Stop guessing your ROI.
If you are a Steel Service Center handling high-purity stainless tubes or heavy bar stock, a generic "price list" is misleading. Your cost isn't just the steel structure—it's the downtime on your laser cutters and the scrap rate on your polished surfaces. Here is the 2025 guide to budgeting for high-density, overhead crane accessible racking tailored for metal fabrication.
When procurement managers at metal fabrication shops or sanitary tubing distributors (like GHWA) search for a telescopic storage rack price list 2025, they often expect a simple menu: "Part A costs $X." However, in the industrial sector, specifically for handling 20ft (6m) stainless steel bundles or heavy structural shapes, the price is dictated by engineering constraints, not a catalog.
The sticker price of a Telescopic Cantilever Rack is only one variable. The real calculation involves your operational efficiency. If your saw operator spends 20 minutes hunting for a specific heat number of 316L bar stock buried under three other bundles, you aren't paying for storage; you are paying for operational waste. If a forklift fork scratches the Ra 15µin finish on a sanitary tube during retrieval, that scrap cost comes directly off your bottom line.
Optimizing vertical space in a metal service center using overhead cranes.
Instead of a static list which becomes obsolete the moment steel prices fluctuate, consider these three factors that will determine your quote in 2025:
| Cost Driver | Fabrication Context | Impact on Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Load Capacity per Arm | Are you storing hollow aluminum profiles or solid stainless bar stock? | Designing for 2,000 lbs vs. 6,600 lbs per arm changes the I-beam structure significantly. |
| Drive Mechanism | Manual crank out cantilever rack vs. Electric Motorized. | Manual is cost-effective for lower frequency; Electric is essential for 5-ton loads or high-cycle laser feeding. |
| Rack Height & Levels | 5 levels vs. 8 levels. | Taller racks maximize vertical space but require heavier base engineering to prevent tipping moment. |
In the metal service industry, the "Hidden Factory" refers to work that adds cost but no value—like re-stacking material or polishing out scratches caused by handling. Standard static cantilever racks force you to use forklifts. In narrow aisles, this is a recipe for "rack rash" (damage to the racking) and material damage.
Our Roll-Out Cantilever system changes the workflow entirely. By allowing 100% extension of the drawers, you switch from forklift access to Overhead Crane access. This is critical for handling sensitive materials like polished OD tubes or heavy dies.
Manual operation allows for precise control, eliminating the need for forklift entry into the aisle.
Imagine a high-volume fabrication shop. Your fiber laser cuts at incredible speeds, but the loading process is stuck in the 1990s. The operator waits for a forklift, the forklift driver navigates a maze of floor-stacked bundles, and then performs the dangerous "pick and shuffle" maneuver.
With a telescopic storage rack placed directly adjacent to the laser loading table:
One of the biggest factors influencing the "price" is actually the savings in real estate. Standard racks require wide aisles—typically 12 to 14 feet for a sideloader or heavy forklift to turn with a 20ft bundle.
Because our system is designed for crane access, you can slash those aisle widths down to just what is needed for a person to walk. This often results in recovering 50% of your floor space. For a Steel Service Center, that reclaimed space means room for another bandsaw or laser cutter, directly increasing your revenue capacity.
Reclaim up to 50% of your floor space by eliminating wide forklift aisles.
Don't let the "sticker price" of lightweight alternatives fool you. Storing 6,000 lbs of steel above head height requires serious structural integrity. Our racks are anchored with heavy-duty expansion bolts and feature structural steel I-beam bases, not roll-formed sheet metal. The investment covers not just the steel, but the peace of mind that your inventory won't collapse under load.
Precision installation ensures stability for high-density metal storage.
1. We handle sanitary stainless tubing with strict surface finish requirements (Ra < 20µin). How does this rack prevent damage?
Unlike honeycomb racks where tubes slide against each other, our telescopic arms extend 100%. This allows you to use nylon slings or vacuum lifters to pick the bundle vertically from above. There is zero metal-on-metal sliding contact during retrieval.
2. What is the maximum length of bar stock we can store?
We custom fabricate for the steel industry. Whether you are storing standard 20ft (6m) bundles or 24ft extrusions, we adjust the number of columns and arm spacing to prevent material deflection (sagging) based on the specific rigidity of your inventory.
3. Can I retrofit my existing overhead crane to work with this system?
Absolutely. This system is specifically designed to leverage your existing EOT (Electric Overhead Traveling) cranes. You do not need specialized attachments, although spreader beams are recommended for very long, flexible loads.
4. Is the "price list" different for electric vs. manual crank models?
Yes. Manual models use a gear-reduction crank that allows a single operator to move 3-5 tons easily. Electric models involve motors, control panels, and safety sensors, which increases the initial capital expenditure but significantly speeds up cycle times for high-throughput environments.
5. How do you handle residual short bars (remnants)?
We can integrate steel baskets or trays onto specific cantilever arms. This allows you to organize short "drops" or remnants efficiently without them getting lost behind full-length bundles, a common issue in metal service centers.
