Stop Compromising Your Sanitary Tube Finishes.
For manufacturers handling high-purity 316L stainless steel, a single scratch on the electropolished surface means the difference between a shipment and a scrap pile. Traditional static racks force you to drag expensive bundles across steel arms using forklifts. Our Space Saving Steel Tubing Rack changes the game: 100% drawer extension allows your overhead crane to lift vertically—zero friction, zero gouges, and maximum density for your expensive clean-room grade inventory.
In the world of high-purity manufacturing—whether you are supplying the pharmaceutical, dairy, or semiconductor industries—the surface roughness (Ra) of your inventory is your currency. You aren't just storing metal; you are storing value-added, ASME BPE compliant components.
The problem with traditional static cantilever racking is the mechanics of retrieval. To get a bundle of 20-foot polished tubing, a forklift operator has to align forks perfectly at a distance. If they are off by an inch, they gouge the tube. Even worse, if the bundle is buried behind another, they have to perform "secondary handling"—shuffling inventory around. This friction is where profit is lost. Every time metal slides on metal, you risk compromising the hygienic surface finish required by your customers.
Figure 1: Eliminating forklift damage by utilizing overhead cranes for vertical lifting.
The Telescopic Cantilever Rack solves the "scratch problem" by fundamentally changing how you access the load. Instead of driving *into* the rack with a forklift, the rack comes *out* to you.
Each level of the rack functions as a heavy-duty drawer. Whether you choose a manual crank out cantilever rack mechanism for lighter loads or an electric drive for heavy piping, the principle remains the same: the arm extends 100% into the aisle. This exposes the entire length of the tube bundle to the open air.
Once the drawer is extended, your overhead crane (bridge crane) or vacuum lifter can descend directly over the load. You can strap the tubes and lift them straight up. There is no dragging, no sliding, and no forklift forks stabbing the material. For facilities handling sensitive materials like polished aluminum profiles or thin-wall stainless tubing, this "pick-and-lift" method is the only way to guarantee the integrity of the product.
Figure 2: The ergonomic crank mechanism allows a single operator to move tons of steel effortlessly.
Space in a sanitary processing plant or a specialized steel service center is incredibly expensive per square foot. Traditional racks require wide aisles (often 12-14 feet) to allow a forklift to turn with a 20-foot bundle of pipe. This is "dead air" that generates no revenue.
By switching to an overhead crane accessible racking system, you can slash your aisle widths significantly. Since the crane moves overhead, you only need enough floor space for the operator to walk and for the drawers to extend. This typically results in recovering 50% of your floor space. You can use this reclaimed footage to install more processing equipment—like laser cutters or polishing stations—rather than just storing air.
Figure 3: High-density storage configuration significantly reduces the footprint compared to floor stacking.
We understand that a bundle of solid stainless bar stock is incredibly dense. Flimsy roll-formed steel cannot handle the torque and moment forces of a fully extended drawer loaded with 6,000 lbs of steel.
Our racks are engineered using structural steel profiles (I-beams and heavy wall tube). The bases are anchored deeply into your concrete slab to prevent tipping, even at full extension. As seen below, the installation process involves heavy-duty bolting and precision alignment to ensure the "roll-out" mechanism remains smooth for decades, even in harsh industrial environments.
Figure 4: Heavy-duty anchoring ensures stability when drawers are fully extended under load.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material Suitability | Stainless Steel Tube, Bar Stock, Pipe Fittings, PVC, Aluminum Extrusions |
| Load Capacity | Up to 6,600 lbs (3,000 kg) per arm level |
| Extension | 100% Full Extension (Crank or Electric) |
| Tube Lengths | Accommodates standard 20 ft (6m) bundles or custom lengths |
| Protection Options | UHMW plastic liners available for arms to prevent metal-on-metal contact |
Q1: Can we line the cantilever arms to protect delicate polished surfaces?
Yes. For sanitary stainless steel and electropolished tubes, we highly recommend our optional UHMW (plastic) arm liners. This ensures your material rests on a soft surface, eliminating the risk of carbon contamination or scratches from the rack itself.
Q2: Our tubes are 24 feet long. Can this rack handle that length?
Absolutely. While standard models fit 20-foot bundles, the modular nature of our Telescopic Cantilever Rack allows us to add additional columns to support longer lengths like 24ft or even 40ft, preventing the tubes from sagging or bending.
Q3: Do I need a forklift at all with this system?
Ideally, no. The primary benefit is designed for overhead crane access. However, the system is compatible with forklifts if needed, but using a crane is safer, faster, and reduces product damage for long loads.
Q4: How does this improve safety compared to floor stacking?
Floor stacking requires operators to climb over piles or rig loads awkwardly. It also poses a crush hazard if a stack shifts. Our racks keep inventory organized, stable, and allow operators to rig loads from a safe standing position with clear visibility.
Q5: Is the electric version necessary, or is manual sufficient?
For most tube applications, the manual crank is sufficient because the gear ratio allows a single person to move 5,000+ lbs with very little effort (approx. 30 lbs of force). Electric is recommended for extremely high-cycle operations or ultra-heavy solid bar stock storage.
