If you find yourself needing to store large amounts of furniture in your warehouse, or bulky and cumbersome objects, cantilever racking is a great storage choice for you.
Parts of a cantilever racking system
Most cantilever racking systems consist of structural beams that are anchored at one end to a vertical support piece. This racking is normally either roll formed or made with structural steel.
These beams also called arms, form the industrial shelving themselves, which makes cantilever racking an ideal storage solution if you are looking to store long items such as pipes, beams, tubing, lumber, or anything of a similar shape. They work well for many longer types of furniture as well, such as sofas, desks, mattresses and cabinets.
The simple design of this storage system allows for very easy access to whatever is being stored, which means it can be put into storage and taken out of storage without difficulty. Another huge advantage of cantilever racking systems is that there is a smaller chance of damaging the merchandise because of the safety and ease of access.
Considerations
There are a number of considerations to take into account when determining how best to design your cantilever racking system. These systems are versatile and can be adapted to fit the specific needs of your business, which makes them ideal storage solutions. Here are a few of the most significant things to think about when choosing the design of your cantilever racking system:
- Single or double-sided: Cantilever racking systems can either be single-sided or double-sided. This versatility allows for more maneuvering of stock, and you can alter the configurations if it becomes necessary.
- Vertical space: If your space constraints allow it, stacking multiple systems on top of one another can maximize the space used for storage and optimize your storage capacity even further. If you’re working in a smaller space with higher ceilings, cantilever racking would be an ideal way to make the most of your space.
- Size and weight: Depending on the items you want to store in this industrial shelving, different materials will be a good fit for your racking. There are a number of options for the decks of the cantilever racking, including solid wood, open wire mesh, and corrugated steel. It’s also important to consider the size of your forklift when determining the length of your beams.
- Arms: The next step is determining the dimensions of the arms you want for the shelving. There are a number of different lengths of arms, and arms can also be straight or inclined. Straight arms are best for storing materials that do not roll and will stay on the shelving easily. Inclined arms work best for storing products such as pipes, which can roll off shelves if not protected. You also need to calculate the ideal spacing of the arms to balance the weight evenly along the racking and make sure that the depth of the load you’re putting on the racking will never exceed the length of the arm.
- Safety: The safety of your merchandise and your warehouse is of paramount importance, and cantilever racking is an excellent choice for safety-minded workspaces. The design of cantilever racking systems can be adapted to accommodate either in-rack fire safety measures such as sprinklers, or other more general fire safety sprinklers.
Final thoughts
Cantilever racking is an excellent choice for many business and warehouse owners who want to safely store bulky and lengthy items without a large amount of hassle and stress, and it might be an excellent fit for you. Its customizable design means there’s a configuration of this shelving that will work in your space.
If you’ve decided to look into cantilever racking but are still undecided on how to customize your racking system, it’s a good idea to consult with an expert company such to determine what works best for you and your merchandise.
