The Steel Storage Racking Systems We Install
Sheet Metal Racking Systems
Sheet and plate are among the most valuable and most easily damaged stock a steel business holds. A well-designed sheet metal racking system supports every sheet across its full surface, stops sheets sliding over one another and lets your team pick a single sheet without moving the whole stack. The right sheet steel racking system depends on sheet sizes, gauges, weight per level and how often stock is picked.
Roll-Out Sheet Racks
Roll-out sheet racks store sheet and plate on drawer-style levels that extend out of the rack on heavy-duty rollers. Once a level is pulled out, sheets can be lifted directly from above by overhead crane or vacuum lifter, giving full access to every level without double handling. They suit high-value sheet and plate with frequent picks and are one of the most space-efficient ways to store full-size sheets.
Vertical Sheet Racks
Vertical sheet racks store sheets upright in individual bays, separated by dividers so each sheet or bundle can be identified and picked by hand. They take up far less floor space than flat storage. They also work well for thinner gauges and offcuts, which are often the hardest items to keep organised in a busy fabrication shop.
Decked Pallet Racking for Plate
Heavier plate and bundled sheet can be stored on heavy-duty pallet racking fitted with steel decking, giving a fully supported surface on every level. Beam capacities are specified against the actual weight of each bundle, with the heaviest plate kept on the lower levels. This is often the most cost-effective option for stockholders moving plate in bundles by forklift.
Steel Bar and Tube Storage Racking
Cantilever racking is the standard choice for steel bar, tube, sections, angle and beams. Arms extend from a central column with no front uprights, so long lengths can be loaded and picked from the side by forklift, side loader or crane without obstruction.
The key to a good steel bar storage rack is getting the arm specification right. Arm length and capacity are matched to the stock on each level, while arm spacing needs to be close enough that long or flexible lengths do not sag between supports or overhang at the ends. Single-sided runs suit wall lines and yard perimeters, while double-sided runs make the most of central floor space.
For lighter tube, small sections and offcuts, pigeon hole racking stores lengths horizontally in individual compartments. This keeps mixed sizes and grades separated, making stock easier to identify and quicker to pick by hand.
Our cantilever racking systems can be specified in a range of heights and arm lengths to suit the stock you hold.
Steel Tube Coil Racking
Coil is one of the heaviest and most hazardous forms of steel to store. Its weight is concentrated in a small footprint and it will roll if not properly restrained. Steel tube coil racking uses cradles or V-shaped saddles to hold each coil securely, protecting edges from damage and preventing movement during loading. Racking is rated for the concentrated loads involved, with the heaviest coils kept at lower levels wherever possible.
Coil can be loaded by overhead crane, C-hook or forklift with a ram attachment, so the rack layout and access are designed around the handling equipment you already use. For tube coil and narrower strip, multi-level coil racks make far better use of space than floor storage while keeping every coil accessible.
Indoor and Outdoor Steel Storage
Where your steel is stored has a big impact on how your racking should be specified. Indoor racking in a dry, heated building is usually powder coated, which gives a durable finish at a lower cost. For yards, open-sided buildings and unheated stores, hot-dip galvanised racking is the better choice, as it resists rain, frost and condensation far longer than painted steel.
Protecting the stock matters as much as protecting the racking. Bright steel, sheet and pre-finished products can mark or rust quickly when exposed to the weather. Cantilever racking can be fitted with a roof canopy and side cladding to create a covered store without the cost of a full building. Outdoor installations also need to account for ground conditions, wind loading on clad structures and clear access for forklifts and side loaders in all weathers.
Handling Equipment and Safety
Steel storage racking only works safely if it is designed around how stock is moved. Aisle widths, bay sizes and arm or level heights are planned around your handling equipment, whether that is side loaders, multi-directional forklifts or overhead cranes.
Every bay should carry a clear load notice showing the safe working load for each level, so staff know exactly what can be stored where. Column guards and end-of-run barriers reduce the risk of forklift impact, which is the most common cause of racking damage on sites handling long and heavy loads.
Regular racking inspections are essential. HSE guidance recommends an expert inspection at least once every 12 months, alongside in-house checks by trained staff. Cantilever and sheet racks need particular attention, as heavy loads and awkward handling make damage more likely. Where problems are found, we can carry out racking repairs quickly to keep your site safe and operational.
