Is Your High-Purity Tubing Being Scratched in Storage?
For manufacturers of hygienic stainless steel components, maintaining the Ra surface finish is non-negotiable. Stop stacking expensive 316L tubes on the floor where they get dented, scratched, and buried. Upgrade to a dynamic storage system that allows 100% overhead crane access and eliminates the "forklift fishing" that destroys your inventory value.
In the world of sanitary stainless steel manufacturing—serving dairy, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries—the integrity of your raw material is everything. You aren't just storing structural steel; you are storing high-value, polished tubes and bars where a single scratch disrupts the passivation layer and turns a premium product into scrap.
Yet, many facilities still rely on static racking or floor stacking. This creates a "Last-In, First-Out" (LIFO) nightmare. When an order comes in for a specific heat number or diameter buried at the bottom of a stack, your forklift operators waste 20 minutes shuffling inventory. Every move increases the risk of collision, gouging, and material contamination. This isn't just a storage problem; it is a production bottleneck that bleeds profit.
Streamline your raw material flow with dedicated tube storage.
The Crank out cantilever rack changes the physics of storage. Unlike static racks that require wide aisles for forklift maneuvering, this system functions like a heavy-duty industrial chest of drawers.
The defining feature of this system is the ability to extend the cantilever arms 100% out of the rack structure. This seemingly simple mechanical action has a profound impact on operations: it allows you to switch from forklifts to overhead cranes (or vacuum lifters).
By using a crane, you lift the specific bundle of tubing straight up. There is no dragging, no friction between bundles, and zero risk of a forklift tine piercing a neighboring tube. For electropolished or bright annealed pipes, this "touchless" handling is the only way to guarantee quality.
One operator can easily move tons of steel with the ergonomic crank mechanism.
Because the crane does the lifting, you no longer need 12-14 foot wide aisles for forklifts to turn. You can condense your storage footprint by up to 50%. In a high-tech manufacturing environment where floor space is at a premium, this recovered square footage can be used for additional CNC machining centers or assembly lines.
Whether you are storing 20-foot lengths of solid bar stock or heavy wall pipe, the telescopic cantilever rack is built to handle the load.
| Feature | Specification / Benefit |
|---|---|
| Load Capacity | Up to 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) per arm level. Custom heavy-duty designs available up to 11,000 lbs. |
| Material Length | Ideal for 20ft (6m) standard lengths, expandable with additional columns for longer extrusions. |
| Operation Mode | Manual Crank: Ergonomic gearing allows single-person operation. Electric: Push-button remote control for high-frequency or ultra-heavy loads. |
| Surface Protection | Optional UHMW or plastic liners on arms to prevent carbon contamination on stainless steel. |
Electric models allow for effortless access to heavy bar stock and pipe bundles.
Implementing a roll-out cantilever rack system is not just about cleaning up the warehouse; it is about synchronizing your logistics with your production speed. By placing these racks directly next to your laser cutters or band saws, you reduce travel time and ensure that the right material is always ready for the next job. This is Lean Manufacturing applied to heavy metal storage.
Q1: Can these racks prevent scratches on polished stainless steel tubes?
Yes. We can outfit the cantilever arms with UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) polyethylene liners. This ensures your stainless steel never touches carbon steel, preventing iron contamination and surface scratches (preserving the Ra finish).
Q2: Do I need a specific type of crane to use this system?
The system is compatible with standard overhead bridge cranes, gantry cranes, and vacuum lifters. The key benefit is the 100% drawer extension, which gives the crane hook clear, vertical access to the load without obstruction.
Q3: How much force is required to crank out a fully loaded arm?
Our manual crank systems utilize high-efficiency reduction gearing and precision bearings. A single operator can easily crank out a drawer loaded with 6,000 lbs of steel with roughly 15-20 lbs of cranking force.
Q4: Can we store different lengths of material in the same rack?
Absolutely. The rack consists of multiple columns. You can use divider pins or intermediate supports to store shorter cut-offs alongside full 20ft lengths, keeping your inventory organized and accessible.
Q5: What are the flooring requirements for installation?
Due to the high density of the load, a reinforced concrete floor is typically required (usually 6 inches or more, depending on the PSI rating). Our engineering team will provide specific point load data to verify your facility's floor capacity before installation.
