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Stop Rejecting Perfect Glass Due to Rack FailureIn the glass fabrication business, your "cull rate" is the enemy. There is nothing more frustrating than processing a jumbo sheet of Soft-Coat Low-E, tempering it to perfection, only to have it scratched by a worn-out rack or chipped by exposed steel during internal transport. If you are still relying on glued-on rubber pads that peel off in the summer heat, you are bleeding profit on every remake. |
For operations managers at high-volume wholesalers like Western States Glass or specialized fabricators, the integrity of the L-Shape Glass Holding Rack is just as critical as the cutting table or the tempering furnace. The primary failure point in standard racking systems is the protective lining.
Traditional racks often use solvent-based adhesives to stick rubber strips to the steel uprights. Over time, UV exposure, humidity in the washing zone, and the sheer shear force of loading heavy insulated glass units (IGU) cause this glue to fail. Once the rubber slips, your glass edge hits bare steel. The result? Micro-fractures that lead to delayed breakage at the jobsite or immediate deep scratches on the coating.
Figure 1: High-value IGU units resting securely on steel-core rubber profiles, preventing edge damage.
To eliminate the risk of "clam-shelling" and surface abrasion, our engineers developed a proprietary protection system specifically for the glass transport rack industry. We do not use glue. Instead, we utilize a Steel-Core Rubber Profile.
This is an industrial EPDM or Polyurethane profile with a steel plate vulcanized directly inside the rubber. We then mechanically fasten this profile to the rack using self-tapping screws through the internal steel core.
Figure 2: Close-up of the mechanically fastened, steel-core rubber profile that eliminates adhesive failure.
When you are moving packs of 1/2 inch (12mm) tempered glass or heavy laminated architectural panels, a flimsy rack is a safety hazard. If the rack flexes during forklift transport, the glass flexes with it. Glass is rigid; it does not like to flex.
Our racks are fabricated from Q235 Carbon Structural Steel with full seam welding (no spot welds). The base features a calculated 3-5° incline. This angle is the "sweet spot"—steep enough to keep the sheets pinned against the backboard by gravity, but vertical enough to minimize the footprint in your warehouse. Whether you are storing wholesale tempered glass or raw float sheets, the rigidity of the frame ensures the glass remains stress-free.
Figure 3: Jumbo size glass sheets stored on heavy-duty L-racks, demonstrating superior load-bearing capacity.
For distributors delivering to glazing contractors, the logistics of return trips eat into margins. Sending a flatbed truck to retrieve bulky, empty A-frames is shipping air.
Our L-Shape racks are designed with Nesting Capability. Once the glass is offloaded at the construction site or the window factory, the empty racks can be stacked in a nested formation. You can fit approximately 7 empty nested racks in the space of 2 full ones. This reduces your return freight costs by up to 70%, making them the ideal returnable shipping racks for closed-loop logistics.
Figure 4: Empty racks nested together, significantly reducing warehouse footprint and return shipping costs.
1. Will the rubber profile stain or mark Soft-Coat Low-E glass?
No. We use a specially formulated EPDM/Polyurethane blend that is non-marking and free of oils that could migrate onto the coating. It is safe for direct contact with high-performance coated glass.
2. Can these racks handle 1/2" (12mm) heavy tempered glass without tipping?
Yes. The racks feature a counter-weighted design and an extended base geometry. Even when fully loaded with heavy tempered sheets, the center of gravity remains within the base footprint to prevent forward tipping.
3. How do I repair the rubber if it eventually wears out?
Unlike glued pads which require scraping and solvent cleaning, our Steel-Core profile is held on by screws. Simply back out the screws, remove the old strip, and screw in a new one. Maintenance takes minutes, not hours.
4. Are these compatible with my existing overhead crane system?
Yes. All our heavy-duty models come standard with 4 welded lifting eyes (crane lugs) on the top beam, allowing for safe overhead lifting alongside 4-way forklift entry at the base.
5. We handle custom oversized sheets (Jumbo). Can you modify the dimensions?
Absolutely. While our standard height is 63 inches (1600mm), we frequently fabricate custom storage systems for insulated glass units and jumbo sheets up to 100+ inches in length to match your specific production line requirements.
