Cantilever Racks: The Ultimate Storage Solution for Bulky Materials

Efficient storage plays a decisive role in lean production and logistics. While pallet racks or standard shelving systems are ideal for small parts, boxes, and pallets, they often fail when dealing with lumber, steel bars, structural steel, or other heavy duty long goods.

This is where cantilever rack systems prove their strength. With cantilever arms and uprights, they create a flexible storage system for handling heavy items that need to be stored securely yet accessed quickly. Whether you require single sided or double sided cantilever racks, these storage racks provide a modular and scalable solution for modern warehouses and production environments.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what cantilever racks are, their advantages, and how they can be integrated into racks systems to streamline your material flow and meet diverse storage needs.

What Are Cantilever Racks?

Cantilever racks are a type of storage rack system designed to hold items that are too long, heavy, or bulky for traditional shelving or pallet racks. Instead of using closed compartments, a cantilever rack system is built with:

• Vertical uprights (columns) as the main support structure.
• Cantilever arms that extend outward to hold materials.
• No front columns, which allows goods to be loaded and unloaded along the entire length of the rack.

This open-front design makes them ideal for storing lumber, steel bars, structural steel, pipes, panels, and other heavy duty materials. Depending on your storage needs, cantilever racks can be configured as single sided (placed against a wall) or double sided cantilever racks (accessible from both sides).

Unlike conventional storage systems or shelving, cantilever racks provide unmatched flexibility for companies that need to store long items while keeping them easy to access.

Typical Applications of Cantilever Racks

Companies across many industries use cantilever racks to store long, heavy, or awkwardly shaped goods that cannot be managed with conventional shelving. Thanks to their modular design, cantilever uprights and arms can be configured to handle everything from medium duty warehouse storage to heavy-duty industrial applications.

Some of the most common uses include:

• Metal and construction industries: storing steel beams, pipes, tubing, structural steel, and profiles using structural cantilever systems.
• Wood and furniture industries: organizing planks, boards, panels, and acting as a lumber rack for long timber products.
• Logistics and wholesale: keeping large coils, rolls, or packaged goods accessible for fast handling and transport.
• Manufacturing plants: positioning raw materials close to workstations to improve efficiency and reduce handling times.

Whether configured for lightweight profiles or medium duty storage of steel and lumber, cantilever racks offer a flexible, scalable solution for diverse storage needs.

Advantages of Cantilever Racks

1. Space Optimization

Cantilever racks maximize available space by eliminating front supports. This ensures that even very long goods can be stored without wasted space.

2. Flexible Design

The arms can be adjusted in height, length, and load capacity. This allows companies to customize racks to their exact requirements.

3. Easy Access & Handling

Forklifts, cranes, or even automated guided vehicles (AGVs) can quickly load and unload goods without obstruction—reducing handling times.

4. Lean Integration

In lean production, reducing waste and ensuring just-in-time supply are key. Cantilever racks enable ergonomic access, minimize unnecessary transport, and support a structured flow of materials.

5. Modular & Scalable

Like all BeeWaTec solutions, cantilever racks are modular systems. You can start with a small configuration and expand step by step as your needs grow.

Integration Into Modern Material Flow

Cantilever racks can be combined with BeeWaTec’s pipe and profile systems to create hybrid solutions, such as:

• Cantilever + flow racks for sequencing materials close to production lines.
• Cantilever + trolleys for mobile supply of long parts.
• Cantilever + AMR (autonomous mobile robot) integration for automated warehouse logistics.

This adaptability ensures that cantilever racks not only store materials safely, but also actively support efficiency in your entire value chain.

Key Considerations When Selecting Cantilever Racks

When planning a cantilever racking system, companies should analyze:

• Load requirements: How much weight must each arm and upright carry?
• Material dimensions: Length, width, and shape of stored items.
• Handling methods: Will forklifts, cranes, or  AMRs be used?
• Available floor space: Single- or double-sided layout?
• Safety and ergonomics: Compliance with workplace safety standards and ESD protection if required.

By taking these aspects into account, cantilever racks can be configured precisely to match your processes.

