Outdoor Gear & Apparel StoresConsultingPallet RacksPallet RackPermitsInstallation & Tear DownCAD Warehouse Layout Warehouse Layout & Racking for Minimal Gear, Portland OR
07/10/2026
Request / Problem
Minimal Gear was moving to a larger Portland facility with its first-ever forklift. They needed to fit as much racking as possible into a fixed floor plan, anchor unanchored existing racks to meet seismic code, and handle permitting - all without stopping operations.
Solution
Speedrack West designed the layout, sourced used pallet racking to fit the budget, managed Portland permitting end-to-end, and anchored all racks - new and existing - to seismic standards. The entire project was done in under two weeks without a single day of downtime.
07/10/2026
See the Project in Action
Process Overview
Understanding Requirements
Minimal Gear runs two outdoor brands from Portland: Cnoc Outdoors (water filtration systems for backpackers) and Diorite Gear (carbon fiber trekking poles, tent poles, and tent stakes made in-house). By spring 2025, the team had doubled from 4 to 8 people and was preparing to launch the Through Bottle – a lightweight reusable backpacking bottle to be hand-assembled on-site. The old space couldn’t hold the inventory, the team, or the new product line.
The new facility created a specific challenge: maximize rack density in the floor plan while keeping aisle clearance for their first-ever forklift. Their existing racks were unanchored. In the old space with no machines, that was manageable. In a new facility with a forklift, it was a non-starter. It was also Kyle Gersman’s first warehouse move.
“I reached out to four companies. At the end of the day, it came down to responsiveness and helpfulness. I didn’t know anything about permitting, layout, or installation. We hadn’t had a forklift before. So they were super helpful and answered a lot of the questions I had going into the moving process.” – Kyle Gersman, Logistics + Impact Manager, Minimal Gear
Designing the Layout and Sourcing the Right Racking
Speedrack West designed a floor plan that maximized rack density while maintaining forklift aisle clearance. The layout was shared with Kyle as a mockup and adjusted to align with his team’s workflow. A step that surfaced considerations he hadn’t thought to raise.
To fit the project budget, Speedrack West sourced used pallet rack upright frames, beams, and wire mesh decking. Quality sufficient for the load. Cost that worked for a growing small business. Permitting was handled entirely by Speedrack West, removing the “permit barrage” (Kyle’s words) from Kyle’s plate during an already complex move.
“Speedrack was by far the most responsive – very quick to answer my questions and give me quotes, and also quick to point out what questions I wasn’t asking that I should be asking.” – Kyle Gersman
-
2 WEEKS
QUOTE TO INSTALL
-
ZERO
DOWNTIME DURING INSTALL
-
100%
PERMIT COMPLIANT
Installation, Anchoring, and Outcomes
All racks – new and existing – were anchored to meet Portland’s seismic requirements. Installation crews communicated their schedule in advance so Minimal Gear could flex operations around the noise and concrete drilling. The warehouse stayed operational throughout the entire two-week process.
The new layout gave Minimal Gear what they needed to grow: pallet-scale storage for Through Bottle inventory, dedicated hand-assembly space, and a reanalyzed shipping and receiving area built for a bigger team. Minimal Gear returned for a second, larger racking order in February 2026.
“Bill at Speedrack was the fastest, the most responsive, and the most helpful of all the different contractors that I worked with. It was a nice relief.” – Kyle Gersman
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The Main Problems that Speedrack West had Solved
- ELIMINATED
Uncertainty about permitting, layout, and installation for a first-time warehouse move.
- SAVED
Time and money by working with what already existed — relocating and extending the current system rather than replacing it.
- PROVIDED
Full services – layout design, rack relocation, component supply, and installation.
- DELIVERED
A compliant, organized facility ready for a product launch and a doubled team.
- CREATED
A future-ready layout with room for new product lines and a growing team.
I called Bill multiple times a day and he always picked up and was always very helpful. What I really liked is that they pointed out a lot of questions and processes that I didn't even have on my radar going into the move. It helped me expand the scope to an appropriate size of what I needed to consider as we made the transition to a bigger facility.
Logistics + Impact Manager at Minimal Gear
Irving Nieves says: “It's been an easy process working with the Speedrack West team, even with the changes partway through.”
Scott Misso says: “Everything works as expected. Designed as it should be. Good job!”
Robert Baumgartner says: “Despite picking up this project in the middle of its lifecycle, the transition was flawless thanks to the team’s stellar communication. They exceeded our expectations by delivering the installation earlier than anticipated and hitting every technical requirement. From the sales team’s quick answers to their willingness to make adjustments, the experience was top-tier.”
Consolidated Supply says: “We’re very happy to be your regular client, and it’s always so easy to work with your team”
Lumber Company says: “Working with Speedrack West team has been a real pleasure. They made the whole process smooth and straightforward, and we’re 100% planning to come back again—which we actually just did recently.”
Derek Patterson says: “I would suggest that there should be no hesitation…from placing an order to getting everything delivered in such a timely manner. I had racking within 7 days compared to 4 to 6 weeks elsewhere. The customer service level is fabulous.”
Levi Littrell says: “It’s a very expensive product no matter who you go with. Speedrack West will actually walk you through the steps and give you pricing options. Definitely, you do your research, but most likely you’re going to come back to Speedrack West.”
The Brands Behind the Racks
