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You know the nightmare: You pull a sheet of expensive Low-E glass from an outdoor rack, and there it is—a rust stain dripping from the crossbar onto the coating. In the glass fabrication business, oxidation isn't just an aesthetic issue; it's a financial bleed. If your racks are sitting in the yard or near the washing lines, standard paint won't survive the humidity. You need storage that fights back against corrosion. |
For a glass fabrication plant, water is unavoidable. Between the edging machines, washing stations, and outdoor overflow storage, humidity is constant. When you use standard painted racks for float glass storage in these zones, micro-cracks in the paint eventually allow moisture to reach the steel.
The result isn't just a rusty rack. It is "pack rust" that flakes off and embeds itself between your stacked glass sheets. When these sheets are compressed—sometimes up to 4,000 lbs per side—those rust particles become abrasive contaminants. For high-performance coated glass (like soft-coat Low-E), a simple rust drip can require expensive chemical cleaning or lead to the sheet being scrapped entirely due to surface etching.
While our standard glass storage rack comes in a durable electrostatic powder coat (RAL 5010), we strongly recommend Hot-Dip Galvanizing for any equipment destined for outdoor yards or wet processing areas.
Unlike paint, which is a surface bond, galvanizing creates a metallurgical bond with the Q235 steel. The zinc coating acts as a sacrificial anode. Even if a forklift fork scratches the surface deep enough to expose the steel, the surrounding zinc will corrode before the steel does, preventing the rust creep that destroys painted racks from the inside out. A galvanized rack can easily withstand 10-20 years of outdoor exposure without compromising its structural integrity.
Full seam welded frames prior to surface treatment – ensuring no gaps for water ingress.
Corrosion often starts where water pools. Generic racks often use "stitch welding" (tack welding) which leaves small gaps between steel joints. Water enters these gaps, gets trapped inside the tube, and rusts the rack from the inside out.
Our manufacturing process utilizes Full Seam Welding. We seal every joint on the 50x50mm square tubes. Furthermore, for galvanized units, we engineer specific drainage holes that allow the molten zinc to coat the interior of the tubes during the dipping process, and subsequently allow rainwater to drain out freely during use. This ensures your Insulated Glass Units (IGU) or heavy stone slabs are supported by a frame that is as strong internally as it is externally.
Galvanizing protects the steel, but what protects the glass? In a humid outdoor environment, the adhesive used on standard rubber strips will fail. Once the glue dissolves, the rubber peels off, leaving your expensive tempered glass resting directly on the hard zinc surface. This leads to immediate chipping or "shelling" of the glass edge.
Mechanically fixed steel-core rubber profiles that defy humidity and temperature changes.
We eliminate this risk by using Steel-Core Rubber Profiles. Instead of glue, we use high-grade EPDM rubber with an internal steel insert, mechanically fastened to the rack frame with self-tapping screws. Whether it’s 100°F in the summer or freezing rain in winter, the padding stays in place, ensuring a soft "bed" for your glass edges.
Just because a rack is built like a tank doesn't mean it should take up space like one. Our L-shaped design features a geometric offset that allows empty racks to nest into one another.
For large glazing contractors moving glass to a job site, this is critical. You can ship full racks to the site, and when the glass is installed, stack the empty racks into a compact footprint for the return trip. A standard 40HQ container can hold up to 98 nested empty racks, drastically cutting your return logistics costs compared to rigid A-frames.
Top view showing the precise nesting geometry that saves 70% of warehouse space.
1. Can I use galvanized racks for transporting mirror packs?
Yes, but ensure the mirror backing does not rub directly against the zinc surface. Our steel-core rubber profiles provide the necessary separation to prevent scratching the silvering on the back of the mirrors.
2. How does the cost of galvanizing compare to powder coating?
Galvanizing typically adds about 15-20% to the upfront cost compared to standard powder coating. However, considering it extends the service life from ~3 years to 15+ years in outdoor conditions, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is significantly lower.
3. Are your galvanized racks compatible with standard 5-ton overhead cranes?
Absolutely. All our heavy-duty racks come equipped with 4 fully welded crane lifting lugs (ears) located at the top corners, designed to handle dynamic loads during lifting operations.
4. Will the zinc coating chip off if I hit it with a forklift fork?
Hot-dip galvanizing creates a metallurgical bond that is harder than the base steel itself. While a severe impact might dent the steel, the zinc coating rarely chips or flakes like paint, maintaining protection even after rough handling.
5. What is the lead time for a custom galvanized order?
Since galvanizing is a post-fabrication process requiring a specialized bath, please allow an additional 5-7 days on top of our standard production time. For a 40HQ container load, typical production is 25-30 days.
