For a high-purity stainless steel manufacturer, a scratch on a polished tube isn't just a defect—it's scrap. Traditional floor stacking and forklift handling are destroying your surface finishes (Ra) and strangling your saw cutting throughput. It is time to switch to a storage system that respects the value of your inventory. Eliminate side-shifting damage and access any bundle in 3 minutes with overhead cranes.
If you are managing a Steel Service Center or manufacturing sanitary components, you know the reality of handling high purity stainless steel tubes. You adhere to ASME BPE standards, you ensure surface roughness is down to 20 µin or 10 µin Ra, and then... you stack them on the floor.
The moment a forklift operator attempts to pull a specific bundle of 316L tubes from the bottom of a stack, you incur costs. The "secondary handling"—moving the top three bundles to get to the bottom one—is not just a waste of labor hours; it is a risk event. Every movement creates friction. Metal-on-metal contact leads to scratches, gouges, and contamination that renders pharmaceutical-grade tubing unsellable. Furthermore, your expensive laser tube cutters and band saws sit idle, waiting 20 minutes for the raw material to be dug out.
Figure 1: Single-sided roll-out cantilever rack optimizing vertical space for heavy tube inventory.
The solution to preserving surface finish while maximizing density is the Telescopic Cantilever Rack. Unlike static racks that force you to use forklifts in narrow aisles, this system transforms your storage into a dynamic drawer system.
Each level of the rack features a crank mechanism (or electric drive) that allows the cantilever arm to extend 100% out of the rack structure. This seemingly simple mechanical shift completely changes your material handling workflow:
Figure 2: Electric telescopic cantilever rack allows operators to expose specific inventory layers via remote control.
Sanitary fittings, clamps, and valve bodies start as heavy solid bar stock. Standard racking often sags or fails under this point-load density. Our crank out cantilever rack is engineered with Heavy-duty steel structural components to handle these extreme loads.
We are not talking about light-gauge cold-formed steel. We utilize robust H-beams and thick-wall rectangular tubes to ensure that even when fully extended with 11,000 lbs (5000kg) of stainless steel bars, the arm deflection is negligible. This rigidity is critical for maintaining safety when your staff is operating near the rack.
Figure 3: Installation of the heavy-duty base ensures stability for safe storage of heavy pipes and tubes.
| Feature | Specification | Benefit for Steel Processors |
|---|---|---|
| Load Capacity | Up to 11,000 lbs (5000 kg) per arm level | Store dense bundles of solid bar stock without structural sag. |
| Extension | 100% Full Crank-Out | Complete vertical access for overhead crane accessible racking. |
| Material Length | 20ft to 40ft (6m to 12m) | Accommodates standard mill lengths of tube and pipe. |
| Operation Mode | Manual Crank or Electric Motor | Manual for cost-efficiency; Electric for high-frequency picking. |
| Accessories | Dividers & UHMW Liners | Orange dividers prevent mixed SKUs; Plastic liners protect tube surface finish. |
In a high-mix, low-volume environment typical of OEM component manufacturing, finding the right OD (Outside Diameter) and wall thickness quickly is paramount. Using overhead crane accessible racking allows you to organize inventory by grade and size vertically.
By adding dividers to the cantilever arms, you can separate 304L from 316L, or schedule 10 from schedule 40 pipes on the same level. This eliminates picking errors and ensures your saw operator pulls the exact material specified for the production run, maintaining the integrity of your heat numbers and traceability.
Figure 4: Orange dividers on the telescopic cantilever rack ensure precise separation of different tube specifications.
Q1: Can we use our existing vacuum lifters with this rack?
Yes. Because the drawers extend 100% out of the structure, there is no overhead obstruction. You can easily use vacuum lifters, magnetic lifters, or nylon slings to pick up polished sheets or tubes without damaging the surface.
Q2: We store 24-foot stainless steel tubing. How many columns do we need?
For 24-foot (approx. 7.3 meters) flexible tubing, we typically recommend a 4 or 5-column setup. This reduces the distance between support arms, preventing the tubes from sagging or bending, which is critical for maintaining straightness for laser feeders.
Q3: Is the electric version necessary for a steel service center?
If you are performing more than 15 picks per hour, we recommend the electric roll-out cantilever. It reduces operator fatigue and speeds up the cycle time. For lower frequency storage (e.g., bulk stock for weekly replenishment), the manual crank version is highly efficient and cost-effective.
Q4: How does this system handle "short ends" or off-cuts?
We can integrate steel baskets or trays onto the cantilever arms. This allows you to store off-cuts and short bars safely within the same high-density system, keeping your floor clear of clutter.
Q5: Does the rack require a special foundation?
Due to the high density and the moment forces generated when heavy loads are extended, a reinforced concrete floor is usually required. We provide specific point load data so your structural engineer can verify that your current slab thickness (usually 6-8 inches) is sufficient.