Why Choose BeeWaTec Cantilever Racks?

BeeWaTec offers more than just storage racks—we provide lean workplace solutions tailored to your material flow. Our cantilever racks are:

• Modular and customizable to fit any space and load requirement.
• Compatible with lean methods, ensuring reduced waste and optimized workflows.
• Expandable and scalable, ready to grow with your business.
• Backed by decades of expertise in lean production and intralogistics.

From design and planning with BEEVisio, to material optimization with BEELopt, through to on-site assembly and training—BeeWaTec accompanies you every step of the way.

Different Types of Cantilever Racks by BeeWaTec

At BeeWaTec, we don’t just deliver standard storage equipment—we develop customized lean solutions that integrate seamlessly into your workflows. Our cantilever rack systems are part of a broader modular product portfolio that combines flexibility, scalability, and efficiency.

Cantilever racks are essential for storing long, bulky, or irregularly shaped goods. BeeWaTec offers a wide variety of designs, built on modular systems using steel pipes, aluminium profiles, or square profiles, making them adaptable to different industries and requirements.

1. Cantilever Rack with Six Cantilevers for Long Goods

• Design: Compact structure with six horizontal arms.

• Material: Steel profile construction.

• Features:

  • Suitable for safely holding long goods such as pipes, rods, or beams.

  • Equipped with swivel castors for mobility and brake locks for stability.

• Best Use: Workshops or warehouses requiring frequent relocation of long materials.

2. Mobile Cantilever Rack

• Design: A-frame style with multiple angled arms.

• Material: Tubular steel pipes, painted in high-visibility yellow.

• Features:

  • Highly mobile thanks to heavy-duty castors.

  • Angled arms improve load security for longer goods.

• Best Use: Production areas with frequent transport and ergonomic material access.

3. Cantilever Rack Made of Aluminium Square Profile

• Design: Wider structure with reinforced square aluminium profiles.

• Material: Lightweight aluminium construction.

• Features:

  • Provides both strength and lightweight handling.

  • Modular frame allows custom adjustments.

  • Heavy-duty wheels for easy transport.

• Best Use: Environments needing strong yet lightweight solutions, such as automotive or aerospace assembly.

4. Mobile Cantilever Rack for Special Components (Aluminium Profile Pipes)

• Design: Custom-built mobile rack with protective holders.

• Material: Aluminium profile pipes.

• Features:

  • Specially designed for sensitive or unique components.

  • Protective arms and covers prevent surface damage.

  • Highly flexible in configuration due to modular aluminium system.

• Best Use: Handling delicate, high-value components requiring careful storage and safe mobility.

5. Mobile Cantilever Rack Made of Tubular Steel Profile

• Design: Rectangular frame with cantilever arms on multiple levels.

• Material: Tubular steel pipes.

• Features:

  • Robust, durable design for heavy-duty usage.

  • Multiple arms on both sides maximize storage capacity.

  • Mounted on wheels for mobility.

• Best Use: Industrial settings where robust and long-lasting storage is required.

Why BeeWaTec Cantilever Racks Stand Out

• Modular Design: Our racks can be easily reconfigured, extended, or combined with other BeeWaTec systems, such as flow racks, workstations, or transport trolleys.
• Industry-Specific Adaptability: Whether you need a lumber rack for wood processing, a structural cantilever system for steel bars, or a medium duty solution for warehouse storage, we tailor the system to your exact needs.
• Integration with Material Flow: BeeWaTec racks are designed to work alongside pipe and profile systems, AMRs, and AGVs, ensuring smooth transport and optimized storage.
• Software-Supported Planning: With BEEVisio, you can plan and visualize your cantilever racks in 3D. BEELopt ensures optimal cutting and material efficiency, reducing waste.
• Training & Support: We don’t just supply racks—we also provide workshops, assembly services, and ongoing support to guarantee that your team can use our systems effectively.

With decades of experience in lean production and intralogistics, BeeWaTec ensures that every cantilever rack system is not only a storage solution but also a strategic building block for efficient, ergonomic, and future-ready workplaces.

Conclusion