Ladders HQ

Image taken on 2009-08-30 20:46:54 by pdxdiver.

Concentrate on your import/export for international trade.

1. Avail international trade directories from consulates/internet which are information goldmines.

2. Apart from import/export, international trade directories catalogs of goods in demand for global sourcing will be extremely helpful.

3. Equipped with information, do the due diligence on import/export licensing procedures, taxation in your country, opening a bank account. You need the extended license number to mention on all import and export documents.

4. Certain products are restricted from global sourcing for various reasons; avoid them.

5. Import/export of products like chemicals, pharmaceuticals, arms, and apparel require additional permits in addition to import/export license. Start-ups can begin with global sourcing or import/export with uncategorized items, then move up the ladder to include these. On the other hand, international trade in products like dairy and poultry/seafood need extra handling facilities adding to infrastructural costs, similar to offline trade

-Leveraging E-Commerce for Import and Export

Internet being a beautiful leveling concept can be leveraged to maximizing your global sourcing or import/export business with apt planning.

1. There are free or fee based memberships on international trade portals dedicated for e-commerce. Your presence here provides the requisite exposure to target customers in import/export or global sourcing as the case may be.

2. Submit your e-commerce site to major search engines, reputed industry directories and issue regular blogs/press releases specializing in international trade.

3. Import and export gets a boost when your e-commerce site facilitates responding to quotation requests, chatting/online negotiation, document sampling, invoicing and new product notification.

4. The e-commerce site may be configured to accept sample orders from new global sourcing clients before engaging in full fledged import/export. Clients may like this feature as it shields them from risks and travel costs.

5. Internet facilitates multiple payment handling features which is just the thing a free global sourcing surfer wants. In addition, SSL certificates, trust worthiness authentication help you walk the long mile.

Global sourcing leveraged by e-commerce saves a lot of routines and costs and permits you concentrate on core business activities, especially in complex international trade procedures. It hardly matter whether you are in e-commerce for import/export or domestic trade, what really matters in global sourcing is strength and credibility which only e-commerce sites enjoy unlike offline import/export houses.

Having said everything, don’t you think pricing and quality are two crucial factors to the success of your import/export e-commerce endeavor in the face of fierce global sourcing?

Facility Managers are contacting material handling dealers and purchasing mezzanines for projects when in fact they should be purchasing work platforms. What is the difference you may ask?

Mezzanines are elevated steel structures typically built between two main stories of a building. They are primarily used for storage of goods and have personnel walking on top of them frequently to access the product. They support pallet racking, industrial shelving, cantilever racks, and generally any type of racking system in addition to general floor storage. They may also act as a second floor office if modular offices are installed on them. Typically, they have a pound per square foot requirement of 125 PSF. As such, mezzanines have certain codes designed just for them.

Work platforms are typically built to hold equipment in a manufacturing environment. This equipment is typically above the ground level. Some examples of these are broaching machine platforms, conveyor platforms, etc. Typically a person would access this platform for repair or cleaning purposes only. They are not accessed on a daily basis and their main purpose is to support equipment above ground level.

While mezzanines have specific minimum height clearances and stair width/length regulations, work platforms have clear exemptions from most of these. For example, a mezzanine requires 7 feet 6 inches clear underneath if people are working under it, and the same above it for people walking on it. Also, when installing any type of plastic shelving, gondola shelving or steel shelving, most fire marshals require a 12 inch chase between every 48 inch deep shelving unit.

In the case of a platform being used to support equipment, vessels, etc., the clear height above the equipment may be such that it clears the equipment and has sufficient clearance to accommodate repair or maintenance activities. There is no minimum requirement. The same applies to the clear height above the platform as long as the equipment has sufficient clearance to accommodate repair or maintenance activities. Platforms need not be 125 PSF if a lesser amount will suffice. (Less PSF, less steel, less cost).

One stairway is needed for platforms unless the common path of egress exceeds 75 feet, then a second one is needed. However, you can use spiral stairway, alternating tread stairways or an industrial ladder to achieve egress. Also, stairways for platforms need not be designed for handicap accessibility. When designing and building mezzanines for general storage, International Building Code (IBC) 2006 requires continuous handrails, extended handrails and a 3-rail handrail/kickplate system. Thus, typically it is less expensive to purchase a work platform than a mezzanine of the same size.

There are other smaller differences, but the bottom line is this: define the use of the space you plan on adding to your building, then work with a mezzanine professional to determine the right type of mezzanine or work platform. This would include the weight capacities, footings required (if needed), stairways, work surfaces, access gates and railings.

platform is Red, this is for Wii, Please Please help!!!!!