Stop sacrificing your sanitary finish ratings (Ra) to clumsy forklift handling. Whether you are stocking 20-foot polished stainless tubes or heavy bar stock, the choice between Single Sided and Double Sided Telescopic Cantilever Rack systems defines your facility's flow. Reclaim 50% of your floor space and eliminate the "digging" that damages your high-value inventory.
For Steel Service Centers and manufacturers dealing with ASME BPE certified tubing or high-purity stainless components, storage isn't just about holding weight; it's about preserving value. Standard static racking forces you to use forklifts in narrow aisles, increasing the risk of scratching electropolished surfaces or contaminating hygienic fittings.
The solution lies in Roll Out technology—racks where arms extend 100% like a drawer, allowing for overhead crane access. But when configuring your layout, do you hug the walls with Single Sided units or create high-density islands with Double Sided systems? Here is the operational breakdown.
The Single Sided roll-out cantilever is engineered for perimeter optimization. In many fabrication shops, the floor center is dominated by laser cutters, saws, or CNC stations. The Single Sided unit is designed to be anchored against a wall, turning "dead space" into a high-capacity storage zone.
Figure 1: Single Sided configuration ideal for maximizing wall space and clearing forklift lanes.
If your goal is to condense a sprawling warehouse into a compact footprint, the Double Sided crank out cantilever rack is the superior choice. By sharing a central column structure (Heavy-duty I-Beam or Structural Steel), this configuration effectively doubles your storage capacity without doubling the structural cost.
Figure 2: Double Sided units act as central storage islands, accessible from both aisles.
In a traditional setup, you need an aisle for every rack face. With Double Sided roll-out racks, you create centralized "islands." Because the arms extend outward (crank or electric drive), you don't need a wide turning radius for a forklift. You simply extend the drawer and pick the heavy pipes and tubes vertically with a hoist.
Whether Single or Double sided, the primary ROI comes from switching your retrieval method. For high-purity tubes, contact with steel forks is a quality hazard. By allowing 100% extension, our racks enable overhead crane accessible racking. You can use nylon slings or vacuum lifters to pick specific bundles without "shuffling" or sliding materials against each other.
Figure 3: 100% drawer extension allows for vertical picking via crane, preventing surface damage.
| Feature | Single Sided | Double Sided |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint Efficiency | High (Utilizes perimeter walls) | Maximum (Centralized density) |
| Typical Installation | Anchored to floor, positioned against building structure | Anchored to floor, positioned as freestanding island |
| Access Requirements | Access needed from one side (Front) | Access needed from two parallel aisles |
| Stability | Requires heavy-duty floor anchoring for offset load | Inherently balanced structure (though floor anchoring still required) |
| Ideal For | Feed stock near machines, smaller inventories, wall usage | Central distribution hubs, massive bulk storage |
Because these systems condense massive tonnage (often 6,000+ lbs per level) into a small footprint, the floor load is significant. While Double Sided units are naturally more balanced, Single Sided units rely heavily on the tensile strength of the rear anchors to prevent tipping when drawers are fully extended.
Proper installation requires industrial-grade concrete drilling and chemical or mechanical expansion bolts. We ensure your facility meets the PSI requirements before a single column is erected.
Figure 4: Secure anchoring is critical, especially for single-sided units carrying heavy eccentric loads.
Whether you choose the manual crank or the electric drive model, the goal is to stop operators from leaning into racks. With the electric roll-out cantilever, a remote control allows the operator to stand at a safe distance while the rack opens, providing a clear line of sight for the crane operator.
Figure 5: Electric systems allow operators to control heavy loads remotely, enhancing safety protocols.
1. Can we store sensitive electropolished tubes without them getting scratched?
Yes. Unlike standard racks where bundles slide over each other, the roll-out design allows for vertical lifting (pick and place). We also offer UHMW (plastic) lined arms to ensure your stainless steel never touches carbon steel rack components, preventing iron contamination and surface damage.
2. What is the maximum length of tubing your racks can handle?
Our systems are modular. We regularly install systems for standard 20-foot (6-meter) lengths, but by adding columns, we can accommodate 40-foot lengths or custom extrusions commonly found in aerospace applications.
3. Do I need a forklift to operate these racks?
No. This is a primary advantage. While you can use a forklift, these racks are designed for 100% accessibility via overhead cranes (bridge cranes) or gantries. This reduces aisle width requirements significantly compared to side-loader forklift setups.
4. How much weight can a single drawer level hold?
Standard Heavy-Duty models support between 2,000 lbs to 6,600 lbs per arm level, depending on the design. A fully loaded double-sided column can hold immense tonnage, so floor slab verification is part of our process.
5. Can I convert a Single Sided unit to Double Sided later?
Generally, no. The base structure and center of gravity engineering differ between the two. The Double Sided unit uses a specific central I-beam base optimized for balance. It is better to plan for future capacity now or add a second Single Sided row back-to-back if modularity is required.
