For high-purity stainless steel manufacturers, surface integrity is currency. Storing 9m lengths of polished sanitary tubing on the floor or in static racks invites scratches, contamination, and "digging" accidents. Safe 9m profile extraction racking eliminates forklift contact, allowing your overhead crane to pick a single pristine bundle without moving the rest. Protect your Ra values and your profit margins.
In the world of hygienic stainless steel components—whether for the dairy, pharmaceutical, or semiconductor industries—the "commodity" mindset of storage is a liability. You aren't just storing metal; you are storing value-added products with strict surface finish requirements (often down to 10-32 µin Ra).
Traditional static cantilever racks force a dangerous trade-off. To access a specific heat number or alloy grade buried at the bottom level, operators often have to "shuffle" the top bundles. In a busy service center, this leads to:
The solution lies in changing how the material is retrieved. Telescopic Cantilever Rack systems are engineered specifically for long, heavy, and sensitive profiles like stainless steel tubes and bars.
Unlike static racks, each level of this system functions as a fully extendable drawer. The arm extends 100% out into the aisle, exposing the entire length of the 6m or 9m tube bundle. This simple mechanical shift completely alters your workflow:
1. Crane Dominance: You no longer need to jam a forklift into a narrow rack slot. An overhead crane with nylon slings can descend vertically, picking up the bundle without touching adjacent stock. 2. Selective Access: Need the 316L tubes on level 4? Crank out level 4. The levels above and below stay put. 3. Density: Because you don't need wide forklift turning aisles, you can condense your storage footprint significantly, often reclaiming 50% of your floor space for more processing equipment like laser cutters or saws.
For high-frequency environments, such as feeding a laser cutting line, electric systems (as shown above) are preferred. An operator can extend a shelf carrying 5 tons of bar stock with the push of a button on a remote. For general storage or lighter loads (under 3 tons per level), the crank-out manual version offers a cost-effective, ergonomic solution that still allows a single operator to move massive loads with minimal effort.
We understand that stainless steel comes in non-standard lengths and high densities. Our racks are built to handle the specific deflection and weight challenges of solid bar stock and thick-wall pipes.
| Feature | Specification / Capability |
|---|---|
| Arm Length (Usable Depth) | Customizable from 20" to 48" (suitable for single or double bundles) |
| Load Capacity Per Level | Standard: 1,000 kg - 5,000 kg (2,200 lbs - 11,000 lbs) |
| Material Lengths | Designed for 6m (20ft) standard up to 12m (40ft) extrusions |
| Extension Ratio | 100% Full Extension (Clear access for hoist/crane) |
| Surface Protection | Optional UHMW or plastic liners on arms to prevent carbon contamination |
In a facility handling heavy tubes, relying on operator caution is not a safety strategy. Structural engineering is. The Roll Out Cantilever system shifts the center of gravity dynamically. To ensure absolute stability when a 3-ton drawer is fully extended, the installation process involves deep anchorage.
As seen below, our installation teams ensure the base is securely bolted to your concrete slab using industrial-grade anchors. This prevents tipping forces even when the rack is under maximum eccentric load during the picking process.
By switching to overhead crane extraction, you align your storage method with your material's value proposition. You sell high-quality, straight, defect-free tubes. Cranes lift straight up. Forklifts pry and push. The choice for maintaining the integrity of products like sanitary heat exchanger tubes or pharmaceutical-grade piping is clear.
Q1: Can we use nylon slings directly with this rack to prevent scratching our polished tubes?
Yes, absolutely. Since the arms extend 100% into the aisle, there are no obstructions above the bundle. You can lower nylon slings or vacuum lifters directly onto the material, ensuring zero metal-to-metal contact, which is critical for sanitary stainless grades.
Q2: We stock 20ft (6m) and occasionally 30ft (9m) lengths. Can one rack handle both?
Yes. We design the column spacing to accommodate your longest material (9m). Shorter 6m bundles can simply rest on the appropriate number of arms. We can also add intermediate support beams if you handle flexible bundles that might sag.
Q3: How do we prevent carbon steel contamination if we also store mild steel nearby?
For stainless steel inventory, we recommend adding UHMW (plastic) strips to the steel cantilever arms. This isolates your stainless tubes from the carbon steel structure of the rack, preventing galvanic corrosion and iron contamination.
Q4: What is the floor requirement for these racks?
Because these racks store high-density loads in a small footprint, a standard 6-inch reinforced concrete slab is usually sufficient, but we verify this during the engineering phase. The load is distributed through heavy-duty H-beam bases.
Q5: Can the system be automated for our laser cutting feed?
Yes. The electric roll-out version can be integrated into a semi-automated workflow where the operator selects the material via remote, extends the drawer, and uses a vacuum lifter to feed the laser table directly, reducing changeover time from 15 minutes to under 3 minutes.
