Long-Material Storage in Penang, Malaysia
Cantilever Racking System
Open-front industrial storage for pipes, tubes, timber, steel profiles, extrusions and other long or bulky materials.
SKL supplies cantilever racking systems with project planning, supply and installation support. The appropriate configuration depends on the material length, maximum bundle weight, arm length, support spacing, storage quantity, handling method and warehouse layout.
Cantilever Racking at a Glance
Is Cantilever Racking Suitable for Your Materials?
Cantilever racking is designed for long products that need support at several points while remaining accessible from an unobstructed working face. It is useful when conventional shelving or pallet racking makes long stock difficult to load, separate or retrieve.
Common applications
- Pipes, tubes and hollow sections
- Steel bars and structural profiles
- Timber, boards and building materials
- Aluminium and plastic extrusions
- Rolled, bundled or packaged long materials
- Long industrial components
Another system may be more suitable when
- Most inventory is stored on standard pallets
- Goods are mainly cartons, bins or loose components
- Small parts need compact shelf-based storage
- High-density storage of similar pallets is the main goal
- The available aisle cannot accommodate long-load handling
How a Cantilever Racking System Works
A cantilever rack combines upright columns, projecting arms, base units, bracing and anchoring components. With no front uprights between the arms, operators can approach long materials directly from the aisle and organise different products across separate storage levels.
Upright Columns
Form the main vertical structure and receive the arms at the required levels.
Cantilever Arms
Project from the uprights to support long products at several points along their length.
Base & Bracing
Support and stabilise the structural assembly according to the chosen configuration.
Anchoring & Stops
Anchors secure the structure; end stops may help limit material movement where specified.
Arm positions may be adjusted where the selected system allows, but any change must remain within the approved rack design and loading requirements. Arm length, arm capacity, upright capacity, dimensions and support spacing are project-specific and should be confirmed for the intended load.
Cantilever Racking Configurations and Applications
These SKL product images show open-front cantilever arrangements used to organise pipes, profiles, timber and other long stock. The fourth image illustrates the different front-column and shelf structure of heavy-duty storage racking for comparison.
Single-Sided vs Double-Sided Cantilever Racking
The correct arrangement depends on the proposed rack position, floor area, required storage quantity, aisle access and handling movement.
| Configuration | Typical placement | Access | Planning consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-sided | Along a wall or warehouse boundary | One working face | Uses perimeter space where access from the rear is unnecessary. |
| Double-sided | Freestanding central warehouse row | Both sides | Requires working access on both sides and suits central storage rows. |
Information Needed to Configure the Rack
Capacity cannot be confirmed from the material type alone. Accurate load, dimension, quantity, handling and site information is needed before the arm arrangement and rack configuration can be evaluated.
| Information to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Material type | Pipes, timber, profiles and extrusions can behave differently when supported over several points. |
| Maximum material length | The longest product influences the rack arrangement and support-point spacing. |
| Maximum actual bundle weight | The heaviest intended storage condition is required for loading assessment. |
| Bundle width and height | Bundle dimensions affect arm depth, vertical spacing and usable storage levels. |
| Required levels and storage quantity | The number of material groups, bundles or pieces affects rack height, bays and overall space. |
| Single- or double-sided preference | The rack position and required working faces affect the row configuration. |
| Manual or mechanical loading | The handling method influences working clearances, aisle width and rack placement. |
| Warehouse dimensions and clear height | Walls, columns, doors and overhead restrictions affect the practical layout. |
| Floor plan, site photos and conditions | Site information helps identify traffic routes, installation constraints and anchoring conditions. |
Loading, Support and Warehouse Layout Considerations
A cantilever rack should be planned around both the stored material and the way it will be approached, loaded and retrieved. A rack can be structurally appropriate yet operationally difficult if support spacing or handling movement is overlooked.
Material and support
- Match arm depth to the bundle depth and intended placement.
- Provide suitable support intervals along the material length.
- Consider material stiffness, weight, bundle arrangement and load distribution.
