Can lumber and steel share an upright run?

They may, provided the arrangement accounts for their separate weights and support needs. Mark assigned levels clearly and verify cumulative loading rather than treating all bundles as interchangeable. For manufacturing near West Main Street, distinguish raw steel from lumber awaiting order assembly.

What changes if Lowell stock is stored outside?

The rack specification must address exposure, and the material may need separate weather protection. Also assess the operating surface and access conditions for the proposed handling equipment. M-21 receiving should have an agreed route for weather-sensitive loads before they enter storage.

How much vertical space belongs above a bundle?

Enough for the actual lifting and withdrawal movement, including forks and packaging. Measure that movement with the proposed truck rather than assigning levels from bundle height alone. At a Foreman Road site, include the approach from receiving when measuring the loaded lift.

When should sheet goods have their own zone?

Separate them when support requirements, fork access, or picking frequency conflict with long narrow stock. A dedicated zone can accommodate an appropriate surface without constraining neighboring pipe or lumber positions. Lowell building-product picking should separate fragile sheets from frequently withdrawn pipe sections.

Lowell, Michigan

Cantilever Rack in Lowell, MI

Cantilever rack gives Lowell building suppliers an alternative to stacking pipe and lumber beside mixed receiving routes. The system carries loads on arms attached to uprights, with no front columns blocking the face where a long bundle is placed or removed.

A sensible specification begins with what the material does between supports. Long bar, pipe, tube, lumber, and sheet loads vary in stiffness as well as weight. We use those differences to shape support intervals, usable level height, and the amount of handling space that remains around the row.

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How cantilever rack sizing follows your material

Before drawing rows, we establish four practical facts. The aim is a cantilever storage rack arrangement that operators can use with the equipment and bundle sizes already under consideration.

List full and partial packs

Record the heaviest receipt alongside the smallest picked quantity. A load that is manageable while strapped may need a different support pattern when only loose lengths remain.

Check depth against arm length

Provide the load depth measured from the upright outward. Arm projection must support that depth, and its capacity must be checked at the relevant loading position along with column and base limits.

Compare access configurations

Single-sided storage can use a perimeter location, whereas double-sided storage opens a second picking face. Include both aisles and the base projection when comparing their footprint; two faces are not free floor space.

Verify truck fit under load

Review forklift turning clearance with the actual material length, not an empty truck. Where a side-loader is proposed, check platform dimensions, fork movement, and its approach to the arm levels.

Cantilever rack details beyond the upright line

Indoor and outdoor arrangements need separate consideration. Exposure affects finish selection and may affect the condition of lumber or sheet products. The installation surface, drainage context, and handling route should be discussed before placing an exterior row on a plan.

Grand Rapids Pallet Rack operates as a division of Warehouse Equipment & Supplies Co.; our supplying and installing work began in 1997. Experienced installation crews are scheduled and managed for the agreed scope. We coordinate the working area, verify the intended arm elevations, and provide a clear basis for the storage handover.

Area services Long-load systems Gravity pallet storage Deep-lane alternatives

Long stock with several section sizes

Sheet packs needing a reviewed support surface

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Why cantilever racking differs from pallet bays

Selective rack works well when a pallet provides the supported unit and direct access to individual pallets matters. Its front uprights and beam spans can limit entry for material that extends across several positions. Open-arm storage addresses that geometry without pretending every long item belongs on a pallet.

Sheet packs may call for a specified support surface rather than bare arms. Flexible tube or thin bar may need additional support points to limit sag. We would rather identify those exceptions during load review than leave operators to improvise when a bundle is opened.

Size support for the material after picking.

Allow lifting clearance above each bundle.

Treat receiving travel as part of the footprint.

Cantilever warehouse racking holding steel tubing

Cantilever rack storing lumber and wood products

Planning around the eastern corridor

Along M-21 / Fulton Street and the West Main Street industrial area, building products and manufacturing give Lowell a distinct long-load planning context. Pipe and lumber receiving should not force a forklift carrying boxed goods to detour through a picking face. Separating those movements can influence which side of a row remains accessible and where partial packs return. For a site near Foreman Road, confirm receiving access and the installation schedule before selecting the row arrangement.

Building-product handling

Manufacturing material preparation

Regional distribution support

Recent Installations

Racking projects completed for warehouses across West Michigan.

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Start with the bundle that is hardest to place

For a cantilever rack consultation, bring dimensions, weights, and a simple receiving sketch. Tell us where a truck must turn while loaded and which materials cannot stay outside. Phone (616) 344-5683 to discuss the storage questions before selecting a row length or committing to a face count. (616) 344-5683.