In a Steel Service Center, “air” is the most expensive commodity you store. If you are still using static racks with 15-foot forklift aisles to access 20-foot stainless tubing, you are wasting 60% of your warehouse footprint. It’s time to stop maneuvering forklifts and start densifying your inventory.
The Mathematics of “Dead Space” in Metal Fabrication
Every warehouse manager in the metal industry knows the struggle: You have a bundle of 316L sanitary tubes that needs to ship, but it’s buried under three layers of carbon steel H-beams. To get it, your forklift driver has to perform the “shuffle”—moving the top layers to a temporary spot (blocking the aisle), grabbing the target bundle, and then restacking the mess.
This isn’t just a time sink; it’s a spatial disaster. Traditional static cantilever racks dictate that your aisle width must equal the length of your longest load plus a safety margin for the forklift’s turning radius. For a 24-foot extrusion, you are looking at massive, empty aisles that generate zero revenue.
De Draagarmstelling changes this equation fundamentally. By eliminating the need for forklift access into the rack structure, we convert those wide aisles into high-density storage zones.
Figure 1: Notice the narrow aisle width. Since the arms extend 100% out, you only need space for the operator, not a turning forklift.
From 15 Minutes to 2 Minutes: The Crank-Out Mechanism
The core of the space-saving logic lies in the retrieval method. Instead of a forklift fighting to align forks with a high-level pocket, the Tcrack system brings the material to you.
Using a high-ratio geared crank mechanism, a single operator can extend a cantilever arm loaded with 6,000 lbs of solid bar stock with one hand. The rack features a rack and pinion transmission system housed within the column, ensuring that even under heavy loads, the movement is smooth and linear.
This “drawer” functionality means you can stack racks closer together. You don’t need “maneuvering room” anymore; you only need “lifting room.”
Figure 2: The ergonomic rocking handle allows a single operator to roll out tons of steel, eliminating the need for forklifts in the aisle.
The “Overhead Crane” Advantage: Verticality is Free
If you are processing heavy raw materials like structural steel or thick-wall pipes, you likely already have an overhead crane (EOT Crane). However, static racks prevent you from using it effectively because the arms above block the vertical lift path. You are forced to use forklifts, which limits how high you can safely stack.
Onze roll-out cantilever rack allows for 100% extension. Once the arm is cranked out, the material is completely exposed to the ceiling. This allows your overhead crane to drop a sling or a vacuum lifter directly onto the specific bundle you need.
This capability allows you to build higher—utilizing the vertical volume of your facility up to 20 feet or more—without worrying about the visibility issues or stability risks associated with high-reach forklifts.
Figure 3: With the drawer fully extended, the overhead crane has unobstructed access to hoist the material vertically, bypassing the need for aisle space.
Preventing “Scrap” as a Space Saving Strategy
In high-end metal fabrication, damaged inventory is dead space. If you are storing polished aluminum profiles or pharmaceutical-grade stainless steel, dragging them across a static cantilever arm causes scratches and surface contamination (especially carbon-on-stainless contact).
Scratched material often ends up in a “quarantine” area, taking up valuable floor space while awaiting rework or scrap disposal. The Tcrack system supports the material along its entire length. When you lift with a crane using soft slings, there is zero friction damage. By eliminating the “drag and drop” of forklifts, you reduce scrap rates, effectively reclaiming the space previously wasted on damaged goods.
Figure 4: Precision engineering: The transmission shaft and bearing housing ensure that heavy loads move smoothly without jarring, protecting delicate surface finishes.
Technical Reliability for Heavy Industry
We don’t build these racks for light retail storage. The bases are fabricated from Q235 Carbon Steel, anchored with heavy-duty expansion bolts to withstand the dynamic torque of extending loaded arms. Whether you are storing 20-foot pipe bundles or heavy injection molds, the structure is designed to transfer the load safely to the concrete slab.
For facilities dealing with ultra-long materials (like 40ft extrusions), we utilize multi-column configurations (6 or 8 columns) linked by a synchronized transmission shaft. This ensures the entire shelf rolls out in perfect unison, preventing the material from skewing or jamming.
FAQ: Rolling Cantilever Racks in Metal Service Centers
1. Can this system handle the weight of solid steel bars?
Absolutely. Our heavy-duty models are engineered to support up to 6,000 lbs (approx. 3,000 kg) per arm level. For a 4-column rack, that means a single drawer can hold over 24,000 lbs of solid stock.
2. We store 316L Stainless. How do you prevent carbon contamination?
We offer specialized arm coverings, including rubber pads or polyurethane coatings, to ensure your stainless steel never touches the carbon steel structure of the rack, preventing rust transfer and contamination.
3. Does the rack require electricity to operate?
The standard Tcrack model is 100% mechanical, operated by a hand crank with a gear reduction system. It requires no power and very little maintenance. However, for ultra-heavy or high-frequency applications, we do offer electric motor-driven versions.
4. What is the maximum length of material we can store?
Since the system is modular, there is theoretically no limit. We regularly deploy 8-column systems for customers storing 40-foot (12-meter) structural beams or aluminum extrusions to prevent sagging.
5. How much aisle width do I actually need to leave?
You only need enough space for the operator to stand and turn the crank, plus the depth of the extended drawer. Typically, this reduces the required aisle width from 12-15 feet (for forklifts) down to about 4-5 feet, depending on your arm length.
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