In the high-stakes environment of custom glass fabrication, the transition between the CNC cutting table and the tempering furnace is where 60% of handling damage occurs. You aren't just storing glass; you are managing a volatile Work-In-Progress (WIP) flow. Our Heavy Duty Harp Rack is engineered to eliminate contact damage on soft-coat Low-E lites and streamline the critical "pairing" process for IGU assembly. Stop relying on improvised A-frames for sorting; upgrade to a system designed for precision flow.
For operations managers running high-volume Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) lines, the biggest headache isn't cutting—it's sorting. When you have hundreds of unique lites coming off the breaking table, finding the matching "Part B" for a custom window unit in a stack of leaning glass is a recipe for delays and "clamshell" breakage.
Standard A-frame carts force operators to shuffle glass to get to the middle pieces. This double-handling is the primary cause of scratches and edge shelling.
The Heavy Duty Harp Rack (also known as a harp cart) solves this by providing random access storage. Each slot is numbered and independent. Your team can slot the inner lite in position #12 and the outer lite in position #13, keeping them perfectly paired for the washing machine and butyl extruder. The integrated high-density nylon rollers allow heavy laminated sheets (even 3/4" thick) to slide in with minimal physical effort, reducing operator fatigue.
Figure 1: High-visibility numbering and nylon rollers allow for rapid, error-free sorting of IGU components.
With the increasing demand for high-performance energy-efficient glass, fabricators are handling more soft-coat Low-E and sensitive anti-reflective coatings than ever before. These coatings are notoriously unforgiving; a single scrape against a bare metal upright renders the sheet scrap.
Our racks are built with a "Structure-Function-Value" logic that prioritizes surface integrity. The vertical dividers are not just steel rods; they are sheathed in heavy-duty PVC casing. This provides a resilient, non-abrasive barrier between every single sheet. Unlike makeshift wooden separators that can harbor grit, the PVC surface is easy to clean and gentle on coatings.
Furthermore, the base design ensures that the glass edge rides smoothly on industrial nylon rollers or a slotted high-density polyethylene (HDPE) base, preventing the "chipping" that occurs when glass is dragged across steel channels.
Figure 2: PVC-encased steel dividers ensure high-value coated glass remains scratch-free during internal transport.
Moving 3,000 lbs of vertical glass across a fabrication floor is inherently risky. Standard caster brakes are often insufficient when a heavy cart hits an expansion joint or a stray cullet on the floor. The inertia can cause the glass to "walk" or, in worst-case scenarios, the entire rack to drift.
We differentiate our glass harp racks by integrating a Foot-Actuated Lifting Mechanism (Floor Lock). This isn't just a wheel brake; it is a leverage system that slightly elevates the weight off the casters or firmly anchors the frame to the floor. This provides absolute stability during the loading and unloading process—critical when feeding automated edging machines or vertical washers.
Figure 3: The integrated floor lock mechanism ensures the rack remains immobile during the loading of heavy glass sheets.
Constructed from Q235A Carbon Steel, these racks are designed to handle the rigorous duty cycles of 24/7 fabrication plants. Whether you are moving standard 1/4" float glass or heavy 3/4" laminated security glass, the structural integrity remains uncompromised.
| Feature | Specification / Detail |
|---|---|
| Material Grade | Q235A Carbon Steel (Industrial Square Tube Frame) |
| Load Capacity (Dynamic) | Up to 3,300 lbs (1500 kg) |
| Glass Compatibility | Suitable for 1/8" to 1" thickness (Configurable slot width) |
| Surface Protection | PVC Casing on uprights; Nylon Rollers or HDPE slotted base |
| Mobility | Heavy-duty Polyurethane or Nylon Casters (2 Fixed, 2 Swivel with Brake) |
| Assembly Type | Knock-Down (Bolted Assembly) for cost-effective shipping |
For international buyers or plants with tight receiving bays, shipping fully welded racks is a logistical nightmare due to the volume of "shipping air." Our Harp Racks feature a knock-down, bolted assembly design.
We pack the base, uprights, and divider grids into a compact, flat-pack profile. This allows us to fit significantly more units into a standard shipping container, drastically reducing your landed cost per unit. Assembly on-site is straightforward, utilizing standard bolts to achieve a rigidity comparable to fully welded structures.
Figure 4: The flat-pack design maximizes container space, reducing freight costs for international glass fabricators.
1. Can this rack handle heavy laminated architectural glass without the dividers bending?
Yes. Our dividers are reinforced with a solid steel core inside the PVC casing. For specific heavy-duty applications (like bullet-resistant glass), we can customize the wire gauge and spacing to ensure rigidity under load.
2. Is the slot width adjustable for different IGU thicknesses?
While the welded grid is fixed for strength, we offer custom manufacturing. If your line primarily runs thick triple-glazed units or heavy commercial laminates, we can manufacture the harp rack with wider spacing (e.g., 1 inch or greater) to accommodate your specific product mix.
3. How does the "Full Base" option differ from the roller base?
The roller base is ideal for sliding heavy glass in and out quickly. The "Full Base" with slots (often HDPE lined) is better suited for "oddball" sizes—short, tall, or non-rectangular shapes—that might not span across multiple rollers. It provides continuous support along the entire bottom edge, preventing tipping.
4. Will the casters leave marks on our epoxy plant floor?
We typically equip these racks with high-grade Polyurethane (PU) casters. PU is non-marking and offers excellent wear resistance, protecting your cleanroom or factory floors while handling heavy loads.
5. What is the lead time for a custom RAL color to match our branding?
Since we utilize electrostatic powder coating, we can match any RAL color card. Custom coloring helps with visual management (e.g., Red for Reject, Green for Tempering Ready). Custom orders generally add only a minimal amount of time to the standard production schedule.