- Review overhang so stored materials remain stable and manageable.
- Consider rolling or shifting risks for round or bundled products.
Handling and layout
- Confirm whether loading is manual or uses a forklift or other equipment.
- Allow sufficient aisle and manoeuvring space for the longest handled load.
- Review forklift approach direction and lifting clearance.
- Keep pedestrian routes, loading zones and nearby equipment in the layout.
- Check the proposed installation area and floor conditions.
Cantilever Racking vs Other Storage Systems
Each system solves a different storage requirement. Selecting the right direction starts with the inventory format and required access.
| Storage requirement | Recommended direction | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Long pipes, bars, timber or profiles | Cantilever Racking | Open-front arms support long products without front-column obstruction. |
| Standard palletised goods | Selective Pallet Racking | Provides direct aisle access to pallet positions supported on beams. |
| Heavy cartons, bins or loose components | Heavy Duty Storage Racking | Uses rack levels or shelves instead of projecting arms. |
| Dense storage of similar pallets | Drive-In Racking | Stores pallets in deep lanes that the forklift enters. |
| Additional elevated floor area | Mezzanine or Steel Platform | Creates usable floor space rather than dedicated long-material supports. |
Safe Use and Inspection Considerations
Safe cantilever storage depends on using the approved rack configuration, distributing loads correctly and maintaining clear handling practices.
- Do not exceed the confirmed arm, level, upright or system loading requirements.
- Place materials across the intended support points and avoid unstable loading.
- Keep loads within the approved arm arrangement and manage material overhang.
- Use suitable restraints or end stops where specified for materials that may roll or shift.
- Keep aisles and forklift approach areas clear during loading and retrieval.
- Inspect arms, connectors, uprights, bracing, bases and anchors for visible damage.
- Review any impact damage or proposed configuration change before continued use.
- Consider protection where handling equipment operates close to the rack structure.
Suitable racking accessories and safety protection can be considered according to the final layout and operating environment.
From Material Review to Cantilever Rack Installation
Our service scope covers design, supply, installation and maintenance. The final direction is based on the material profile, loading requirement, handling method, warehouse information and agreed project scope.
Requirement Review
Share material type, maximum length, bundle dimensions and weight, quantity and loading method.
Layout Direction
Review support spacing, arm levels, single- or double-sided rows, aisles and site constraints.
Supply & Installation
Once the proposed scope is agreed, our team can supply and install the planned system.
Maintenance Support
Maintenance and later project requirements can be reviewed as storage needs develop.
Why Work With SKL Metal Systems?
Established in 2007
We have supplied racking and storage products from our base in Penang since 2007.
End-to-End Support
Our service scope covers design, supply, installation and maintenance for racking and storage solutions.
Regional Service
We support industrial and commercial storage requirements in Malaysia and ASEAN markets.
Learn more about SKL Metal Systems and our service capabilities.
What to Prepare for a Cantilever Racking Quotation
Providing complete project information helps our team assess whether cantilever racking suits the operation and identify the configuration details needed for quotation.
- Material type and whether it is bundled, loose, rolled or packaged
- Maximum material length
- Maximum actual bundle weight
- Bundle width and height
- Required number of storage levels
- Required storage quantity or number of material groups
- Manual or mechanical loading method
- Single- or double-sided preference
- Warehouse length, width, clear height and location
- Floor plan, site photographs and fixed obstructions
Request a Cantilever Rack Assessment
Send us your material type, maximum length, maximum bundle weight, storage quantity, handling method and warehouse layout. We can use these details to discuss a suitable configuration and quotation direction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cantilever Racking
In Summary
Cantilever racking provides open-front, multi-level storage for pipes, timber, profiles, extrusions and other long materials. Before requesting a quotation, confirm the longest material, maximum actual bundle weight, bundle dimensions, storage quantity, loading method, preferred single- or double-sided arrangement, warehouse dimensions and site constraints so the proposed system can be matched to the real operation.