Stop treating your mirror-finish stainless steel tubes like scrap metal.
If you are still dragging high-value hygienic piping out of a pile with a forklift, you are bleeding money on "secondary handling" and surface scratches. It's time to switch to a system that respects the Ra value of your inventory and the uptime of your laser cutters.
For a precision manufacturer or a steel service center dealing with high-purity stainless steel (like the 316L tubes used in pharma or food processing), storage isn't just about space—it's about surface integrity and flow.
The traditional method of floor stacking or using static cantilever racks creates a "First-In, Last-Out" (FILO) nightmare. To get to that specific bundle of 2-inch OD polished tubes buried at the bottom, your forklift operator has to move three other bundles first. This is "secondary handling." It takes 20 minutes, burns fuel, and every time a fork tine touches a bundle, you risk gouging a polished surface that requires a specific Ra (Roughness Average). A scratched tube in the hygienic industry isn't just damaged; it's scrap.
Furthermore, while your operator is digging for material, your fiber laser or high-speed band saw is idling. That downtime is the silent killer of production margins.
Figure 1: High-density electric racking allows for 100% extension, enabling immediate overhead crane access.
The Steel bar storage racking system we engineer—specifically the Telescopic (or Crank-Out) model—reverses this logic. It functions like a heavy-duty industrial drawer for your long stock.
Because the cantilever arms extend 100% out of the rack structure, you no longer need to slide forks into a narrow pocket. Instead, you use your overhead crane (bridge crane) to drop a strap or a vacuum lifter directly from above. This means zero friction between bundles. For high-value alloys and polished stainless steel, this "touchless" handling preserves the surface finish from storage to the saw.
Whether you choose the manual crank or the electric drive, the process is linear and independent. Operator cranks out Level 3 -> Crane lifts bundle -> Operator cranks in Level 3. No moving Level 1 or 2. What used to take 20 minutes of shuffling now takes 3 minutes. This directly feeds your Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing, ensuring your expensive CNC machinery is never waiting on raw material.
Figure 2: The manual crank mechanism allows a single operator to move tons of steel bar stock with minimal effort.
We don't build these racks for light duty. They are engineered for the harsh reality of a metal fabrication shop.
Figure 3: Adjustable orange dividers allow for mixing different diameters of tubing or bar stock on a single level while maintaining organization.
Safety in a heavy manufacturing environment is non-negotiable. Our installation process involves deep-anchoring the H-beam base into your concrete slab. This prevents any risk of tipping, even when multiple heavy drawers are fully extended. The system is designed to handle the dynamic loads of crane loading, ensuring stability that floor stacking can never offer.
Figure 4: Secure floor anchoring is a critical step in our installation process to guarantee stability under heavy loads.
Q1: Can this system handle 20ft (6 meter) long raw stainless steel tubes?
Yes. Our standard Steel bar storage racking is designed specifically for standard mill lengths, including 20ft and 24ft bundles. We can add additional columns to support the length and prevent sagging (deflection) of flexible materials.
Q2: We use vacuum lifters to avoid scratching polished surfaces. Is there enough clearance?
Absolutely. Because the drawer extends 100% into the aisle, there is zero overhead obstruction. Your crane operator has complete vertical clearance to lower a vacuum lifter or nylon sling directly onto the material without maneuvering between shelf levels.
Q3: How much aisle space do I need compared to a forklift setup?
You can reduce your aisle width significantly. Since you don't need a large turning radius for a forklift to approach the rack at 90 degrees, the aisle only needs to be wide enough for the drawer to extend and for the operator to stand safely. This often reclaims 50% of your floor space.
Q4: Can we store short remnants (off-cuts) on this rack?
Yes. We can outfit specific levels with steel decking or baskets. This allows you to store short bars and off-cuts (from saw operations) on the same rack as your full-length bundles, keeping your inventory consolidated.
Q5: What are the floor requirements for installation?
Due to the high-density load, we typically require a reinforced concrete floor with a minimum thickness of 6-8 inches, depending on the total rack load. Our engineering team will calculate the specific point loads for your facility to ensure safety.
