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Stop guessing if your current racks can handle 4,000 lbs of jumbo tempered glass. In the glass fabrication industry, a structural failure isn't just an inconvenience—it's a safety hazard that destroys high-value IGUs and halts your production line. You need certified load capacity, not just welded metal. |
In the world of float glass storage and transport, "heavy duty" is often a marketing term thrown around loosely. However, for a facility handling 10mm tempered glass or heavy stone slabs, the difference between a generic rack and a glass transport rack engineered with Q235 carbon structural steel is the difference between safe delivery and a collapsed truck load.
Our L-Shape racks (often called L-bucks in the industry) are designed with a 90° vertical support structure backed by calculated counterweights. Unlike wooden A-frames that rot and weaken over time, our full-seam welded steel chassis maintains structural rigidity even under dynamic loads of up to 4 tons (8,800 lbs). This ensures that when your forklift hits a bump, the rack absorbs the shock, not your glass.
Figure 1: Industrial-grade design capable of supporting 1.5 to 4 tons of heavy plate glass or stone.
Ask any glazing contractor about their biggest headache, and they will mention "edge chipping" caused by worn-out dunnage. Traditional racks use glue to attach rubber strips. In hot climates or under the shear force of loading heavy IGUs, this glue fails, the rubber slides off, and your glass edge grinds directly against the steel beam.
We eliminated this risk using Steel-Core Rubber Profiles. Instead of adhesive, we mold the rubber around a steel insert and mechanically fasten it to the rack frame using self-tapping screws. This creates a permanent bond. Your Low-E coatings and polished edges remain pristine because the protective layer physically cannot delaminate or slide, regardless of how many times you load and unload the rack.
Figure 2: Steel-core rubber strips mechanically fastened to the frame ensure zero metal-to-glass contact.
If you are shipping from the fabrication plant to the job site, the return trip with empty racks is usually a sunk cost. Standard A-frames consume the same floor space empty as they do full.
Our certified glass transport racks feature a geometric offset design that allows for "Nesting." When empty, you can stack 7 racks into the footprint of just 2-3 standard units. For a logistics manager, this means you can fit nearly 100 empty racks into a single 40HQ container or return truck, drastically reducing your reverse logistics spend.
Figure 3: Empty racks nesting together to save valuable warehouse and truck space.
Standard racks often fail when dealing with "Jumbo" sheets (e.g., 130" x 204") or heavy double-glazed units. The center of gravity shifts, and without proper engineering, the rack can tip. Our heavy-duty racks are engineered with an extended base and specific 3-5° tilt angles to keep the center of gravity safely within the wheelbase, even when loaded with high-density laminated glass.
Furthermore, for installation teams, we include 4-point crane lifting lugs and four-way forklift channels. This allows for seamless transition from the delivery truck to the tower crane at the construction site without re-rigging the load, minimizing handling risks.
Figure 4: Secure transport of large-format architectural glass with high load safety margins.
Q1: What is the maximum certified load capacity for your standard L-Shape rack?
Our standard heavy-duty models are rated for 3,300 lbs (1,500 kg) to 8,800 lbs (4,000 kg), depending on the specific tube wall thickness (2.5mm - 3.0mm) and configuration chosen.
Q2: Can these racks be used for shipping Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) without breakage?
Yes. The 90° upright design with a 3-5° tilt prevents the "bowing" effect common in A-frames. Combined with our steel-core rubber lining, it prevents edge pressure that typically causes seal failure or shattering in IGUs during transport.
Q3: How many empty racks can I fit in a return truck?
Thanks to the nesting design, you can stack approximately 7-10 empty racks into the space of one fully assembled unit. A standard 53' truck or 40HQ container can accommodate roughly 98 to 112 nested empty racks.
Q4: Do you offer Hot-Dip Galvanizing for outdoor storage?
Yes. While our standard finish is electrostatic powder coating (RAL 5010 Blue), we highly recommend Hot-Dip Galvanizing for racks used in outdoor stone yards or exposed job sites to prevent rust from compromising the steel strength over 10-20 years.
Q5: Are the racks compatible with existing A-frames I already own?
L-racks and A-frames are structurally different. However, our engineering team can customize the base dimensions and fork pocket heights of our Gracks to ensure they work with your existing forklift fleet and loading dock specifications.
