Tech-Fast Self Storage founders Dave Cook and Mark Duncan announced today that they have sold the Tacoma, Washington company to Trachte Building Systems, Inc.
Tech-Fast,which was founded in 1989, designs and builds customized low- to mid-rise, pre-engineered self-storage buildings. The company's philosophy is to make self-storage properties "easy to plan, simple to build and profitable to operate." Tech-Fast advises its clients from the very beginning of a project, including finding a location, acquiring property, performing a feasibility study, obtaining city/county permits, and constructing the facility. Trachte, which is headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, runs a very similar business. It designs and produces customized, pre-engineered steel self-storage systems. Trachte makes single- and multi-story systems, portable storage, interior partitions and corridors, and boat/RV canopies. Trachte was founded in 1901, by two brothers (George and Arthur Trachte) who had become tinsmith apprentices, learned the trade, and then went into business for themselves.
Self-storage professionals may also remember Tech-Fast for the seminar that it hosts for the self-storage industry: "Current Issues for the Development of Self-Storage Facilities." At the seminar, participants can get advice about how to select the most effect site for a particular market, how to estimate market feasibility, how to estimate cash-flow requirements and project operating income, and how to manage and market a self-storage facility.
Cook says he is certain that Trachte will be able to meet the needs of Tech-Fast's customers using Tech-Fast's brand, plans, and designs. "I'm pleased that we were able to put together this arrangement with Trachte to continue to serve our customers," he said. "I'm confident they will be in good hands with the crew at Trachte."
Trachte's national sales manager, Jamie Landau, was also excited about the acquisition. "Tech-Fast has a history of offering their customers not only basic single-story buildings, but also a very impressive portfolio of attractive multi-story projects," he commented. "The acquisition of Tech-Fast will serve to further expand Trachte's already extensive product portfolio while increasing market penetration in the Western United States and Canada. This acquisition is an important step in implementing Trachte's long-term strategic growth plan of product, capabilities and market expansions."