Storing high-purity stainless steel tubes (ASME BPE standards) requires more than just heavy steel; it requires absolute surface protection. Standard static racks force you into a "filo" nightmare where forklift forks scrape against polished surfaces (Ra < 20µin) during retrieval. Our Crank-Out Cantilever System eliminates this risk entirely by allowing overhead crane access—protecting your inventory's hygiene and value.
In the world of sanitary stainless steel manufacturing—whether you are producing tubes for the dairy, pharmaceutical, or semiconductor industries—the name of the game is surface integrity. Companies often compare our dynamic solutions with traditional static options like the Steel King cantilever rack.
Steel King is an undeniable giant in the structural steel racking industry. Their I-Beam cantilever racks are robust and excellent for storing rough lumber or raw structural steel beams where a few scratches don't matter. However, when you are handling 304L or 316L polished stainless steel tubing, static racks introduce a critical vulnerability: The Forklift Factor.
To retrieve a bundle of 20-foot polished tubes from a static rack, a forklift driver must navigate narrow aisles and insert forks blindly into the rack. This process, known as "fishing," is the leading cause of "digs" and surface scratches on tube inventory. For a hygienic component manufacturer, a scratch on a 20µin Ra surface renders the product scrap.
Our Telescopic Cantilever Rack changes the physics of retrieval. By utilizing a crank-out mechanism, the entire arm level extends 100% out into the aisle. This allows your operators to use an overhead crane with nylon slings to pick the load vertically.
Operator using remote control to extend rack drawers, eliminating the need for forklifts near sensitive stainless inventory.
When evaluating a Steel King comparison against a dynamic crank out cantilever rack, you are comparing a storage shelf to a material handling solution. The table below outlines why high-value metal service centers are switching to dynamic storage.
| Feature | Standard Static Cantilever (e.g., Steel King) | Dynamic Roll-Out Cantilever (Our Solution) |
|---|---|---|
| Retrieval Method | Forklift (Side Access) | Overhead Crane / Vacuum Lifter (Top Access) |
| Surface Risk | High (Fork impact & sliding friction) | Zero (Vertical lift with soft slings) |
| Aisle Width Required | 12-15 Feet (For forklift turning radius) | Specific to load width (No forklift space needed) |
| Selectivity | Low (Buried bundles require digging) | High (Individual drawer access) |
| Throughput Speed | Slow (15-20 mins per pick) | Fast (2-4 mins per pick) |
Manufacturing floors that process sanitary components often operate in clean or semi-clean environments where square footage is at a premium. A standard static rack system requires massive aisles—often 14 feet wide—just to allow a heavy-duty forklift to turn with a 20-foot bundle of tubing.
Because our overhead crane accessible racking loads from the top, you can slash your aisle widths by up to 50%. You only need enough space for the operator to walk and the drawer to extend. For a facility managing expensive inventory like electropolished tubes or heat exchanger shells, recovering that floor space allows for the installation of additional processing equipment, such as orbital welders or laser cutters, directly next to the storage zone.
Full extension capabilities allow for dense storage without compromising access to rear bundles.
In a static system, when a required bundle of pipe is at the bottom of the stack, the forklift operator must perform "the dig"—removing the top three bundles, setting them on the floor (often blocking aisles), retrieving the target bundle, and then restacking. This "secondary handling" is where 90% of warehouse accidents and material damage occur.
With a roll-out system, the specific level containing the required adapter stock or tube fittings is cranked out, and the crane picks it immediately. There is no shuffling of heavy steel loads, significantly reducing the risk of crush injuries and material collapse.
Q1: Can we use vacuum lifters with your crank-out racks?
Yes. Because the drawers extend 100% clear of the overhead structure, you have unobstructed vertical access. This makes it ideal for vacuum lifters or magnetic lifters often used to handle delicate stainless sheets or tubes without marking the surface.
Q2: How do you prevent the stainless steel from reacting with the carbon steel rack?
For our customers in the hygienic sector (Food/Pharma), we can equip the cantilever arms with UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) liners. This non-marring plastic barrier prevents carbon contamination and protects the polished surface of your tubes.
Q3: What is the weight capacity per arm level?
Our systems are engineered for heavy industrial use. Standard crank-out levels can hold between 2,000 lbs to 6,600 lbs (approx. 1 to 3 metric tons) per level, depending on your specific tube bundle density.
Q4: Can this system handle 20-foot (6-meter) random lengths?
Absolutely. We customize the number of columns and arm spacing to support 20-foot or even 24-foot raw stock. Proper spacing ensures minimal deflection in the tubing, maintaining straightness tolerances essential for automated feeding into CNC lasers.
Q5: Do you offer electric options for high-frequency picking?
Yes. While the manual crank is effortless (requiring only about 30 lbs of force to move tons), we offer motorized versions. These are preferred by high-volume service centers to reduce operator fatigue and further speed up the picking cycle.
