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How SWD Urethane Simplified its Southeast Chemical Distribution and Grew 116%

Customer Snapshot

SWD Urethane is a leading manufacturer of spray foam and polyurethane systems, headquartered in Arizona. With a growing customer base across the country, the company needed a logistics partner who could help them expand reliably into the Southeast market.

Each year, SWD moves between 36,000 and 40,000 drums of product. These shipments are not only large in volume but also require specialized handling. The chemicals must be stored, inspected, and distributed in strict compliance with hazmat regulations. That combination of scale and complexity meant SWD needed a partner with proven chemical logistics expertise.

Warehouse Basics stepped in to provide hazmat warehousing, regional distribution, and value-added services such as QA inspection and relabeling — all under one roof.

The Challenge

As demand for spray foam systems continued to rise in the Southeast, SWD realized their existing logistics setup was holding them back. The company was relying on fragmented providers to manage warehousing and distribution.

This patchwork of vendors created serious challenges:

  • Compliance risk from inconsistent intake processes
  • Limited visibility into inventory and order status
  • Delays caused by multiple vendor handoffs
  • Frustrated teams and at-risk customer deliveries

These gaps became clear when customers experienced delays or uncertainty about their orders. Internally, the SWD team felt the strain. They wanted to expand confidently in the Southeast, but instead, they were spending valuable time troubleshooting logistics issues. Every delay threatened growth in one of their most important markets.

Why Warehouse Basics

SWD Urethane began searching for a partner who could consolidate their Southeast logistics into one program. They needed a 3PL who not only had capacity but also understood the complexities of handling chemical drums safely and compliantly.

Warehouse Basics quickly emerged as the best fit. With a facility near Atlanta, WB offered the right combination of location, expertise, and scale.

Key decision factors included:

  • Hazmat compliance for Classes 2.2, 8, and 9
  • Reliable pallet storage with ambient and limited climate options
  • Real-time inventory visibility through the Extensiv WMS
  • A proven track record of 27+ years in chemical logistics, with live, responsive support

For SWD, Warehouse Basics wasn’t just another vendor. They were a partner who could unify Southeast operations under one roof, eliminate inefficiencies, and make growth possible.

The Solution

Warehouse Basics worked with SWD to design a logistics program tailored to their Southeast needs. At the core was hazmat warehousing and distribution for palletized drums, supported by strict compliance standards and seamless reporting.

SWD’s personalized logistics program included:

The program was built to remove complexity and reduce handoffs, giving SWD a single point of control for all their Southeast logistics needs.

Results & Outcomes

The impact of the new partnership was immediate and measurable. By consolidating with Warehouse Basics, SWD simplified operations and gained confidence that compliance and customer service were no longer at risk.

Operational gains:

  • Faster, more reliable order fulfillment
  • Reduced compliance risk with certified processes
  • Simpler logistics management with one trusted partner

Business impact:

  • 18,000 drums handled in 2023
  • 39,000 drums handled in 2024
  • 116% increase in throughput year over year

For SWD, it was less about numbers and more about knowing their logistics partner could scale with them, handle tens of thousands of drums safely, and deliver the level of service their customers expected. Warehouse Basics gave them the peace of mind to focus on expanding their business, confident that logistics wouldn’t slow them down.

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