Stop sacrificing your high-value stainless steel tubes to forklift damage. In the hygienic processing industry, a scratch on a 20µin Ra surface isn't just a defect; it's a scrapped shipment. Traditional static racks force you into dangerous "pick-and-pry" maneuvers with forklifts, risking contamination and dents on every bundle. Shift to a system that respects the integrity of your ASME BPE standard materials.
For manufacturers and distributors of high-purity stainless steel components—serving the dairy, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries—inventory isn't just metal; it's precision-engineered value. When you store polished 316L tubes or bundles of raw bar stock for ferrule production on standard static cantilevers, you are inviting inefficiency and damage.
The core problem lies in the retrieval method. Standard racks dictate the use of forklifts. When you need a specific heat number or a bundle of Schedule 10 pipe located in the middle or bottom of a rack, the forklift operator often has to shuffle the outer bundles. In the industry, we call this "secondary handling." Every time a set of forks slides under a bundle of polished tubes, you risk metal-on-metal contact, surface gouging, and carbon steel contamination if the forks aren't protected.
The Telescopic Cantilever Rack (often called roll-out or crank-out racking) changes the logistics paradigm from "horizontal digging" to "vertical picking." Unlike static systems, every level of this rack functions like a drawer, extending 100% out into the aisle.
This design feature unlocks the use of overhead cranes (bridge cranes) for all loading and unloading tasks. By using a crane with soft nylon slings or vacuum lifters, you eliminate the steel forks entirely. The operator simply cranks the drawer out, lowers the crane hook directly over the specific bundle of stainless tubes, and lifts it straight up. There is no dragging, no friction, and zero risk of the load tipping over during extraction.
In a typical stainless service center, floor space is premium real estate needed for saws, laser cutters, and polishing machines. Standard racks require massive aisles—often 12 to 14 feet wide—to accommodate the turning radius of a heavy-duty forklift carrying 20-foot tube bundles.
Because our roll-out cantilever system utilizes overhead cranes, the aisle width can be drastically reduced. You only need enough space for the operator to walk and the drawer to extend. This often results in reclaiming 50% of your floor space, allowing you to add more processing equipment like tube lasers or orbital welders without expanding your building footprint.
Storing solid stainless steel bar stock is significantly heavier than storing hollow tubing. Our systems are built using high-tensile structural steel, not light-gauge cold-formed roll. This ensures that even when a drawer loaded with 6,000 lbs of solid round bar is fully extended, there is negligible deflection.
We offer two primary drive mechanisms suited for different throughput levels:
| Feature | Specification Range |
|---|---|
| Material Compatibility | Stainless Steel (304, 316L), Aluminum Profiles, Solid Bar Stock |
| Drawer Extension | 100% Full Extension |
| Load Capacity Per Arm | Up to 6,600 lbs (customizable for heavy solid bars) |
| Rack Height | Typically 10' to 16' (optimized for crane clearance) |
| Loading Method | overhead crane accessible racking (Primary), Forklift (Secondary) |
| Surface Protection | Optional UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) liners on arms to prevent carbon contamination. |
Because the center of gravity shifts when heavy stainless bundles are rolled out, proper installation is non-negotiable. The system utilizes heavy-duty H-beam bases that must be chemically anchored to a reinforced concrete slab. This ensures stability even when multiple levels are loaded with heavy wall pipes.
1. Can this system prevent "carbon contamination" on my stainless steel inventory?
Yes. Unlike standard painted racks where the paint might chip, exposing carbon steel, we can equip the arms of the Telescopic Cantilever Rack with UHMW plastic liners. This ensures your stainless tubes never touch the carbon steel structure, maintaining their passive layer integrity.
2. We have 20-foot random lengths. How many columns do we need?
For 20-foot (240 inches) flexible tubing, we typically recommend a 4-column or 5-column setup. This reduces the distance between support arms, preventing the tubes from sagging or bowing, which is critical for maintaining straightness for auto-feed CNC saws.
3. My overhead crane has a limited hook height. Will this rack fit?
Absolutely. This is a common constraint in older fabrication shops. Because the drawers roll out, you don't need the extra vertical clearance ("lift-off space") that a forklift needs to tilt and lift a load out of a static rack. You only need inches of clearance above the top bundle, maximizing your vertical density.
4. Can we store short lengths and fittings on the same rack?
Yes. We can install solid steel decks or wire mesh grating on specific drawer levels. This creates a flat surface perfect for storing shorter cut-offs, boxes of fittings (elbows, tees), or valve components alongside your long goods.
5. Is the cranking mechanism hard to operate with a full load of solid bars?
No. The system uses a high-ratio gear reduction mechanism and industrial-grade bearings. An operator can easily crank out a drawer loaded with 5,000+ lbs of solid bar stock with just one hand. It is designed for ergonomic ease, reducing strain and injury risk.
