For a sanitary stainless steel service center, a scratch on a 20 Ra polished tube isn't just a defect—it's scrap. Stop relying on forklifts to dig through stacks of sensitive 316L tubing. Our system allows a single operator to access specific heat numbers in under 2 minutes, using an overhead crane to eliminate surface damage and "honeycombing."
In the world of high-purity fluid handling—whether you are supplying the pharmaceutical, dairy, or semiconductor industries—inventory integrity is paramount. Standard cantilever racks force your operators into a dangerous game of "pick-up sticks." To get to a bundle of 2" OD sanitary tubing on the bottom level, they must move the top three levels. This is the "Double Handling" trap.
Every time a forklift tine touches a bundle, or a bundle scrapes against another during extraction, you risk compromising the surface finish (Ra) essential for ASME BPE compliance. Furthermore, the aisles required for heavy-duty forklifts to maneuver 20-foot tube lengths eat up valuable production floor space that could be used for new saws or polishing stations.
The Single operator crank out rack fundamentally shifts your retrieval method from horizontal digging to vertical lifting. Here is the operational logic:
Unlike light-duty shelving, this system is engineered for the heavy reality of metal service centers holding solid bar stock and thick-wall pipe. The structure is fabricated from structural steel profiles (not roll-formed sheet metal) to resist torque and impact.
| Feature | Specification / Capability |
|---|---|
| Drive Mechanism | Manual Crank (Low maintenance) or Electric Drive (High volume) |
| Load Capacity | Up to 11,000 lbs (5,000 kg) per arm level |
| Arm Length | Customizable (Standard: 20" - 48" / 500mm - 1200mm) |
| Stock Length Compatibility | Ideal for 20ft (6m) to 40ft (12m) tubes and profiles |
| Safety Features | Anti-roll out locks, drawer stoppers, aisle safety clearance |
Because the center of gravity shifts when heavy stainless steel loads are cranked out, proper installation is non-negotiable. The system requires a reinforced concrete slab. As shown below, our teams or your local contractors must use heavy-duty expansion anchors to secure the base stations, ensuring the rack remains rigid even when fully extended at maximum capacity.
The most immediate ROI for a fabrication shop is space recovery. By eliminating the 12-15 foot aisles required for a forklift to turn with a 20-foot load, you can condense your storage footprint by up to 50%. In a high-cost manufacturing environment, recovering 500 square feet of floor space allows you to install an additional bandsaw or laser cutter, directly increasing your throughput without expanding the building.
1. Can this rack protect mirror-polished stainless steel tubes?
Yes. We can outfit the cantilever arms with UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight) polyethylene liners or rubber strips. Combined with overhead crane handling (using nylon slings), this creates a "no-contact" storage environment that prevents metal-on-metal scratching.
2. What is the standard tube length this system handles?
The racks are modular. While the most common configuration is designed for standard 20-foot (6 meter) bundles used in the sanitary tube industry, we can add vertical columns to accommodate 40-foot lengths or shorter custom cuts.
3. Do I need an electric motor or is the manual crank sufficient?
For most service centers accessing a specific bundle 5-10 times a shift, the Single operator crank out rack (manual) is sufficient. The gearing ratio makes cranking 6,000 lbs manageable for one person. Electric is recommended only for extremely high-cycle automated feeding zones.
4. Can we store mixed SKU bundles on the same arm level?
Yes, but to maintain efficiency, we recommend using adjustable dividers (pins) on the arms. This allows you to separate different diameters or heat numbers on the same level without them rolling into each other.
5. How much aisle space do I need to leave in front of the rack?
You only need enough space for the arm to extend fully (typically equal to the arm length, e.g., 40 inches) plus a safe walkway for the operator. You do not need the wide turning radius required for a forklift.
