Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where each product category included manufactured goods that were uniform in dimension, weight, and size? It would make material handling a lot easier. It just so happens that the material handling industry is trying to create uniformity among goods, but product manufacturers continue to make products and packaging slightly different in order to gain an advantage in the market.
To remedy this, there are other options that meet the needs of different products in the material handling industry. One such example is a cantilever racking.
Cantilever racking represents nonconformity in that they are designed for products that are unique in weight and size, unlike most racking systems, which are designed for uniform products. Products you might see on these kinds of racks include items with lengths that are in excess of dimensions you would find in traditional racks. Many bulky, large products would take up valuable space on the floor if cantilever racks did not exist, which is why they are quite useful and practical in warehouses.
Cantilever racking is entirely different from pallet racks. They contain bases that are bolted to vertical beams with horizontal arms or beams attached to them to hold the products. You may think that these kinds of racks would not be suitable for storing very heavy items, but the variations can accommodate loads of up to 20,000 pounds per arm.
Another key benefit cantilever racks offer is flexibility, as they can be easily configured to meet the changing needs of your warehouse. The racks have an open design, making it easy for forklifts to access products that can often be difficult to handle. The racks don’t obstruct a worker’s view the way pallet racks typically do, which allows them to find and retrieve products quicker and will save your business time and money in the long run.
The Benefits of Cantilever Racking
There are a variety of different products from a diverse array of industries that can be stored on cantilever racks if they are thinner or longer than products stored on pallet racks.
Some examples include the following:
Steel Bars
Multiple industries use cantilever racks to store steel bars, as they come in 20-foot lengths. The manufacturers fabricate these bars into control valves, fuel injectors, printers, and fasteners.
Metal and PVC Pipes
Many companies store an assortment of metal and PVC pipes of varying dimensions on cantilever racks. The pipes come in 10 or 20-foot lengths. They are used for many different applications; however, PVC pipes are often used in gas, electrical, and plumbing industries.
Drywall and Lumber
The construction industry frequently uses cantilever racks to store lumber and drywall. These items are produced in 8 or 12-foot lengths, which makes them difficult to store on traditional pallet racks. Cantilever racks feature an open frame that allows airflow to circulate to reduce warping and moisture and also provides easy access to workers.
Industries That Use Cantilever Racking
Most industries have some bulky or large items, but there are other industries that extensively use cantilever racks, such as:
- Household Goods: Examples of unwieldy, large items that are difficult to store include furniture, countertops, flooring materials, or carpet rolls.
- Gas and Oil: Steel rack, drilling equipment, and piping are used frequently in the energy industry.
- Manufacturing: Sheet metal, as well as bar stock and steel tubes, are used in many manufacturing operations along with other bulky, long materials.
- Construction: Items in construction that are bulky and difficult to store include plywood, piping, drywall, and lumber, to name a few.
Cantilever racks are a great option for companies that carry bulky, long products, as their open design minimizes damage and allows for easy product visibility and access.
