If you’re like most business owners, managing your inventory can be a daunting task. Not only do you need to keep track of what you have on hand, but you also need to make sure it’s properly organized and accessible. A great way to manage your inventory is with cantilever racks.
Many warehouses choose to put their inventory on the floor. By doing this, it poses a major risk to workers and decrease the warehouse’s overall productivity. Cantilever racks provide a quick and easy substitute for large and irregularly shaped objects in your warehouse.
What Are Cantilever Racks?
Cantilever racks are a type of storage rack that is specifically designed for storing long or awkwardly shaped items. These are ideal for storing lumber, piping, furniture, and other items that are difficult to store on traditional storage racks.
Cantilever racks are similar to traditional storage racks, but they have one key difference—they feature arms that extend from the uprights, which provides additional support for long or awkwardly shaped items.
Cantilever racks get their name from the fact that they are supported by a single column on one end, while the other end is cantilevered, or extended out. This design allows for easy accessibility to the items being stored on the racks, which is why these racks are ideal for storing heavy or bulky items.
There are two main types of cantilever racks:
- Structural Racks: Structural racks are made from hot-rolled structural steel channels. These racks are the heavy-duty racks, and they can support the heaviest loads. They are able to take the abuse and daily wear and tear from lift equipment.
- Roll Formed Racks: Roll-formed racks are made from roll-formed steel. These racks are not as heavy-duty as structural racks and tend to get damaged very easily.
Inventory Best Suited for Cantilever Racks
There are many types of inventory that are well-suited for storage on cantilever racks. Some of the most common items include:
- Lumber
- Pipes
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Mattresses
- Tires and more!
Steps to Organize Your Inventory with Cantilever Racks
Below we explain how to properly organize your inventory with cantilever racks.
- Determine the Product’s Capacity: Knowing the capacity of the load being stored will help with getting the right cantilever rated for the capacities you are planning to store.
- Measure the Product’s Load: The first step is to measure the length and width of your product’s load. This will help you determine what size racks you need to purchase.
- Check the Components of the Cantilever Rack: Next, you need to check the components of the cantilever rack to ensure they are all in good condition. This includes checking the uprights, arms, and base.
- Customize the Organization Based on Your Industry: The way you organize your inventory will be based on the type of industry you are in. For example, if you are in the lumber industry, you will want to store your lumber on the arms of the racks.
- Assess the Shelf and Space Utilization: Once you have your racks set up, take a look at your shelf and space utilization. This will help you determine if you need to purchase additional racks or if you can make do with the ones you have.
- Use Vertical Storage Space: One of the best ways to make use of your storage space is to use vertical storage space. Cantilever racks are perfect for this because they allow you to store items on the arms of the racks. This frees up floor space so you can use it for other purposes.
- Divide Your Inventory into Categories According to Your Storage Needs: Another way to organize your inventory is to divide it into categories according to your storage needs. For example, you might want to store items that are used frequently in one area and items that are used less frequently in another area.
- Label All of Your Inventory Clearly: Make sure to label all of your inventory clearly. This will help you keep track of what is stored where and it will also help you to find items quickly when you need them.
- Have Designated Receiving Areas: One way to keep your inventory organized is to have designated receiving areas. This will help you keep track of what items need to be stored on the racks and it will also help you keep track of what items need to be put away.
- Keep Track of Inventory Error Rates: Another way to keep your inventory organized is to keep track of inventory error rates. By doing this, you can determine if you need to make changes to the way you are storing your inventory.
- Keep Your Racks Clean: Last but not least, you need to keep your racks clean. This means dusting them regularly and sweeping up any debris that might accumulate on the floor around them.
Contact Canadian Rack Technologies to Organize Your Warehouse by Using Cantilever Racks
If you’re looking for a way to organize your warehouse and make it safer and more productive, cantilever racks might be the answer. Canadian Rack Technologies Inc. is one of the leading distributors of high-quality and fully customizable storage racks in Toronto, Ontario. With our help, you’ll be able to store large and irregularly shaped objects safely and easily, making your warehouse run smoother than ever before. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you set up this type of storage system in your facility.
About: Kevin Ausman
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.