Storage is something that every business owner must navigate from time-to-time.
There are many forms of storage that you can opt for. With many options, cantilever racking is one of the more common storage solutions out there.
The basics of cantilever racking include placing goods on an arm that’s held by uprights and is supported by a base. Confused?
Don’t worry, read on to know more about how a cantilever racking system works and if it is the best option for you!
What is cantilever racking?
Cantilever warehouse racking is one of the many forms of industrial storage racking out there. It’s focused more towards storing long items that are also hefty – stuff like pipes, furniture and more.
Its design makes it easier to access items that are stored using it. This type of racking requires more capital, but it is far more efficient than other racking styles like floor racking.
What are the various parts of a cantilever rack?
The cantilever racking system includes 4 major components that form it:
Uprights
These vertical beams (through the base) support the weight of the rack, and have both the arms and braces attached with it. The base is what supports these uprights.
Arms
The arms are responsible for holding whatever it is that you store or plan on storing on the cantilever rack. They are built for maximum load handling and arise from the uprights.
Braces
A brace is a sort of a bridge between two uprights. It provides the rack with the necessary support, so that it can uphold the brunt of the equipment that you put on it.
Base
The base is the robust foundation of the cantilever racking system. It provides the fundamental support for all of the other components of the cantilever rack.
Machines that you will require for it
There are various machines that you’ll need to have in order to use it with the cantilever storage rack. These machines are responsible for safe handling and efficient storage. Find these machines below:
Counterbalance forklift
This is the common forklift that’s used in almost all warehouses worldwide. It includes forks at the front along with a weight at the rear – optimized for load balancing. It is best for general material handling at ground level or mid-level height.
Multi-directional forklift
This is a form of forklift that can move forwards, backwards and even sideways! They allow for the long-load precision handling. Bear in mind that these long loads are what cantilever racks are made for!
Reach truck
Reach trucks are engineered for storage in narrow aisles. They have an extendable mast that reaches deep into these cantilever racks. So, it allows for proper utilization of cantilever racking.
Advantages
Cantilever racking offers many benefits that make it the go-to racking style for specific storage scenarios. As mentioned before, they’re best used when you’re dealing with long, heavy and/or oddly shaped materials.
Here are some of its advantages:
Ideal for long, bulky and irregular items
Cantilever racks can store items like timber, steel pipes, PVC pipes and furniture. The specific design removes vertical obstructions from the front – allowing the loading and retrieval of items that would not fit well in conventional pallet racks.
Unobstructed front access
Regular pallet racking has vertical posts at regular intervals. This leads to slower loading and unloading. But, cantilever racks have open fronts that help faster loading and unloading – made best with forklifts. They work best for material handling operations.
Adjustable and customizable nature
Arms and uprights can be adjusted and extended to suit your inventory’s dimensions. And works even if your stock changes seasonally – and even if your materials come in varying lengths and weights!
Disadvantages
As with its advantages, cantilever racking also comes with downsides. These include:
Higher initial investment
Cantilever racking is both more expensive to install and to maintain. This is one of the biggest drawbacks and downsides as compared to basic shelving or floor stacking.
Space requirements
Cantilever racks are designed for longer loads – and this means that they will take up more horizontal space as compared to traditional pallet racks. You’ll need wider aisles for secure forklift movement.
Requires trained operators and machines
For the efficient operation of these cantilever racks, you will need forklifts (as mentioned above) and trained personnel as well. Mishandling may lead to product damage or system failure.
The bottom line
Cantilever racks represent a smart and high-performance storage solution.
It caters to businesses that require handling long and bulky goods. With its capital requirements, it may not be the best fit for every warehouse out there – but it shines in many industries.It all boils down to whether it’s the best storage solution for you or not. Gold Coast Racking has many types of cantilever racking systems available for you.
