Any Dimension, Any Weight – Heavy-Duty Cantilever Racks Say, “Bring It On!”

Heavy-Duty Cantilever Racks Make Light Work of the Big, Awkward Stuff that Can Clutter Up Your Warehouse

Cantilever rack is intelligently designed to store loose, bulky, long, and otherwise challenging to contain materials. Its simple design may suggest a somewhat limited load capacity; however, heavy-duty and extra-heavy-duty cantilever rack systems prove that theory false. In fact, it’s not difficult to find an extra-heavy-duty cantilever system with a load capacity upwards of 22,000 – 25,000 lbs. per side, or 50,000+ pounds in a two-sided system.]

As the kids would say, “That’s a ton of weight!” However, and more precisely, it’s 25 tons of weight, so it’s essential to design your cantilever rack to meet your load capacity expectations. It’s simultaneously a safety, efficiency, and budgetary imperative to get it right. To help ensure you get the system you need, here are some things you’ll need to know.

Cantilever Rack Components & Features

• Single or double-sided vertical columns
• Modular design
• Adjustable arms – choose the style best fit for your inventory
• Brace sets connect uprights to form a row

 

Breaking Down the Process

The evolution of your heavy-duty cantilever rack has everything to do with your inventory specs, facility space. Knowing these parameters upfront will help you get the system that will meet your needs.

 

Rack material – You can purchase heavy-duty cantilever rack in structural or roll-formed steel. Both offer high strength and load capacities, so your decision may depend on your specific application needs or simply your preference.

Load distribution – Your arm capacity will be based on a uniformly distributed load which is crucial to the rack’s stability. The inventory specs will dictate the arm style and size as well as the base size and bracing. The inventory weight distribution across the level and how much overhang will indicate the number of arms needed. 

Warehouse equipment – You don’t require special equipment to access your HD cantilever system. A forklift rated for proper load capacity will handle the task; however, the open design does allow for use by an overhead crane with a sling if necessary.

Column heights – several rack manufacturers, produce heavy-duty and extra-heavy-duty cantilever rack. The range of heights can vary from 8’ to 30’ with common sizes being 8’, 12’ and 16’. Column widths range from 3’ to 8’. Column punching along the column will allow for arm adjustment in increments as small as 3”.

Adjustable arms – The number of arms per side will depend on your inventory specs. To calculate arm capacity, take the total weight of the item or bundle on each level and divide it by the number of arms. Typical lengths are 24”, 38”, 46”, and 60”.

Bracing size – The size of the bracing is determined by multiple factors. The main ones to consider are the size of bundle/load, weight of the bundle, and type of equipment used to pick the product.  

• Size of the bundle – Assess the length and sturdiness of your inventory bundles. This is an important step to ensure the proper spacing between columns/arms to support the product. This can be tricky when you have multiple sizes.   
• Weight of the bundle – Depending on how light or heavy the product is, you may want to have the product supported by 2, 3, 4, or even 5 arms. This can help distribute the load to decrease the design of the column.
• Equipment for picking – Depending on the spec of the equipment you are using, it’s advisable to review the spacing of the bracing to make sure the forklift does not interfere with any of the columns, bases or arms when picking or putting away.

Durable finish – be sure to apply a durable finish to your cantilever rack to protect it against rust and exposure to the elements and/or chemicals. Typical finish options include powder coat and epoxy. While both are very effective, your environment may dictate that one is better than the other for protecting your rack system.

• Powder coat goes on with a smooth finish, has excellent lasting power, and is resistant to rust. However, powder coat is also resistant to UV damage and so is a good option for an outdoor HD cantilever system.
• Epoxy is also very durable, displays a smooth finish, and is rust-resistant. In addition, epoxy finishes are virtually immune to saltwater damage and withstand hot and cold temperature extremes.

How Do You Order the Heavy-Duty Cantilever Rack You Need?

The easiest decision you have to make to ensure that you get the best heavy-duty or extra-heavy-duty cantilever rack for your inventory and application needs is who to call. One call does it all when you can Apex Companies. We are a leading material handling and storage solutions company that provides full-service support for all your warehousing needs. Our engineers and designers will work with you to maximize your space and rack system potential. Then our project managers and professional installation teams will finish the job… and that only happens when you, our customer, are satisfied. Give Apex a call today, and let us take care of your heavy load.