrosive environments.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Alcohol can damage some tool cabinets, even those designed for use in anti-corrosive environments. Make sure to read your product literature fully, and, if in doubt, contact the product manufacturer before installing tool cabinets in an area where they can or must be cleaned with alcohol.
The official source of Tool Cabinets is the Tool Cabinets page at Business.com
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