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Steel-core rubber lined glass shipping stillages

2026-02-13 10:39
glass sheet storage rack

Stop Gambling with Wholesale Tempered Glass Inventory

As a high-volume distributor, your profit margin sits on the edge of a glass sheet. Every time a "standard" rack wobbles, you risk edge chipping on tempered glass or seal failure on IGUs. Upgrade to a storage system engineered for the specific physics of glass distribution.



The Logistics Paradox in Glass Distribution

If you are running a facility similar to Western States Glass, you deal with a high mix of inventory: Wholesale Tempered Glass, bulky Insulated Glass Units (IGU), and heavy cases of Laminated Glass. The challenge isn't just storing them; it's moving them.

Traditional wooden crates are a disposal nightmare and a safety hazard. Generic A-frames eat up your floor space and cost a fortune to ship back empty. The industry is shifting toward the L-Shape Glass Holding Rack (Grack) for one reason: Circular Economy Efficiency.


glass sheet storage rack

Figure 1: High-density loading for distribution logistics.


Nesting: The Solution to Return Freight Costs

Your trucks go out full of glass, but what do they bring back? Air? For a distributor delivering to glazing contractors or job sites, the return trip is a sunken cost.

Our L-Shape racks feature a calculated geometric base that allows for Nesting (stacking like shopping carts). You can stack 7 to 10 empty racks in the footprint of 2 full ones. This reduces your reverse logistics volume by over 70%, turning your returnable shipping racks into a cost-saving asset rather than a liability.


glass sheet storage rack

Figure 2: Empty nesting capability dramatically reduces warehouse footprint and freight costs.


Steel-Core Protection: No More Metal-on-Glass Contact

In the heat of a California summer or a humidity-controlled curing room, glue fails. We see it all the time: rubber pads peel off, leaving bare steel exposed. When a 200lb sheet of 1/4 inch tempered glass hits bare steel during a forklift stop, it explodes.

We eliminated this risk. Our protection profile is a Steel-Core Rubber strip, mechanically fastened with self-tapping screws directly into the Q235 steel frame. It cannot peel. It cannot shift. This is critical for protecting the delicate edges of Insulated Glass Units (IGU) and the soft surfaces of Low-E coated glass from scratches and stress cracks.


glass sheet storage rack

Figure 3: Screw-fixed steel-core rubber profiles protecting sensitive IGU edges.


Get a Quote for Your Distribution Center

Engineered for the Heavy Weights: Jumbo & Stone

Distributors often handle more than just standard lite sizes. Whether you are moving Jumbo sheets of float glass or catering to mixed loads including stone slabs, structural rigidity is non-negotiable.

Using cheap, stitch-welded racks is a liability. Our racks utilize Full Seam Welding and heavy-gauge rectangular tubes (100x50mm) at the base fork channels. This prevents the "parallelogram effect"—where a rack twists under load, causing glass sheets to pinch and shatter. Rated for loads up to 4 tons, these racks handle the density of stacked granite or heavy laminated glass packs without flinching.


glass sheet storage rack

Figure 4: Heavy-duty design supporting jumbo glass loads with electrostatic powder coating protection.


Optimizing the Floor Plan: L-Shape vs. A-Frame

In a busy distribution warehouse, aisle width dictates your forklift efficiency. Traditional A-Frames must sit in the middle of the floor to be accessible from both sides.

The L-Shape Glass Storage Rack is designed for perimeter efficiency. It can be placed flush against a wall or back-to-back, freeing up valuable center-aisle space for your heavy machinery and cutting tables. The 3-5° tilt ensures gravity keeps the sheets stable without wasting vertical footprint.


glass sheet storage rack

Figure 5: Back-to-back placement maximizes aisle width for forklift operations.



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can these racks handle 1/4" Tempered Glass without extra packing?

Yes. The racks are lined with EPDM hardness-calibrated rubber. However, for thinner glass transport, we recommend using ratchet straps (secured to the built-in anchor points) and separating sheets with cork pads or interleaving powder to prevent suction and scratching.

Q2: What is the load capacity for a standard 8ft rack?

Our standard heavy-duty L-rack is rated for 3,300 lbs (1.5 Tons) to 8,800 lbs (4 Tons) depending on the tube specification selected. For wholesale distribution of heavy laminated glass, we recommend the reinforced 4-ton version.

Q3: Do you offer custom sizes for oversized IGU manufacturing?

Absolutely. While standard sizes fit 40HQ containers perfectly, we fabricate custom dimensions for Jumbo sheets or specific production line requirements (e.g., taller backs for 130" glass).

Q4: How many empty racks fit in a standard truck for return logistics?

Thanks to the nesting design, you can fit approximately 3.5x more empty racks than loaded ones. In a standard 53' dry van, this significantly lowers the cost-per-unit for return shipping.

Q5: Is the finish suitable for outdoor stone slab storage?

Standard powder coating (RAL 5010) is excellent for indoor warehouse use. If your racks will be stored outdoors in elements (like a stone yard), we strongly recommend our Hot-Dip Galvanized option for 20+ year rust protection.

If you have any question or need drawings or solutions, Please leave us a message, We'll offer quick quote.

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