How does a cantilever rack work?

Efficient Storage Solutions with Cantilever Racking

Understanding Cantilever Racking

When starting a warehouse organization project, it's crucial to determine which type of rack best meets your product and warehousing needs. While many businesses employ pallet racking, certain items like piping, tubing, carpeting, and lumber are better suited for cantilever racking. Cantilever racks are the ideal choice for organizing warehouses with such items.

The company is the world’s leading supplier of heavy duty cantilever racks. We offer a comprehensive range of solutions and our specialized staff are ready to assist you in finding the perfect products for your needs.

What is a Cantilever Rack?

Cantilever racks facilitate the storage and organization of items that are difficult to store on pallets. These systems use cantilever uprights to support horizontal cantilever arms, allowing for the storage of longer and bulkier items. Unlike traditional pallet racks, which have vertical uprights limiting the length of the items, cantilever racks offer more flexibility.

Depending on your warehouse requirements, you can customize a cantilever racking system to accommodate both traditional pallets and oversized items. However, for exclusive pallet storage, cantilever racks won't optimize space usage as efficiently as pallet racks.

How Does a Cantilever Rack Work?

A cantilever rack consists of four main components: the base, uprights, arms, and supports.

Base: Usually made of steel, the base provides strong support and counter-balances the weight of stored items. It extends from the bottom of the rack, ensuring stability.

Uprights: These are strong vertical posts that connect to the base and support the arms. They are essential for providing the vertical framework of the rack.

Arms: Acting as the "shelves," these extend out from the uprights and hold your inventory. They are adjustable and can be configured to meet various storage needs.

Supports: Connecting the uprights, the supports give extra strength and stability to the cantilever rack, ensuring safety and durability.

Is Cantilever Racking Right for Your Warehouse?

The benefits of cantilever racking depend on your specific storage needs. If your warehouse primarily stores small items that are easily stacked on pallets, cantilever racks might not be the best option. For such needs, traditional pallet racks offer more efficient space utilization.

If you store larger, bulkier items or currently employ floor stacking for products that don’t fit on pallets, cantilever racks could provide the flexibility and organization you need. They are easy to install, relatively simple to reconfigure, and can be arranged in ways that pallet racks cannot.

Considerations for Implementing Cantilever Racks

Several factors must be considered when planning a cantilever racking system. Firstly, ensure you have the right forklifts. The arms of a cantilever rack are supported by a single connection to the uprights, limiting their possible length. Longer arms may lose their strength, necessitating additional rack rows and narrower aisles for storage.

Front-driving forklifts need sufficiently wide aisles to handle long items, which could result in wasted maneuvering space. Consider side loader or multi-directional forklifts, although they may come at a premium. Collaborate with a warehouse efficiency partner to design a tailored storage solution for your needs.

Our experts at Warehouse1 have extensive experience in guiding cantilever rack projects from design and planning to installation. Whether you need a new warehouse organization solution or an update to your current setup, contact us today for expert assistance.

Components of Cantilever Racking

For a more in-depth understanding, refer to our guide on the heavy duty rack system.

• Bases:

  Anchor the rack system to the floor and provide primary stabilization.

• Upright Columns:

  Connect to the base and have holes for attaching the arms, creating storage levels. Suitable for both single and double-sided units.

• Arms:

  Connect to the upright columns, used for storing products.

• Braces:

  Stabilize the upright columns, providing horizontal and diagonal support.

• Decking:

  An optional feature providing a solid shelf level for the cantilever arms.

• With decking:

  For more information on specialized storage solutions, explore our mold rack options.

  Cantilever racks are also ideal for storing odd-sized or awkward loads like furniture.