An interview with Dan O’Sullivan of Titan Self Storage

Titan Self Storage explains how our insulated USC containers are being used to improve and expand their facilities. Dan O’Sullivan, head of operations at Titan, explains why these containers are an essential part of their plans and how sustainability is central to them.

Dan O’Sullivan and Titan Self Storage

We spoke with Dan O’Sullivan, head of operations at Titan Self Storage. Titan Self Storage began in 2012 in Littehampton and now has nine facilities across the United Kingdom. Two existing self-storage facilities were recently acquired, in Bridgend and Telford. Titan purchased our containers for their new location in Bridgend.

Innovation deployment of USC containers

At the Bridgend facility, where Titan Self Storage deployed USC containers, the building consisted of a newer section with the reception area and an older, single-story section at the rear. Titan saw an opportunity during the acquisition to upgrade this older section with additional floors and amenities such as mezzanine floors and elevators, which required demolition of the existing building.

To continue serving customers flexibly during the renovation without disruption, Titan chose to deploy USC containers on an unused piece of land behind the facility. For this temporary solution, the insulated USC containers were a deliberate choice. “Our current units are climate controlled internally and equipped with individual alarms, and we wanted to replicate that as much as possible with external units,” says Dan. “USC’s insulation was critical to us in making that final decision.”

Future of outdoor storage

Outdoor storage is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, especially if it becomes possible to replicate the internal model with full insulation and anti-humidity damping. USC is already well advanced in this area and may even be fully prepared. This makes their containers an attractive option that will be increasingly used. A USC container costs many times less per square than a purpose-built space, which means the initial investment is significantly lower. This makes getting started with these containers a lot more accessible. Interest in this type of storage is expected to increase, especially if it remains possible to realize the same price per square foot from customers.

Sustainability within Titan Self Storage

Sustainability is playing an increasing role within Titan Self Storage, both in current operations and in future expansion plans. At recently acquired sites, such as Bridgend, sustainability is one of the key drivers behind investment projects. “Sustainability is high on our agenda right now,” says Dan. “At Bridgend, where we are demolishing and rebuilding the second building, we are doing that in part to make the property more sustainable.” Titan is considering installing solar panels after the rebuild and has already implemented several smaller initiatives, such as installing recycling bins and switching to fully recyclable materials for packaging. Even the pens they use are now made of 100 percent recycled materials. These efforts show how Titan is committed to not only improving their services, but doing so in a responsible and environmentally friendly way.