In aerospace manufacturing and high-purity metal distribution, surface integrity is currency. When you are storing Titanium, Inconel, or 316L Stainless Steel tubing with strict Ra (Roughness Average) requirements, a single scratch from a forklift tine isn't just cosmetic—it's a scrapped part worth thousands. Traditional static racking forces you into high-risk "fishing" expeditions. Our system eliminates the forklift from the retrieval equation entirely, ensuring your high-value extrusions remain pristine from receipt to the cutting saw.
For operations managers handling aerospace-grade aluminum extrusions or high-purity stainless steel tubes (ASME BPE standards), the warehouse floor is often where profit margins bleed. The culprit is rarely the material quality itself, but rather the storage method.
Storing 20-foot lengths of delicate alloy bar stock on floor stacks or standard static cantilever racks creates a hostile environment for the material. To access a bundle of 6061-T6 aluminum buried in the middle of a rack, operators must perform "Secondary Handling"—shuffling top bundles aside to reach the target. Every movement increases the risk of metal-on-metal abrasion, compromising the surface finish and concentricity of the tubes.
Figure 1: Eliminating the need for dangerous forklift maneuvering between narrow aisles.
Furthermore, standard racks compel forklift operators to drive tines into the rack structure. In narrow aisles, with long loads, visibility is poor. A slight miscalculation results in the forks gouging the side of a polished tube. In the aerospace supply chain, this constitutes Foreign Object Damage (FOD) risk and material non-conformance.
The solution lies in changing the retrieval vector. Instead of accessing materials horizontally with a forklift (which requires clearance and risks collision), we utilize a Telescopic Cantilever Rack.
This system allows each storage level to extend 100% out of the rack column, much like a heavy-duty drawer. This completely exposes the overhead space above the material. Consequently, you can utilize an overhead crane (bridge crane) with nylon slings or vacuum lifters to pick up the load vertically.
Figure 2: Overhead crane access prevents contact damage associated with forklifts.
Space in a climate-controlled aerospace metal service center is expensive. Our roll-out cantilever rack systems are designed to maximize this footprint while protecting the inventory.
By eliminating the 12-15 foot aisles required for forklifts to turn with long loads, we can condense your storage footprint by up to 50%. The aisles only need to be wide enough for a human operator to walk, as the loading is done from above.
Figure 3: Electric drive systems allow smooth, vibration-free extension for sensitive materials.
For high-volume processing centers, we offer motorized systems. With a simple remote control, an operator can extend a drawer loaded with 6,600 lbs of stainless steel bar stock in seconds. The movement is smooth and controlled, ensuring that bundled materials do not shift or collide.
To further mitigate risk, the arms of the rack can be lined with UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) strips. This ensures that your bright-annealed tubing rests on a soft, non-abrasive surface rather than bare steel.
Figure 4: Dividers and liners can be added to separate specific alloy grades and prevent cross-contamination.
Our systems are built using structural steel I-beams, not light-gauge roll-formed steel. This is critical for maintaining structural rigidity under heavy loads, ensuring that the drawer alignment remains true over decades of use.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Extension | 100% Full Extension (Crank or Electric) |
| Load Capacity | Up to 11,000 lbs per arm level |
| Material Length | Accommodates 20', 24', and custom lengths |
| Compatible Equipment | Overhead Bridge Cranes, Gantry Cranes, Vacuum Lifters |
| Construction | Structural H-Beam Steel (Q235/Q355 equivalent) |
Yes, absolutely. For customers storing high-purity (ASME BPE) stainless steel or aerospace aluminum, we recommend and can factory-install UHMW or rubber lining on all contact surfaces to prevent carbon contamination and scratching.
The system is modular. By adding more columns (towers), we can accommodate materials of any length. We frequently deploy systems for 20-foot and 24-foot raw stock, ensuring the material is supported at appropriate intervals to prevent sagging.
No. The gear ratio is engineered so that a fully loaded drawer (even at 6,000+ lbs) can be extended with approximately 15-20 lbs of cranking force. It is ergonomically designed for single-operator use without strain.
Yes. Because the roll-out cantilever drawer extends completely clear of the upper structure, you have unobstructed vertical access. This makes it the ideal racking system for vacuum lifters or magnetic lifts that require top-down approach.
It significantly improves it. Each drawer acts as a dedicated location. Unlike floor stacking where bundles get mixed, our racks allow for clear labeling of each level. You can segregate heat numbers, alloys, and customer-specific stock effectively, reducing the risk of pulling the wrong material.
