Stop treating your stainless steel inventory like a mining operation. If your laser cutters are waiting 20 minutes while a forklift driver digs out a bundle of 316L tubing from the bottom of a stack, you are bleeding profit. Switch to a system designed for high-purity metal logistics: 100% accessible, crane-ready, and scratch-free.
In the high-stakes world of steel service centers and hygienic component manufacturing (like those serving the pharmaceutical or dairy industries), the integrity of your raw material is everything. You aren't just storing metal; you are protecting surface finish (Ra) and straightness.
Traditional static cantilever racks force you into a "First-In, Last-Out" nightmare. To access a specific heat number of bar stock buried at the bottom, your operators have to perform the dangerous "shuffle"—moving three bundles to get to one. This secondary handling is where accidents happen, where polished surfaces get scratched by forklift tines, and where efficiency dies.
The solution is the Telescopic Cantilever Rack. It transforms your storage from a static shelf into a dynamic machine tool accessory.
Figure 1: Overhead crane access eliminates the need for forklifts in the aisles, preventing impact damage to sensitive alloys.
For manufacturers dealing with ASME BPE standard stainless steel tubes or electropolished pipes, a scratch is not a cosmetic defect—it is a rejected part. Standard forklifts are the enemy of high-purity tubes. The moment a steel fork slides under a bundle, you risk metal-on-metal contamination and surface gouging.
Our roll-out cantilever system changes the retrieval method entirely. Because the drawers extend 100% out of the rack structure, you can utilize your overhead bridge crane (EOT) equipped with nylon slings or vacuum lifters. This allows for a vertical pick-and-place operation.
The result? The load is lifted straight up. No dragging, no friction, no "fishing" with forks, and zero chance of scratching that critical 20 µin Ra finish.
Figure 2: A single operator can expose an entire level of heavy bar stock using the ergonomic crank mechanism, preparing it for crane lifting in seconds.
Your Amada laser cutter or Behringer band saw costs hundreds of dollars per hour to run. When the machine is idle because the operator is hunting for the right 20-foot pipe, you are losing money.
A terack system acts as a point-of-use buffer. By placing these racks directly adjacent to your cutting cells, you reduce retrieval time from 15-20 minutes down to 2-3 minutes. Each drawer is independent. You want the 304L schedule 40 pipe on level 4? You crank out level 4. You don't need to touch levels 1, 2, or 3.
Steel service centers often suffer from "air rights" violations—wasted vertical space because standard racks are too dangerous to stack high with heavy, unstable loads. Our systems are engineered using heavy-duty structural I-beams and H-beams (not roll-formed light gauge steel) to handle the immense weight of solid bar stock and thick-wall pipes.
| Feature | Floor Stacking / Standard Racks | Telescopic Cantilever Rack |
|---|---|---|
| Aisle Width Requirement | 12-16 ft (for Forklift turning radius) | Minimizes aisles (Overhead Crane used) |
| Picking Method | Forklift (Lateral insertion) | Crane / Hoist (Vertical lift) |
| Retrieval Speed | Slow (requires moving blockage) | Fast (Direct access to any level) |
| Damage Risk | High (Fork impact & scraping) | Near Zero (Strap/Sling lifting) |
Figure 3: High-density storage of heavy wall pipes on a single-sided unit, maximizing vertical space utilization.
Safety in a metal processing plant isn't just a checkbox; it's about preventing crush injuries and repetitive strain. The crank out cantilever rack features a transmission mechanism that allows an operator to move 6,000+ lbs of steel with just a few pounds of force on the crank. There is no physical strain.
Furthermore, the base is anchored securely to your concrete slab using heavy-duty expansion bolts, ensuring stability even when fully loaded drawers are extended. This is a capital asset built to last as long as your building.
Figure 4: Secure anchoring and structural steel construction ensure the system handles dynamic loads safely.
Q1: Can this rack handle 24-foot lengths of stainless steel tubing without sagging?
A: Yes. We customize the number of columns and arm spacing based on the deflection properties of your material. For 24-foot flexible tubing, we would typically design a system with 4 or 5 towers to ensure proper support along the entire length.
Q2: We use vacuum lifters for our polished sheets and tubes. Is there enough clearance?
A: Absolutely. This is a primary advantage of the 100% extension feature. Once the drawer is cranked out, there is zero overhead obstruction, allowing your vacuum lifter or spreader beam full vertical access to the load.
Q3: What is the maximum weight capacity per arm level?
A: Our heavy-duty models are engineered for steel centers. We can configure drawers to hold up to 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) per level, accommodating solid bar stock or dense bundles of thick-wall pipe.
Q4: Do I need a special foundation or reinforced concrete floor?
A: Standard industrial concrete floors (typically 6 inches reinforced) are usually sufficient. However, because the load is concentrated, we will provide point load calculations for your structural engineer to verify before installation.
Q5: Can we store short cut-offs and long stock on the same rack?
A: Yes. We can install steel decks or material trays on specific cantilever arms. This creates a solid surface for storing short cut-offs ("drops"), fittings, or odd-shaped components alongside your full-length raw materials.
