Is Surface Integrity Your Nightmare?
In the high-purity stainless steel industry, a scratch isn't just a blemish—it's scrap. Traditional forklift handling for 20-foot polished tubes destroys Ra values and risks contamination.
Switch to a system designed for overhead crane access. Eliminate side-loading damage, reclaim 50% of your floor space, and access 100% of your specific heat numbers instantly without digging through stacks.
For Steel Service Centers specializing in hygienic fluid handling components—like dairy, pharmaceutical, or semiconductor piping—storage is not just about holding weight; it is about protecting value. When you are storing electropolished tubes or high-precision bar stock, the "floor stack" method or standard static cantilever racking becomes a liability.
The problem is mechanical interaction. To retrieve a bundle of 2.5-inch OD tubes from the bottom of a static rack, a forklift operator must shift the top layers. Every movement increases the risk of metal-on-metal contact, dents, and surface abrasions. Furthermore, the wide aisles required for forklifts to maneuver 6-meter lengths waste premium square footage that could be used for processing equipment like saws or laser cutters.
Overhead crane access eliminates the "forklift jousting" that damages sensitive tube surfaces.
The Roll Out Cantilever rack (also known as Telescopic or Crank-Out racking) fundamentally changes the retrieval workflow from horizontal (forklift) to vertical (crane). This is the game-changer for high-mix, low-volume inventory management found in OEM supply chains.
Unlike static racks, each level of this system functions like a heavy-duty drawer. Whether utilizing a manual crank mechanism or an electric drive, the arm extends 100% out of the rack structure. This exposes the entire length of the tube bundle to the overhead crane. There is no need to drag materials out; you simply lift them straight up.
By using nylon slings and overhead cranes, you eliminate the steel forks that are the primary cause of scratches and gouges. For industries adhering to ASME BPE or 3-A Sanitary Standards, maintaining the surface finish from the mill to the customer is non-negotiable. Our arms can be fitted with UHMW plastic liners to further ensure that your polished stainless steel never touches bare carbon steel.
Electric heavy duty tube racking allows operators to extend fully loaded arms (up to 5 tons) with a push of a button.
In a busy distribution center, time is lost searching for specific SKUs buried behind other materials. With a Roll Out Cantilever system, every specific grade, diameter, and wall thickness has its own dedicated, accessible level.
The "Before" Scenario: A forklift driver spends 20 minutes moving three bundles of structural steel to get to the 316L stainless tubes needed for a rush order.
The "After" Scenario: The operator walks to the rack, cranks out the specific level, and the crane operator lifts the bundle. Total time: 3 minutes.
This is not light-duty shelving. It is engineered for the rigors of a Steel Service Center.
| Feature | Specification | Benefit for Tube Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Load Capacity | Up to 11,000 lbs (5,000 kg) per arm level | Store dense solid bar stock or master bundles of thick-wall tubing without sagging. |
| Rack Height | Customizable up to 20 feet | Maximize vertical cube utilization, clearing floor space for processing machinery. |
| Arm Length | Typically 20" to 48" active storage | Optimized for standard bundle sizes while maintaining aisle clearance. |
| Operation Mode | Manual Crank or Electric Drive | Manual for standard loads; Electric for high-frequency or ultra-heavy applications. |
Adjustable dividers allow for the organized storage of multiple SKUs of smaller diameter tubing on a single level.
Safety audits in metal processing facilities often flag the danger of operators climbing racks or reaching into narrow forklift aisles to check inventory tags. The Roll Out Cantilever design brings the material to the operator into the open aisle. This ergonomic improvement significantly reduces the risk of strain injuries and ensures that inventory checks can be performed safely from the ground.
Q1: Can we store 20-foot (6-meter) lengths of flexible tubing without them bending?
A: Yes. We configure the number of columns and arm spacing specifically to the deflection properties of your material. For flexible, thin-wall tubing, we increase the number of support arms or add steel decking to the arm levels to provide continuous support and prevent permanent deformation.
Q2: How do we prevent carbon steel contamination on the rack arms?
A: Contamination is a critical concern for stainless steel distributors. We offer optional UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) liners or rubber strips bolted directly to the steel arms. This ensures your stainless inventory never comes into direct contact with the painted carbon steel of the rack.
Q3: Is the electric system necessary for a medium-sized service center?
A: Not always. The manual crank system utilizes a high-efficiency gear reduction box. A single operator can easily rotate the handle to move a fully loaded arm weighing 6,000 lbs with minimal effort. Electric systems are recommended primarily for facilities with extremely high throughput or arm loads exceeding 8,000 lbs.
Q4: How much aisle space do I need to leave for this system?
A: This is the biggest advantage. Because you are using an overhead crane for loading and unloading, you do not need the 12-15 foot aisles required for a long-load sideloader forklift. You only need enough space for the operator to walk and for the drawer to extend (typically 3-4 feet). This can reduce your footprint by up to 50%.
Q5: Can we retrofit existing static cantilever racks to become roll-out?
A: No. The Roll Out Cantilever system relies on a specific structural chassis, precision bearings, and a transmission shaft system that static racks do not possess. However, the modular design of our system means we can install it in phases to replace your static racks with minimal disruption to operations.
