Keeping workers safe and preventing contamination are easily achieved with industrial partition walls.
What is cantilever racking? If you have driven past an industrial estate, vehicle scrap yard, or timber merchants recently, you will probably have noticed towering structures storing all manner of long, heavy, or bulky materials. Most likely, you have spotted a cantilever racking installation. When it comes to storage, cantilever racks are the ultimate heavy-duty solution.
Cantilever racking is an industrial storage system which maximises vertical space. Suitable for use indoors, like a warehouse, or outdoors in a yard. A robust solution to building upwards, cantilever racking has a minimal footprint but make full use of, often underutilised, vertical storage capacity.
Towering is an appropriate description of cantilever racking because it is constructed up to 10 metres high, with single- or double-sided cantilever arms to store goods and materials on one side or both.
The Nuts and Bolts
What is cantilever racking made from? Heavy-duty storage racking needs heavy-duty manufacturing. Quality cantilever racks are manufactured using one of two different methods, according to the expected weight and dimensions of goods to be stored. Manufactured using hot-rolled or cold-formed steel for high-performance and longevity. Cold-formed steel, due to the forming process, is approximately 20% stronger than hot-rolled steel, making it ideal for high-stress applications.
The steel structure and components are completed with a hot-dipped galvanised finish. This provides a protective layer to extend the life of the steel. Look for steel finished to BS EN ISO 1461:2009 standard to ensure long-term product protection.
Each cantilever rack consists of an upright column – manufactured from hot- or cold-rolled steel – to which cantilever arms are attached using hot-rolled steel bolts or cold-formed steel pins. Where cantilever arms are bolted to the column flange, there is 150mm of vertical adjustment. Where cantilever arms are pinned to the column flange, there is 76mm of vertical adjustment.
How Cantilever Racking is Used
The versatility of a cantilever racking system means it has many uses within the realms of industrial storage. Suitable for outdoor and indoor use, cantilever racking can be installed within a warehouse or yard. The supporting arms of a cantilever rack can be manufactured to 2.5 metres long with a maximum safe working load (SWL) of 2500kg.
One of the key reasons for choosing cantilever racking is the ability to support lengthy materials, such as timber and extrusions, to avoid bowing and warping in storage. Add to this, the ability to store a large volume of heavy goods within a small footprint, accessibility via forklift truck, and a relocatable storage asset, cantilever racking is a highly versatile, future-proofed storage investment.
Cantilever racking is ideal for timber storage because it supports the material along its length. Timber merchants commonly include a racking canopy to protect stock from the elements. Cantilever racks are also used for storing extrusions, frames such as windows and doors, steel stockholding, and vehicles.
Cantilever racks are commonly used for vehicle storage. Installed as either indoor or outdoor storage, cantilever car racking can store up to 10 vehicles per rack in a double-sided, 5-tier rack. For vehicle recyclers, cantilever racking maximises storage capacity, protects valuable stock from damage, and supports fast stock handling.
Ready to Roll
Looking to invest in cantilever racking? Quality products and installers are out there if you know what to look for. When searching for a cantilever rack for sale, here’s a checklist of essentials to look for in your choice of product and supplier:
✔️ Manufactured using quality steel
✔️ Hot-dip galvanised finish
✔️ Maximum SWL of 2500kg
✔️ Racks up to 10 metres high
✔️ Arms up to 2.5 metres long
✔️ Accessories like canopies or lateral support bars
✔️ Compliant with BS5950 structural use of steelwork
✔️ SEIRS accredited
When it comes to heavy-duty storage, a cantilever racking system is hard to beat. There is no compromise with a robust product, designed to increase revenue per square metre. Prodek cantilever racking is certified Made in Sheffield using high-quality steels. From initial site survey, through design and installation, Prodek oversee every aspect of planning, survey, and compliance. Our engineers ensure seamless delivery of Prodek storage solutions.
