HEAVY-DUTY CANTILEVER RACKING
Heavy-duty cantilever racking for timber, steel, pipe, sheet material, fabric rolls and other long, awkward or oversize loads. Indoor and outdoor systems engineered, supplied and installed UK-wide.
Per Arm
Load Length
& Outdoor
Years Experience
Cantilever racking is the only practical way to store long, awkward or oversize loads — timber, steel sections, plastic pipe, plasterboard, fabric rolls, carpet, tube and plate stock — without the column obstruction of conventional pallet racking. Loads are supported on cantilevered arms projecting from a column, allowing forklift or sideloader access along the full length of the rack.
UM Storage Systems supplies indoor and outdoor cantilever systems across UK timber merchants, steel stockholders, plumbing wholesalers, builders' merchants and manufacturing plants. Every system is engineered to BS EN 15629 / 15635 with arm capacities up to 5,000kg per arm and full hot-dip galvanising on outdoor installations.
Single, Double and Outdoor Cantilever
Single-sided cantilever racking is mounted against a wall or installed back-to-back against another structure, with arms projecting in one direction. Double-sided cantilever has arms projecting from both sides of a central column and is the most space-efficient option for free-standing installations, doubling capacity per linear metre of column.
Outdoor cantilever racking is hot-dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 for permanent corrosion protection, with reinforced base plates designed for cast-in-place anchoring or surface-mount onto suitably engineered concrete pads. Roof structures can be added to keep stock dry without enclosing the system.
Arm Capacity, Length and Geometry
Cantilever arm capacity is specified per arm and per column — both must be checked to ensure the system is loaded within design limits. Standard arm capacities range from 250kg (light-duty hand-loaded systems) to 5,000kg (heavy-duty forklift-loaded steel storage). Arms are typically 600mm to 2,400mm long and can be fitted with optional load stops, profile inserts or plate retainers.
Column heights up to 6 metres are standard, with 4-7 arm levels per column depending on load and pitch. Aisle widths are matched to the longest load and the chosen handling equipment — sideloaders for very long stock, counterbalance trucks for shorter material.
Typical UK Applications
Timber merchants store sawn boards, planed timber, sheet material and mouldings on cantilever racking, often with covered outdoor systems for sawn stock and indoor systems for finished mouldings. Steel stockholders use heavy-duty cantilever for bar, tube, RHS, angle and plate. Plumbing and electrical wholesalers store plastic pipe, conduit and trunking on lighter-duty systems.
Manufacturing plants use cantilever for raw material storage where long stock must be drawn off a rack and fed directly into saws, presses or cutting lines. Carpet warehouses and fabric importers use cantilever with profiled arms to hold rolls without crushing.
Engineering, Anchoring and Inspection
Heavy-duty and outdoor cantilever installations require careful engineering of base plates and floor anchors to resist overturning moments — particularly when single-sided columns are loaded eccentrically. We carry out a full structural design check on every project and specify anchor type and grouting where needed.
All UM Storage Systems cantilever installations are commissioned with load notices fixed to every column and a written O&M pack. SEIRS-aligned annual inspections are available on a fixed-fee contract.
Key Features
Typical UK Applications
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can cantilever racking be installed outdoors?
Yes. We hot-dip galvanise outdoor cantilever racking to BS EN ISO 1461 for permanent corrosion protection, and design base plates and anchors to resist wind and load overturning forces.
What is the maximum load per arm?
Standard cantilever arms are rated up to 5,000kg per arm. Heavier custom designs are available for steel stockholding and similar applications.
Do I need a special forklift for cantilever racking?
Not for shorter loads — a standard counterbalance or reach truck works fine. For very long material (timber, steel sections over 4m) a sideloader or four-way truck is usually required.
Can you supply cantilever racking with a roof?
Yes. We design and install canopy roofs over outdoor cantilever to keep stock dry without fully enclosing the system. Mono-pitch and duo-pitch options are available.
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