Why steel stockholders choose cantilever racking
Structural steel is among the heaviest and longest material handled in UK industrial storage. Universal beams, columns, channels, angles and hollow sections commonly run from 3 m to 12 m and weigh hundreds of kilograms per length. Standard pallet racking cannot accommodate these dimensions and weights without modification. Cantilever racking is designed from the ground up for these loads — heavy-duty columns, reinforced arm-to-column connections and base frames engineered for the point loads generated by dense steel stock. Overhead crane loading is common in steel stockholding operations, and cantilever racking can be specified to work alongside overhead lifting equipment.
Steel products stored on cantilever racking
The range of steel products that benefit from cantilever storage is wide. Universal beams (UB sections) and universal columns (UC sections) are stored in bundles on heavy-duty double-sided systems. Channel sections (PFC), equal and unequal angles, flat bar and square bar are organised by profile and length. Hollow section — CHS, RHS and SHS — is particularly well suited to cantilever storage as it cannot be safely stacked without adequate lateral support. Round bar and threaded rod are stored on inclined or bayed arms. Sheet steel, checker plate and cold-rolled coil can be accommodated on purpose-specified flat-arm systems with appropriate end stops.
- Universal beams (UB) and columns (UC)
- Channel sections (PFC) and angles
- Hollow section — CHS, RHS, SHS
- Round bar, flat bar and square bar
- Sheet steel, checker plate and coil
- Threaded rod and reinforcement bar
Heavy-duty specification for steel storage
A steel stockholding cantilever system requires careful structural specification. Arm capacities for steel storage typically run from 1,000 kg to 2,500 kg per arm, with column sections and base frames sized accordingly. The connection between arm and column must resist the significant bending moment generated by a dense bundle of steel placed at the arm tip. Floor fixings must be engineered for the base reactions generated by the loaded system, and slab thickness and concrete strength must be confirmed before installation. Rackstor UK specifies every system to the actual loads being stored, with a free site survey and 24-hour quotation.
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