Quick answer: Roll out cantilever racks are purpose-built storage systems for long, heavy, or awkward materials such as pipe, tube, lumber, and steel stock. Unlike stationary racks, their roll out design allows materials to be safely loaded and unloaded with an overhead crane, improving accessibility, safety, space utilization, and material handling efficiency. This article explains why standard storage methods fall short, how roll out cantilever racks address common warehouse pain points, and what to look for in a qualified supplier.
Many warehouses and manufacturing facilities deal with a familiar frustration: long, heavy, or awkwardly shaped materials that simply don’t fit neatly into conventional storage systems. When materials end up stacked on the floor or crammed into standard pallet racking, the consequences are predictable—wasted space, damaged inventory, slower retrieval times, and increased safety risks.
Roll out cantilever racks are purpose-built to address these problems. Designed for storing long stock such as pipe, tube, steel bar, and other raw materials, they combine the structural benefits of cantilever design with a roll-out mechanism that allows materials to be safely loaded and unloaded using an overhead crane. Rather than requiring forklifts to reach deep into the rack, each storage level rolls out to present the load for direct crane access, improving both safety and handling efficiency.
Canadian Rack Technologies, a trusted industrial racking supplier with over 25 years of experience serving warehouses across the GTA and beyond, is one of few authorized dealers of roll out rack products in North America.

Why Traditional Storage Methods Fall Short in Modern Warehouses
Standard pallet racking works well for boxed or palletized goods—but it was never designed for long or oversized materials. Facilities that rely on it for pipes, tubing, or sheet stock often find that:
- Floor stacking consumes valuable workspace and creates trip hazards
- Forklift operators struggle to access materials safely and efficiently
- Retrieval times climb, driving up labour costs
- Improper support leads to product warping, bending, or surface damage
- Disorganized storage makes inventory tracking unreliable
These aren’t minor inconveniences. Over time, they compound into measurable losses in productivity, safety incidents, and unnecessary material waste.
Common Warehouse Storage Challenges—and How Roll Out Cantilever Racks Solve Them
Cantilever storage racks with a roll-out mechanism are specifically engineered to tackle the storage problems that stumped conventional systems. Here’s how they address the most common challenges:
- Limited floor space: Roll out cantilever racks maximise vertical storage capacity, keeping floor lanes clear for equipment and personnel movement.
- Difficulty storing long materials: The open-arm cantilever design accommodates pipes, tubing, lumber, and other long stock that standard racking simply cannot handle.
- Slow material retrieval: The roll-out mechanism allows entire rack sections to slide out smoothly, giving operators immediate access to materials without awkward manoeuvring.
- Designed for overhead crane handling: Unlike conventional stationary racks, roll out cantilever racks extend outward so overhead cranes can safely lift and place heavy or awkward loads directly from each storage level. This minimizes unnecessary material handling while improving operator safety and workflow.
- Product damage during loading and unloading: Controlled, guided movement reduces the rough handling that causes surface damage, dents, or material bending.
- Workplace safety risks: Cleaner aisle access and stable, organized storage reduce the likelihood of tip-overs, collisions, and worker injuries.
- Poor inventory organization: Each rack section can store a specific material type or SKU, making stock counts faster and more accurate.
These material storage solutions don’t just fix individual pain points—they create a more logical, efficient storage environment from the ground up.
Key Benefits of Roll Out Cantilever Racks Beyond Problem-Solving
The operational advantages of roll out storage racks extend well beyond addressing immediate storage headaches. Facilities that invest in this system typically see improvements across multiple areas:
- Faster material handling: Roll out arms position materials for efficient overhead crane access, reducing retrieval time and minimizing unnecessary forklift movement.
- Improved employee safety: Organized, accessible storage reduces the risk of accidents.
- Reduced material damage: Proper support and guided movement protect inventory quality.
- Better space utilization: Vertical storage opens up floor area for other operational needs.
- Lower maintenance costs: Durable construction and proper storage reduce wear on both materials and equipment.
- Long-term ROI: Fewer damaged goods, less wasted labour, and a more efficient operation all contribute to meaningful cost savings over time
For warehouses dealing with ongoing warehouse storage challenges, these gains are not incremental; they’re transformational.
Why Businesses Choose Canadian Rack Technologies for Roll Out Cantilever Rack Solutions
Canadian Rack Technologies brings more than product supply to the table. As a full-service provider of warehouse storage solutions and industrial storage solutions for warehouse racking systems across Canada, we offer layout and design using CAD technology, professional installation, annual inspection programs, and certification—all handled by a trained in-house crew.
Our space-saving storage solutions, including the full range of industrial cantilever racks and roll-out rack systems, are tailored to each facility’s unique operational requirements. Canadian Rack also carries a used rack buy-back program and offers comprehensive relocation services, making us a practical long-term partner rather than a one-time vendor.
Get the Right Storage System Working for Your Facility
Traditional storage methods create friction at every stage—retrieval, organization, safety, and space management. Roll out cantilever racks eliminate that friction by giving long and bulky materials a home that’s accessible, organized, and designed for efficient overhead crane handling. The result is safer loading and unloading, improved workflow, and better use of valuable warehouse space.
The benefits of cantilever racks are clear, and the right partner makes implementation straightforward. Contact Canadian Rack Technologies today to discuss your storage challenges and request a free estimate.
Kevin Ausman is the founder of Canadian Rack Technologies. He has over 30 years of experience in providing safe and efficient turn-key storage solutions and he specializes in pallet racking, pick systems, industrial shelving, mezzanines, cantilever racks, and more. Kevin is dedicated to providing great customer service, listening to client’s needs, and supplying the best products available.