Storing high-purity 316L stainless steel tubes on the floor is a fast way to kill your profit margin. When a forklift fork scrapes a polished pharmaceutical-grade pipe, that material becomes scrap. Stop the "digging," eliminate secondary handling damage, and switch to a system designed for overhead crane access.
The Hidden Cost of "Digging" for Steel Service Centers
If you are running a metal supply operation or a fabrication shop specializing in high-value alloys (like GHWA), you know the nightmare of the "bottom bundle." Your customer orders a specific heat number of 20-foot seamless stainless tubing, but it is buried under three tons of carbon steel bar stock.
In a traditional static cantilever setup or floor stack, your operator has to perform **secondary handling**. They move the top bundles, risk dropping them, retrieve the target bundle, and then restack. This process takes 15 to 25 minutes per pick. More importantly, every time a forklift tine slides between those bundles, you risk scratching the surface finish (Ra) of your inventory. For industries like dairy, pharma, and semiconductors, a surface scratch means rejection.
The Mechanics of 100% Extension
The solution lies in changing *how* you access the material. A
Telescopic Cantilever Rack works like a heavy-duty industrial drawer system. Instead of fixed arms, the levels are mounted on rolling bearings and a gear-crank mechanism.
With a
crank out cantilever rack, an operator can rotate a handle (or push a button on electric models) to extend the entire arm assembly 100% out into the aisle. This completely exposes the stored material.
**Key capabilities for heavy industry:**
* **Capacity:** Up to 11,000 Lbs (5 Tons) *per drawer level*.
* **Length:** Standard 20-foot to 24-foot carriages to accommodate mill-length materials without overhang or sagging.
* **Operation:** Even fully loaded with solid bar stock, the gear reduction allows a single person to crank the drawer out with minimal effort.
Overhead Crane Access: The Safety Revolution
The primary reason steel service centers switch to this system is to utilize their **overhead bridge cranes** (EOT cranes).
Forklifts are notorious for being the "bull in a china shop" when handling 20-foot long loads in narrow aisles. They require wide turning radiuses (often 12-15 feet) and offer poor visibility for the driver. By using
overhead crane accessible racking, you change the retrieval method entirely:
1. **Extend:** The drawer rolls out.
2. **Lift:** The crane operator lowers nylon slings directly over the specific bundle needed.
3. **Retrieve:** The load is lifted vertically, straight up.
There is no dragging, no pushing, and zero steel-on-steel friction. For polished stainless tubes or delicate aluminum profiles, this "no-touch" handling is the only way to guarantee quality control.
Transforming Floor Space into Production Value
Space is a liability when it is used for aisles; it is an asset when used for production. Traditional racking requires massive forklift aisles (15+ feet). By switching to a telescopic system served by a crane, you can reduce aisle width significantly, often reclaiming up to 50% of your floor space.
For a busy fabrication shop, that reclaimed footage isn't just empty space—it's room for another laser cutter, a new band saw, or a CNC machining center. You are essentially expanding your factory without pouring a single cubic foot of new concrete.
Furthermore, safety is built into the foundation. These are not lightweight retail shelves. As seen below, the installation involves heavy-duty anchoring into your concrete slab to handle the massive moment forces when 10,000 lbs of steel are extended away from the center of gravity.
Frequently Asked Questions: Metal Storage Solutions
Q1: We store polished pharmaceutical tubes. Can the racks be lined to prevent contact damage?
Yes. We can outfit the cantilever arms with UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) liners or other non-marring materials. This ensures your polished stainless steel rests on a soft surface, not bare structural steel.
Q2: My bundles weigh around 8,000 lbs. Is manual cranking difficult at that weight?
No. The roll-out cantilever system uses a high-ratio gear reduction and industrial bearings. An operator can crank out a fully loaded 5-ton drawer with roughly 30-40 lbs of handle force. For high-frequency operations, electric drive options are also available.
Q3: Does this system completely eliminate the need for forklifts?
For the specific zone where the rack is installed, yes. You will use your overhead crane for all picks and replenishment. This separates pedestrian traffic from forklift traffic, significantly lowering the risk of accidents in the tube storage area.
Q4: Can we store mixed lengths (e.g., 10ft and 20ft bars) on the same level?
Yes, provided the material is supported correctly. We typically install 3 to 5 upright columns depending on the deflection properties of your material. For very flexible items like small diameter tubing or plastic, we can add intermediate supports or steel decking to create a solid shelf.
Q5: What are the concrete floor requirements for installation?
Because the center of gravity shifts when heavy drawers are extended, the floor must be industrial-grade reinforced concrete, typically 6 inches thick or more, with a rating of at least 3,000 PSI. Our engineering team provides specific load calculations to verify your slab suitability before installation.
