Stop sacrificing your polished stainless steel inventory to forklift scratches and floor stacking damage. For metal service centers processing high-purity tubes and fittings, every square inch of floor space and every minute of crane time impacts your margins. Our Telescopic Cantilever Rack systems eliminate wide forklift aisles, protect critical surface finishes (Ra), and allow 100% overhead crane access for safe, single-operator handling.
If you are managing a facility similar to GHWA, dealing with high-purity stainless steel components, tubes, and bars, you know that "storage" is actually a dynamic part of your production line. The traditional method of floor stacking or using static cantilever racks creates a bottleneck that bleeds efficiency.
In a typical stainless processing environment, we see three major profit leaks:
Figure 1: Transitioning from floor stacking to vertical, crane-accessible storage recovers up to 50% of floor space.
The solution lies in changing the retrieval method. Our Roll Out Cantilever rack system is engineered specifically for facilities that utilize overhead cranes (EOT cranes) as their primary material handling method.
Unlike static racks, every level of our system functions like a heavy-duty drawer. The arms extend 100% out into the aisle. This allows your overhead crane to drop nylon slings directly onto the material bundle vertically. There is no dragging, no pushing, and no forklift tine contact. This is the only way to guarantee the integrity of polished or sanitary stainless steel surfaces during handling.
Figure 2: Full extension capability ensures zero-obstruction vertical lifting, essential for protecting delicate tube surfaces.
By eliminating the need for forklift maneuvering lanes, you can condense your storage footprint significantly. For a facility housing long stock like 20ft (6m) tubing or aluminum profiles, switching to a crank out cantilever rack allows you to reclaim approximately 50% of your floor space. This recovered area can be repurposed for additional cutting stations, increasing your overall plant throughput without expanding the building.
| Metric | Static Racking (Forklift) | Telescopic Racking (Crane) |
|---|---|---|
| Aisle Width Required | 12ft - 15ft (3.5m - 4.5m) | Only operator walking space needed |
| Retrieval Time | 15-20 mins (Digging/Shuffling) | 2-4 mins (Direct Pick) |
| Surface Damage Risk | High (Lateral friction/Impact) | Near Zero (Vertical Lift) |
| Picking Method | Last-In, First-Out (FILO) issues | Selective Access to any level |
Safety in a metal service center isn't just about avoiding catastrophic failure; it's about reducing daily strain. Whether you choose our manual crank out cantilever rack or the electric version, the system is designed to move tons of steel with minimal effort.
The transmission mechanism uses high-grade bearings and gears, allowing a single operator to extend a level loaded with 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) of bar stock using just a hand crank. This keeps your operators out of the "danger zone" inside the racks and eliminates the physical strain of manual prying or adjusting heavy bundles.
Figure 3: The geared crank mechanism allows smooth, single-handed operation even under full load.
For industries adhering to standards like ASME BPE, traceability is non-negotiable. Our racks can be fitted with dividers to segregate different material grades (e.g., separating 304L from 316L) or specific customer orders. This visual organization prevents cross-contamination and picking errors, ensuring the right alloy reaches the right machine every time.
Figure 4: Adjustable dividers allow for precise separation of different SKUs and heat numbers.
Q1: We store polished stainless steel tubes. Can your racks prevent surface scratching?
A: Yes. The primary protection is the method: using overhead cranes with nylon slings prevents metal-on-metal contact. Additionally, we can equip the cantilever arms with UHMW plastic liners or rubber strips to provide a soft resting surface for your high-purity materials.
Q2: What is the maximum length of material we can store?
A: Our systems are modular. We frequently design racks for standard 20ft (6m) tube bundles, but by adding vertical columns, we can accommodate materials of 40ft (12m) or longer. The system is customized to your specific inventory profile.
Q3: Does this system require special flooring?
A: Due to the high density of weight (often replacing spread-out stacks with a consolidated footprint), a standard reinforced concrete industrial floor is usually sufficient (typically 6-8 inches). However, we provide point load data for your structural engineer to verify before installation.
Q4: Can we mix different material types on one rack?
A: Absolutely. With adjustable arm heights and dividers, you can store heavy solid bars on lower levels and lighter structural profiles or tubing on upper levels. This is ideal for job shops with high-mix, low-volume inventory.
Q5: How does this compare to a honeycomb storage system?
A: Honeycomb systems are excellent for density but can be slow to load/unload and expensive to maintain. Our overhead crane accessible racking offers a better balance of density and accessibility, often at a lower capital investment and with faster visual inventory checks.
