August-September 2014 | BusinessWorld | 195
physical infrastructures – to benefit the
client.”
Inland Star is bullish on collaborating with
subject-matter experts. According to
Kelton, “for more than 25 years, we have
partnered with Tony Ordile of Haines Fire
and Risk Consulting Corporation as our
wingman in keeping our solutions
compliant and our clients safe with current
fire suppression systems tailored to the
products being stored and handled. It's not
every day you can partner with an expert
that chaired for 15 years the NFPA
Technical 30 Committee on Combustible
andFlammable Liquids.”
Additionally, the company – which
operates wi th an Employee Stock
Ownership Plan structure – is considering
augmenting i ts packaged chemica l
warehousing services with a bulk solution
enabling transfer of bulk product arriving
by rail or truck into various packaging types
like pails, drums or totes. At least two
prospective clients have inquired about the
bulk enhancement,O'Donnell said.
“The next evolution for us will be to extend
our solution sets,” he said. “We have the
infrastructure and the knowledge on the
compliance end. It's something that's being
entertained aswe speak.”
Should the company take the leap into bulk,
initial signs point to a lucrative outcome.
“It could be significant, depending on
location,” O'Donnell said. “We haven't
really teased out the scope of the market,
but because transporting in bulk can be
more cost-effective than moving packaged
goods, it seems to be a logical progression
for us to invest in required infrastructure in
support of the chemical industry.”
