Description
Cantilever Rack
A cantilever rack is an engineered storage system built for long, bulky, or irregular items that do not fit well on standard pallet racking. Its open-front design and adjustable arms provide fast, safe access to materials such as lumber, pipes, steel bars, furniture, and sheet goods. Whether you operate a warehouse, yard, or manufacturing facility, cantilever rack storage helps you use vertical space efficiently, organize inventory, and improve material flow from receiving to dispatch.
By eliminating front upright obstructions, a cantilever racking system allows forklifts and operators to approach and load items directly from the front. This improves safety and speed when handling products that are difficult to palletize or require frequent picking. With modular components and scalable configurations, the rack cantilever design adapts as inventory changes, supporting both indoor and outdoor applications. In operations that need flexibility, cantilever warehouse racking integrates with common material handling workflows and complements pallet storage for mixed inventory profiles.
What Is a Cantilever Rack?
A cantilever rack is a storage system featuring vertical columns and horizontal arms, ideal for storing long or oversized items like timber, metal bars, and large furniture. The system’s design eliminates front posts, allowing easy placement of materials. Key components include upright columns for stability, bases for support, adjustable arms for various item sizes, and braces for structural integrity.
Optional accessories enhance functionality, including arm lips and end stops to prevent items from falling, decking for supporting irregular items, dividers for organization, and label holders for inventory management. Cantilever racks are made from structural or roll-formed steel, with the former suited for heavy-duty use and the latter for lighter, adjustable applications. Finish options like powder-coated paint and galvanized coatings protect against environmental damage, crucial for maintaining performance and reducing costs over time.
Benefits of Using Cantilever Racks
Cantilever rack storage offers significant benefits for facilities managing long or awkward items. Key advantages include:
- Efficient use of space: Vertical storage with adjustable arms optimizes space and accommodates various item sizes.
- Enhanced accessibility: Open-front design allows quick loading and retrieval, improving cycle times and safety.
- Improved organization: Items can be sorted by size or type, with features that ensure secure and tidy storage.
- Minimized damage: Purpose-built arms prevent damage from improper stacking, extending material lifespan.
- Cost-effectiveness: Durable steel systems handle heavy loads and reduce operational costs over time.
- Scalability: Modular design supports easy expansion and reconfiguration to match inventory growth.
Cantilever racks provide a strong ROI for storing items like lumber, tubing, drywall, and oversized furniture. They are especially effective for heavy, long materials and integrate well with other storage systems to enhance overall facility efficiency.
Types of Cantilever Racks
Choosing the appropriate cantilever rack involves considering load, equipment, and environment. Key types include:
Light Duty, Medium Duty, and Heavy Duty
Light duty: For small loads and shorter arms, ideal for retail and light materials. Focuses on easy reconfiguration and cost-effectiveness.
Medium duty: Supports moderate weights, suitable for warehouses and general distribution.
Heavy duty: Made from structural steel for dense loads like steel beams, used in industrial settings.
Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided Configurations
Single-sided: Arms on one side, saving space, useful against walls.
Double-sided: Arms on both sides, doubling storage capacity for higher throughput.
Industry-Specific Solutions
Lumber yards: Outdoor racks with galvanized finishes for stability and drainage.
Metal service centers: Heavy-duty racks with close arm spacing for bar stock and tubes.
Furniture distribution: Long-arm racks with decking to protect goods.
Construction suppliers: Deeper arms for diverse inventory like PVC and rebar.
Sheet goods and panels: Decked shelving prevents sagging of large sheets.
Optional features include removable arm lips, bolt-on dividers, and decking for varied items.
Cantilever Applications and Material Examples
Cantilever rack storage serves a wide range of materials that benefit from open-front access and continuous support:
Dimensional lumber and timber packs
Plywood, MDF, and drywall sheets
Steel and aluminum profiles, bars, and extrusions
Tubes and pipes (PVC, copper, steel, and conduit)
Moldings, trims, fencing, and railings
Carpet and fabric rolls
Oversized furniture, frames, and fixtures
Short offcuts and mixed materials on decked levels
These materials often vary in length and diameter, making adjustable arms and segmented bays particularly valuable. Facilities can organize by size, project, or order priority to reduce search time and support efficient picking sequences. A cantilever storage rack with bolt-on dividers is useful for separating SKUs within the same arm level, while a cantilever pipe rack keeps round items from shifting during movement. For warehouses with blended inventory, cantilever pallet racking ensures long goods are accessible without interfering with standard pallet lanes.
FAQ
What is a cantilever rack?
A cantilever rack is a storage system with vertical columns and horizontal arms designed to hold long, bulky, or irregular items without front obstructions. It improves accessibility and space usage for materials such as lumber, pipes, metal bars, and furniture. As part of a broader cantilever racking system, it can be scaled with additional bays and levels to match inventory growth.
What are the benefits of cantilever rack?
Optimize your storage space with cantilever rack. This system provides easy access to long, bulky items like pipes and lumber. The adjustable arms of a cantilever rack can accommodate various product sizes, ensuring versatility and efficiency in your warehouse operations.
Our heavy-duty cantilever racks offer unmatched versatility with adjustable arm lengths and heights, as well as options for single or double-sided configurations. Enhance functionality with accessories like dividers and decking, customized to fit your specific storage needs.
Built with structural steel and a powder-coated finish, our cantilever rack systems are designed for heavy-duty storage. These racks offer high weight capacity and durability, ensuring long-lasting performance in demanding warehouse environments. Trust our cantilever shelving to handle your toughest storage challenges.
How much weight can a cantilever rack hold?
Capacity depends on rack type, arm length, and construction. Light-duty arms may support a few hundred pounds per arm, while heavy duty cantilever racks can exceed several thousand pounds per arm. Always consult manufacturer ratings for arm capacity, upright capacity, and total bay load, and ensure even load distribution across arms.
What items can a cantilever rack hold?
Common items include dimensional lumber, plywood and drywall sheets, steel and aluminum profiles, tube and pipe, moldings and trim, fencing, carpet rolls, and long furniture components. With decked arms, cantilever shelving can also support shorter cut lengths and mixed materials.
Do cantilever racks work outdoors?
Yes. Structural steel racks with galvanized finishes are well suited to outdoor environments. They resist corrosion and weathering and can be specified with larger bases, sloped arms, and enhanced bracing for stability. For outdoor yards handling pipe, a cantilever pipe rack helps maintain control and safety during loading.
Are cantilever racks adjustable?
Most systems feature adjustable arms that can be repositioned along the upright column to match product size and handling needs. Roll-formed designs typically offer more frequent adjustment points, while structural systems provide higher capacities with defined connection locations.
How do I maintain cantilever racks?
Inspect regularly for bent arms, damaged uprights, loose hardware, and compromised anchors. Verify braces are intact and loads match posted ratings. Replace damaged components promptly and keep documentation of inspections. For mixed storage operations, coordinate maintenance across cantilever pallet racking and other rack systems to ensure consistency.
