It’s a given that maximizing floor space is a top priority for any warehouse or manufacturing operation. Storing long and heavy materials such as steel or lumber, however, can pose a considerable challenge for material handling professionals responsible for accomplishing this objective.

Cantilever racking systems provide an ideal solution for storing bulk materials like metal sheet, plate, bar stock and engineered lumber products because they don’t have vertical uprights along the aisle that limit access and can be engineered to handle heavy loads.

When compared to traditional pallet racks, cantilever style racks offer a number of tangible benefits that provide greater utilization of space and operational resources for inventorying large materials including:

• Flexibility – The lack of front columns means no restrictions on the length of items being stored. Also, different-length objects or oddly sized items can be placed within the same rack system.
• Accessibility – Because there are no vertical obstructions at the face of the rack, loading and unloading product is quick and easy.
• Adjustability – Bolted connections allow for easy adjustment of the arms to accommodate a wide variety of load heights.
• Modularity – Additional bays can easily be added when needed.

In the case of Dexco Structural Cantilever Rack Systems, all columns, arms and bases are manufactured with wide flange or standard shape I-beams with a 50 KSI minimum yield to safely store products of practically any dimension or weight. Numerous adjustable arms can be added to maximize the use of floor space.

When researching racking systems to store heavy or oddly-shaped items, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure that the design meets your needs. Consider the following:

• Strength – Ask about the maximum load capacity within a given space to be sure you can minimize the amount of floor space being used. Also, be sure that rack arms are fully welded on all sides of the connector plate.
• Durability – Consider the type, shape and minimum yield strength of the steel being offered and how well it will hold up in your application.
• Safety -Verify the system is engineered to meet AISC performance standards, which govern the design of construction projects like buildings and bridges. If not, ask how the system is designed to accommodate uneven loading scenarios and if the product being stored is factored as a brace.