Transform your long material storage from a slow, hazardous, and space-consuming operation into a streamlined, safe, and high-density system. The Extendable Cantilever Rack allows for direct overhead crane access, eliminating forklift damage and doubling your storage capacity in the same footprint.
In facilities that process long, heavy materials like pipes, bar stock, or structural steel, the greatest hidden cost is often not the material itself, but the time expensive machinery sits idle. A multi-million dollar laser cutter or CNC machine is only profitable when it's working. The journey of raw material from the storage rack to the machine bed is frequently the source of significant, unmeasured delays. Traditional storage systems create a fundamental operational conflict: the material you need is almost always buried under something else.
Static cantilever racks or floor stacking create a "First-In, Last-Out" (FILO) scenario. To access a specific bundle of stainless steel tubing at the bottom of a stack, an operator must first perform a series of non-value-added tasks known as "secondary handling." This involves removing the top two, three, or even four bundles, finding a temporary place to set them down, retrieving the target bundle, and then re-stacking the other material. This process can consume 15 to 25 minutes per pick, during which your production machinery waits, and your operator is engaged in a low-efficiency, high-risk maneuver.
An extendable cantilever rack fundamentally solves this problem by providing 100% selectivity. Each storage level functions as an independent, fully extendable drawer. By using a manual crank or a motorized control, a single operator can extend the exact level they need into the aisle. The overhead crane then has clear, unobstructed vertical access to lift the material. There is no need to touch or move any other inventory. The 20-minute "digging" process is replaced by a predictable, 3-minute "pick-and-go" operation. This predictable retrieval time allows for tighter production scheduling and drastically increases the uptime of your most valuable processing equipment.
Workplace safety is not just a matter of compliance; it is a critical component of operational excellence. In steel service centers and fabrication shops, the interaction between long, heavy materials and forklifts is a primary source of serious incidents. The wide swing radius of a 20-foot pipe bundle, combined with a forklift's blind spots, creates a high-risk environment for both personnel and infrastructure.
Standard storage systems necessitate the use of forklifts within the storage aisles. This creates several unavoidable hazards. First is the risk of collision and crush injuries as the forklift maneuvers in confined spaces. Second is the potential for material damage; a minor impact from a forklift tyne can render a high-value piece of polished aluminum or stainless steel unusable, turning profit into scrap. Lastly, there's the structural risk to the racking itself. A damaged upright on a static rack can compromise the entire bay, creating a collapse hazard.
The core safety innovation of an extendable cantilever system is its ability to completely decouple the storage operation from forklift traffic. Because the arms extend fully into a clear aisle, an overhead crane becomes the primary tool for loading and unloading. The operator typically stands at a safe distance, controlling the lift with a pendant or remote control, affording them a clear line of sight to the load and its surroundings. This system designs out the most common risks by:
For manufacturers of high-purity components, like GHWA Industries supplying the pharmaceutical or semiconductor sectors, the surface finish of a material is not a cosmetic feature—it's a critical specification. A microscopic scratch on a piece of ASME BPE-compliant stainless steel tube can be a site for bacteria to harbor, leading to batch contamination and rejection. Traditional storage methods introduce multiple points of contact that compromise this surface integrity.
When loading a static rack with a forklift, operators must slide the heavy metal bundle across the steel support arms. This metal-on-metal sliding action inevitably causes scratches, gouges, and abrasion, degrading the carefully prepared surface finish. For materials like electropolished tubing, which can cost hundreds of dollars per foot, this damage represents a direct financial loss. The material is often scrapped before it ever reaches the first stage of production.
The Roll Out Cantilever system enables a true "non-contact" storage process. Once the desired level is extended, an overhead crane can use soft nylon slings or a vacuum lifter to engage the material. The load is then lifted vertically, with no dragging or sliding involved. This "pick-and-place" method ensures that the only thing touching your high-value material is a non-abrasive lifting interface. This preserves the surface finish from the moment it arrives from the mill until it is sent to the cutting machine, guaranteeing quality, reducing scrap rates, and protecting your investment.
| Dimension | Static Cantilever Rack (Forklift Access) | Extendable Cantilever Rack (Crane Access) |
|---|---|---|
| Material Access | Requires moving upper/front items to access buried stock ("Secondary Handling"). | 100% selective access to any level at any time. |
| Retrieval Time | Variable and slow (15-25 minutes per pick). | Predictable and fast (2-5 minutes per pick). |
| Floor Space Usage | Requires wide aisles (12-20 ft) for forklift turning radius, leading to 50%+ wasted space. | Aisles are only as wide as the load, reclaiming up to 50% of floor space for production. |
| Material Protection | High risk of scratches and impact damage from sliding material and forklift tynes. | Near-zero risk. Vertical lifting with soft slings eliminates contact and sliding friction. |
| Operator Safety | High risk due to forklift traffic in aisles, load instability, and potential collisions. | High safety. Operator is removed from the lift zone and forklifts are eliminated from the aisle. |
An extendable cantilever rack, also known as a roll-out or crank-out cantilever, is a heavy-duty storage system designed for long, bulky items. Its key feature is support arms that can be extended 100% from the frame, allowing an overhead crane direct, unobstructed access to the materials stored on any level.
Its primary safety benefit comes from eliminating the need for forklifts to operate within storage aisles. By using an overhead crane for loading and unloading, it removes the risk of collisions between forklifts, personnel, and the racking structure. The controlled, ergonomic extension mechanism also reduces physical strain on operators.
Yes. Traditional forklift-serviced racks require very wide aisles to accommodate the vehicle's turning radius. Since extendable racks are serviced by an overhead crane, the aisle only needs to be slightly wider than the material being stored. This can reclaim as much as 50% of the floor space previously dedicated to aisles, which can then be used for production or additional storage.
Absolutely. While ideal for pipes and tubes, it is extremely effective for storing any long, heavy, or unwieldy material. This includes bar stock, structural steel profiles (I-beams, channels), aluminum extrusions, lumber, and even heavy tooling or molds. The open design is highly versatile.
A crank-out version uses a manual hand crank with a gear reduction system, making it easy for a single person to extend a fully loaded level. It is ideal for applications with low-to-medium retrieval frequency. A motorized version uses an electric motor controlled by a button or remote, providing faster extension and retraction. It is best suited for high-throughput environments where speed is critical.
