At Wholesale Pallet Rack Products, we represent many great suppliers. One of them is Penco Products, a manufacturer of storage solutions including lockers, shelving, pallet rack, cabinets and shop furniture.
Penco has been in business for more than 140 years, getting its start in 1869 when a man named L. Lewis Sagendorph fulfilled his ambition to supply America with metal products. He called his business the Penn Metal Corporation of Pennsylvania, which began making steel culvert pipe in South Philadelphia. Over the years, Penn Metal’s product lines broadened to include lockers, shelving and even aircraft landing mats. In the 1950s, the name was shortened to Penco Products. Penco is now part of a family of companies that includes bleacher company All Star Bleachers and mezzanine/work platform company Schmidt Structural Products.
We spoke to Steve Vlach, Penco district sales manager, to provide readers with some more information about Penco and its offerings. Vlach has been in the material handling and storage business for 11 years, and has installed all the products that he sells. Vlach works from Penco’s Batavia, IL, location, about 90 minutes west of Chicago.
WPRP: What should our customers know about Penco?
Vlach: Penco Products is dedicated to designing and producing the highest quality storage products. From a research and development center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Penco designs solutions to storage problems faced by educational, healthcare and government facilities, as well as offices, manufacturing companies, distribution warehouses, retail outlets, sports arenas and community parks. Multiple QuickShip distribution centers and warehouses around the country help products arrive on time and with reduced shipping costs. Penco features a network of district sales managers dedicated to serving customers, backed by an experienced team of customer service personnel, multiple choices of shelving lines and a broad assortment of steel lockers. Penco also has a state-of-the-art powder-coat paint system with 24 standard colors.

WPRP: What makes Penco unique?

Vlach: Penco Products is a U.S. based manufacturer with a 475,000 sq. ft. plant in North Carolina and a sales force located thoughout the country.  We provide a high quality American made product.

WPRP: Are Penco products compatible with other styles of shelving?

Vlach: Most Penco shelving is designed to be proprietary, meaning that Penco shelves are to be used with Penco clips, posts and bracing. However, if customers have specific requests regarding compatibility with other brands, they can forward an inquiry to the Penco Material Handling Product Manager to discuss possibilities.
WPRP: How does your installation background help you?
Vlach: Having the knowledge of installation behind me gives me an edge because I know how to quote things better than a salesman that doesn’t have any installation knowledge. I know what to look out for. It helps me work closely with all my distributors to make sure we have the best pricing for all projects.  Big or small.

Thanks to Steve for taking the time to talk to us. For more information on Penco Products, contact WPRP by e-mail or phone 888-578-1579.  We are happy to help!