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Stop Shipping Air and Crushing Your Margins. |
In the architectural glass supply chain, getting the product to the job site is only half the battle. The real headache starts when the truck comes back. Traditional A-frame racks are stable, yes, but they are volume hogs. A 53-foot flatbed returning from a glazing project might only fit 20 empty A-frames. You are essentially paying full freight to ship air.
This is where sheet material handling nesting carts revolutionize the workflow. By utilizing an L-shaped geometry with a calculated base opening, these racks allow for high-density nesting. Just like shopping carts in a supermarket, an empty L-rack slides into the one in front of it.
Empty nesting capability reduces warehouse footprint by up to 70%, freeing up valuable dock space.
The Impact: You can stack up to 7 empty racks in the space of one. For a standard 40HQ container or a long-haul return trip, this reduces your shipping volume by over 70%. It turns a loss-leader return trip into an efficient logistics loop.
Every glass fabricator knows the sound of a "shell" or "clam" popping off the edge of a expensive polished lite. It usually happens because the protective rubber on the rack wore down, or worse, peeled off in the summer heat, exposing the raw steel frame.
Generic racks often use adhesive to attach rubber pads. In the scorching heat of a California distribution yard, that glue fails. Our L-Shape Glass Holding Rack uses a Steel-Core Rubber Profile.
Steel-core rubber profiles are mechanically fixed with screws, ensuring the protection layer never delaminates under heavy loads.
Why it works: The rubber isn't just stuck on; it has a steel spine and is mechanically fastened (screwed) into the rack's frame. Even when loading heavy 1/2" tempered glass or multiple IGUs, the glass edge cannot cut through to the frame, and the rubber will not migrate. This preserves the integrity of the glass edge and protects soft Low-E coatings from scratches.
Whether you are moving standard shower door panels or architectural jumbo sheets, structural rigidity is non-negotiable. A rack that flexes during forklift transport is a rack that breaks glass.
We utilize Q235 carbon structural steel with full seam welding (not spot welding). This ensures that even when loaded with 4,000 lbs of wholesale tempered glass, the 90-degree angle remains true. The design includes a slight 3-5° tilt angle, critical for keeping the pack static against the backboard without excessive pressure that could cause center-lite breakage in IGU stacks.
Full seam welded Q235 steel construction supports heavy architectural glass without flexing during transport.
For facilities handling mixed inventories—such as granite slabs alongside glass—the L-rack serves as a universal carrier. Its open side design allows for side-loading via forklift, while the integrated crane eyes allow for overhead movement in fabrication shops where floor space is tight.
1. How many empty L-racks can fit in a standard 40HQ container?
Thanks to the nesting design, you can fit approximately 98 to 112 units of our standard 1600mm length rack in a 40HQ container. This maximizes your import efficiency compared to non-nesting A-frames.
2. Can these racks handle heavy 3/4" (19mm) architectural glass?
Yes. Our heavy-duty models are rated for loads between 3,000 lbs (1.5 Tons) and 8,800 lbs (4 Tons) depending on the configuration. We use reinforced box tubing (100x50mm) at the base to prevent deformation under these loads.
3. Will the rubber pads mark or stain the glass coating?
No. We use non-marking EPDM rubber (Shore A 70-80 hardness). It provides sufficient grip to prevent the glass pack from sliding but contains no oils or carbon black that would leave residue on soft-coat Low-E glass.
4. Are these racks compatible with my existing forklift fleet?
Absolutely. The base features full-length forklift channels (typically 180x80mm rectangular tubes). They are designed for 4-way entry, allowing side loading in narrow aisles or end loading onto flatbed trucks.
5. Do you offer rust protection for outdoor storage yards?
Standard racks come with electrostatic powder coating (RAL 5010 Blue). However, for coastal areas or permanent outdoor slab storage, we highly recommend our Hot-Dip Galvanized option, which offers 10+ years of corrosion resistance.
