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For high-volume glass wholesalers and IGU fabricators, the margin for error is razor-thin. When you are moving thousands of square feet of wholesale tempered glass daily, your rack isn't just storage—it's your insurance policy against edge chipping and inefficient return logistics. Stop shipping "air" on return trips and start securing your inventory with industrial-grade nesting solutions designed for the modern glazing supply chain. |
In the world of glass fabrication and distribution, the "last mile" to the jobsite or the glazier's shop is where most profits leak. Traditional wooden crates are consumables that generate waste, while generic welded racks often lack the precision needed for Insulated Glass Units (IGU) or high-end coated glass.
Our L-Shape Glass Holding Rack system is engineered specifically for operations like Western States Glass—distributors who need to balance warehouse density with transport safety. Whether you are handling standard 1/4" tempered lites or jumbo architectural sheets, the structural integrity of your transport fleet dictates your breakage rate.
Optimizing warehouse floor space by utilizing wall-hugging L-racks compared to bulky A-frames.
The primary cause of rejected deliveries in the glazing industry isn't catastrophic failure; it's micro-damage. A single chip on the edge of a tempered glass panel renders it useless. Traditional racks often use glued-on rubber strips that peel off under the California sun or in humid fabrication plants, leading to disastrous metal-to-glass contact.
We utilize a proprietary Steel-core rubber profile. This isn't just adhesive foam; it is an EPDM rubber extrusion with a steel insert, mechanically fastened to the rack frame with self-tapping screws. This ensures that even when loading heavy laminated glass or granite slabs, the glass edge never slices through the protection. Your Low-E coatings and delicate edges remain pristine from the cutting table to the installation site.
Steel-core rubber profiles protecting sensitive IGU edges during heavy-duty transport.
For a distributor, the most expensive truck on the road is an empty one. Standard A-frame racks are notorious for eating up trailer space on the return leg.
Our design team solved this with the nestable L-shape geometry. When empty, these racks slide into one another—much like shopping carts—reducing the volume by up to 70%.
Nesting capability allows for high-density storage and reduced return shipping costs.
A rack failure in a glass warehouse is a safety hazard we refuse to accept. Unlike light-duty racking, our Returnable shipping racks are constructed from Q235 Carbon Structural Steel (ASTM A36 equivalent).
We utilize Full Seam Welding (MIG) rather than spot welding. When a forklift operator hits the brakes, or a crane lifts a 4,000 lb load of glass sheets, the rack must behave as a single rigid unit. The electrostatic powder coating (typically RAL 5010 Blue) protects against rust, ensuring no oxidation stains transfer to your raw float glass inventory.
Internal structural view showing full seam welding on Q235 steel frames before coating.
Q1: Can these racks handle 144" jumbo split sheets?
Yes, we offer custom dimensions. For jumbo stock sheets or large architectural panels, we increase the base depth and back height to ensure the center of gravity remains low and safe during forklift transport.
Q2: Will the rubber pads mark my Low-E or soft-coated glass?
No. We use non-marking EPDM rubber specifically formulated for the glass industry. It provides high friction to prevent sliding but leaves no residue on sensitive coatings or mirrors.
Q3: How many empty L-racks can fit in a standard delivery truck?
Thanks to the nesting design, you can stack racks horizontally. In a standard 53' trailer, you can fit 3-4 times as many empty nested racks compared to rigid A-frames, significantly reducing your return logistics spend.
Q4: Are these suitable for automated glass loading lines?
Absolutely. We can hold tight tolerances on the base height and glass angle (typically 3-5 degrees) to ensure compatibility with robotic loading arms and tilting tables used in modern fabrication plants.
Q5: Do you offer hot-dip galvanizing for outdoor stone yards?
Yes. While powder coating is standard for indoor glass storage, we recommend Hot-Dip Galvanizing for racks used in stone yards or outdoor jobsites to prevent corrosion for 15+ years.
