Transform your long material storage from a complex bottleneck into a streamlined, high-density asset. Our retractable cantilever rack system is engineered to integrate seamlessly with your existing overhead crane, providing immediate, safe, and selective access to every single bundle. Eliminate wasted floor space, prevent product damage, and significantly boost your operational speed.
In any steel service center or fabrication shop, the clock is always ticking. The core of the business is processing and moving metal, not searching for it. Yet, a common and costly activity persists: "digging out" or "secondary handling." This occurs when the specific bundle of steel pipe or bar stock needed for a job is buried under several others in a floor stack or on a static rack. An operator must then move the top layers, place them in a temporary spot, retrieve the target material, and finally restack the original layers. This entire process, which can take 15 to 25 minutes, is non-value-added time. During this period, your multi-million dollar laser cutter, CNC machine, or saw is idle, waiting for material. The true cost isn't just the operator's time; it's the lost production capacity of your most valuable machinery.
A retractable cantilever rack fundamentally eliminates this problem by providing 100% selectivity. Each storage level acts as an independent, extendable drawer. To access material on the fourth level, you simply extend that level. The bundles above and below remain untouched. The retrieval time is reduced from a variable 25 minutes to a predictable 3-5 minutes. This creates a direct, uninterrupted flow of material from storage to production, transforming the warehouse from a cost center into an active part of your lean manufacturing process.
For manufacturers of high-purity components, such as GHWA Industries who produce for the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors, the surface of a material is as critical as its metallurgy. A single deep scratch on a length of electropolished 316L stainless steel tube can violate ASME BPE standards, creating a potential site for bacterial growth and rendering the entire piece scrap. Traditional storage methods, which rely on forklifts, introduce constant risk. The hard steel forks of a lift truck sliding under a bundle, or the accidental impact of a load against a static rack upright, inevitably cause scratches, dents, and surface contamination.
The core innovation of an overhead crane accessible racking system is its shift from horizontal to vertical material handling. When a level is fully extended into the aisle, it presents the entire bundle to the overhead crane. Using soft nylon slings or a vacuum lifter, the crane can then gently cradle the material and lift it vertically, completely free of any contact with the rack structure or other stock. There is no sliding, no dragging, and no metal-on-metal friction. This non-contact approach is the only way to guarantee that the pristine, validated surface finish that was achieved in production is preserved all the way to the customer, virtually eliminating handling-related product rejection and waste.
In any industrial facility, floor space is a finite and expensive asset. Conventional storage systems impose a hidden "tax" on this asset in the form of wide aisles. A standard cantilever rack serviced by a forklift carrying 20-foot-long material may require an aisle that is 15 to 20 feet wide simply to accommodate the vehicle's turning radius. This vast expanse of concrete generates no revenue; it is maintained, lit, and heated solely for transit. For a growing business, this wasted space can be the barrier to adding a new production line or expanding capacity.
Because retractable racks are serviced by overhead cranes, the concept of a permanent, wide aisle becomes obsolete. The only clear space required is the width of the load itself, and only when a level is extended. This allows rows of high-density racking to be placed much closer together, often recovering up to 50% of the floor space previously dedicated to storage. This reclaimed square footage can now be monetized, housing a new welding cell, a quality control station, or another revenue-generating machine, allowing for business growth without the massive capital expense of a building expansion.
Moving multi-ton bundles of steel is an inherently hazardous task. The traditional forklift-and-rack method creates a complex environment with blind spots, stability risks, and the potential for severe crush injuries. A retractable system is designed to engineer these risks out of the process. The operator stands safely away from the load, using either a manual crank or a remote control to extend the level. The mechanical advantage of the crank mechanism allows a single person to move several tons with minimal physical exertion, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Once the load is lifted by the crane, it travels above the workshop floor, separated from pedestrians and other equipment. This controlled, ergonomic, and clear-view process creates a fundamentally safer workplace.
| Dimension | Traditional Static Racking (Forklift Access) | Retractable Cantilever Rack (Crane Access) |
|---|---|---|
| Access Method | Horizontal access with forklifts, requiring wide turning aisles. | Vertical access with an overhead crane after 100% level extension. |
| Material Selection | Limited selectivity. Often requires moving top/front bundles ("secondary handling"). | 100% selectivity. Any level can be accessed directly without disturbing others. |
| Retrieval Time | Slow and variable (15-25 minutes) depending on material location. | Fast and consistent (3-5 minutes) for any item. |
| Product Damage Risk | High. Risk of scratches, dents, and impacts from forklift forks and maneuvering. | Extremely low. Non-contact vertical lift with soft slings eliminates friction and impact. |
| Space Utilization | Low. Up to 50% of the footprint is dedicated to non-productive forklift aisles. | Very high. Eliminates permanent aisles, recovering significant floor space for production. |
| Operator Safety | Higher risk due to forklift traffic, load instability, and blind spots. | High safety. Operator is removed from the immediate lift zone with clear sightlines. |
Our heavy-duty retractable cantilever racks are engineered from structural steel and can be designed to your specific needs. Standard capacities often range from 2,000 lbs to 10,000 lbs ($900 kg to 4,500 kg) per level, with custom solutions available for even heavier loads like tooling and molds.
Yes. The manual crank mechanism is engineered with a gear ratio that provides significant mechanical advantage. This design allows a single operator to apply minimal force (typically around 30-50 lbs of pressure) to smoothly extend a level loaded with several tons of material.
The key advantage is the "100% full extension" feature. A standard rack does not allow your crane to access material without the risk of the hoist or load hitting the level above. The retractable rack moves the entire bundle out into a clear aisle, providing unobstructed, safe, vertical access for the crane hook and slings, which is essential for preventing damage.
No, the system is designed to work with most standard overhead bridge cranes, EOT cranes, or gantry cranes that are already in use in manufacturing facilities and steel service centers. The main requirements are that the crane has sufficient lifting capacity and can service the area where the racks are installed.
While ideal for long materials like pipes, tubes, bar stock, and structural steel profiles, the system is highly versatile. By using different decking or cradle options on the extendable arms, it can be adapted to safely store other heavy or bulky items like steel plate, lumber, tooling, dies, and even crated machinery components.
