Stop calculating the cost of steel storage based on "metal per pound" and start calculating the cost of scratched inventory and saw downtime. For high-purity stainless steel distributors and precision fabrication shops, the Telescopic Cantilever Rack isn't just shelving—it is a direct feed system for your laser cutters and band saws that eliminates the risk of fork damage to sensitive surfaces.
The Real Cost: Why "Price Per Arm" is the Wrong Metric for High-Finish Tubing
In the world of high-value metal distribution—specifically for industries supplying hygienic stainless steel components, valves, and pharmaceutical-grade tubing—the "price per arm" of a storage rack is a deceptive figure. A standard static cantilever arm might cost less upfront, but it forces your operators to use forklifts in narrow aisles to retrieve 20-foot lengths of polished tubing.
The moment a forklift tine scrapes against a bundle of 316L stainless steel tubes with a specific Ra surface finish, that entire length becomes scrap. Or worse, it gets downgraded to standard stock, bleeding your profit margins.
The
roll-out cantilever system changes the pricing model from "cost of steel" to "value of protection." By allowing the arms to extend 100% out of the rack structure, we enable **overhead crane access**. This means you pick the load vertically using soft nylon slings, completely eliminating the metal-on-metal contact inherent in forklift retrieval.
Figure 1: Safe storage of heavy pipes and tubes with individual drawer access.
Engineering for the "One-Pick" Workflow
In a typical Service Center environment, efficiency is killed by "digging." If you need a specific bundle of bar stock that is buried under three other bundles on a static rack, your operator spends 20 minutes moving material just to get to the product you need to ship. This "secondary handling" is where accidents happen and labor dollars are burned.
Our
crank out cantilever rack is designed to facilitate a "One-Pick" workflow.
1. **Identify:** Locate the specific SKU (e.g., 2" OD Stainless Tube).
2. **Crank:** Rotate the handle (or push the button on electric models) to roll the entire level out into the aisle.
3. **Lift:** Drop the crane hook, strap the bundle, and move it directly to the saw feed table.
There is no restacking. There is no dragging material over other material.
Figure 2: The gear reduction system allows a single operator to move tons of material with minimal effort.
Technical Specs: Built for Heavy-Duty Steel
Unlike light-duty shelves used for aluminum trim, storing solid bar stock and thick-wall pipe requires structural rigidity. Our systems are manufactured using
Heavy-duty steel profiles to prevent deflection that could permanently bend your inventory.
When evaluating the price, consider these standard heavy-duty specifications:
| Feature |
Specification Range |
Benefit for Steel Centers |
| Arm Capacity |
1,000 lbs to 6,600 lbs per arm |
Supports dense bundles of solid bar stock without sagging. |
| Arm Length |
24 inches to 60 inches |
Accommodates wide sheet bundles or multiple rows of narrow tubing. |
| Extension |
100% Full Extension |
Complete vertical clearance for overhead crane accessible racking. |
| Rack Height |
Up to 15+ feet |
Maximizes vertical cube utilization in high-ceiling warehouses. |
We also offer customization for high-mix inventory. For example, if you stock various diameters of hydraulic tubing or hygienic fittings, we can install adjustable dividers.
Figure 3: Adjustable dividers (shown in orange) allow for organized sorting of different SKUs on a single arm level.
Safety and Floor Space: The Hidden ROI
For a
Metal fabrication shop, floor space is production capacity. Traditional static racks require massive 12-to-15-foot aisles for forklifts to maneuver long loads. By switching to a telescopic system serviced by an overhead crane, you can reduce your aisle width significantly, potentially recovering 40-50% of your floor space. This space can be repurposed for an additional laser cutter or CNC machining center.
Furthermore, stability is non-negotiable. When fully loaded with 20-foot steel bundles, the dynamic forces of rolling out a drawer are significant. Our installation process involves deep anchoring into the concrete slab to ensure the system handles the cantilevered load safely.
Figure 4: Secure anchoring is critical. Here, a technician installs heavy-duty expansion bolts to ensure structural integrity.
Automation Options for High-Volume Centers
For facilities moving hundreds of tons of
Pipe and tube storage daily, manual cranking might still be too slow. We offer fully motorized versions where the operator uses a remote control. This allows the operator to stay safely away from the load while positioning the arms for the crane pick.
Figure 5: Electric drive systems increase cycle speed and improve ergonomics for high-throughput operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can this rack system prevent surface damage to polished stainless steel tubes (Ra finish)?
Yes. This is the primary advantage over static racking. Because the arms extend fully, you can use an overhead crane with nylon slings to lift bundles straight up. This eliminates the scraping and "clanging" caused by sliding forklift tines into a rack, preserving your critical surface finishes.
2. What are the floor requirements for installing these heavy-duty racks?
Since the load is dynamic (shifting center of gravity), we generally require a reinforced concrete floor with a minimum thickness of 6 to 8 inches and a specific PSI rating. Our engineering team will review your facility's slab specs before installation to ensure safe anchoring.
3. We store mixed lengths of off-cuts and full 20ft bars. Can this rack handle both?
Absolutely. We can design the rack with closer arm spacing or add steel decking/mesh to specific levels. This creates a solid shelf for shorter off-cuts or irregular parts, while the main arms support the full-length bundles.
4. Is the extension mechanism prone to jamming with heavy debris or metal shavings?
Our systems use sealed industrial bearings and protected gear tracks designed for harsh metalworking environments. While basic housekeeping is required, the mechanism is built to resist the dust and grit typical of a saw shop or steel service center.
5. How does the price compare to standard static cantilever racking?
The initial hardware cost per arm is higher due to the moving mechanical parts. However, the ROI is typically realized within 12-18 months through three factors: zero damage to high-value inventory, a 50% reduction in retrieval time (labor savings), and reclaimed floor space that delays the need for facility expansion.
