Traditional roller-base racks create risk and waste when handling non-standard or thin glass lites. Our Full Base Harp Racks provide continuous edge support, eliminating instability and protecting valuable materials throughout your fabrication workflow. Enhance your capability to process diverse and high-value architectural glass with a system designed for modern production demands.
In the world of custom architectural glass, the demand for non-standard dimensions, complex shapes, and thinner substrates is rapidly increasing. Glass fabricators who handle everything from oversized laminated glass panels to narrow, tall lites for shower enclosures face a persistent operational challenge: standard storage and transfer systems were not designed for this variability. Traditional harp racks, often equipped with roller bases, present a critical design flaw. The gaps between rollers create points of failure for any piece of glass whose length doesn't perfectly span multiple contact points. This results in instability, tipping hazards, and a high potential for chipped edges or micro-fractures, directly impacting your yield and profitability.
The solution to this widespread problem lies in redesigning the fundamental point of contact between the rack and the glass. A full base harp rack replaces intermittent rollers with a solid, slotted steel plate, providing uninterrupted support along the entire bottom edge of the glass sheet. This engineering shift moves from a system of precarious point-based balancing to one of unwavering linear support, fundamentally changing how fabricators can handle diverse inventory.
For a Custom Glass Fabricator, the ability to confidently handle irregular shapes is a significant competitive advantage. A full steel base with a continuous slot means that a narrow, tall lite or a triangular off-cut is held as securely as a full-sized rectangular sheet. There is no risk of the glass slipping between rollers or tipping due to an off-center load. This structural integrity allows your workshop to accept more complex and lucrative architectural projects without having to devise temporary, unsafe storage methods. The rack adapts to the material, not the other way around, expanding your operational flexibility.
In the production of Insulated Glass Units (IGU), thin glass lites (e.g., 6mm) are common. In a standard rack with wide slots or rollers, these thin sheets have room to wobble and vibrate during in-plant transfer. This movement is a primary cause of hidden micro-cracks that can lead to catastrophic failure during the tempering process. Full base systems can be manufactured with custom-width slots (e.g., 8-10mm) that snugly fit the glass. This precise tolerance eliminates movement, protecting the glass from vibration-induced damage and securing the integrity of high-value materials like Low-E coated panels. The result is a direct increase in production yield and a reduction in material waste.
A superior base design must be complemented by a robust overall structure built for industrial environments. The operational demands between a CNC glass cutting table and a glass tempering furnace require more than just static storage; they require a durable, mobile, and safe material handling tool.
The frame of a reliable harp rack is constructed from Q235A Carbon Steel, a material chosen for its optimal balance of strength and ductility. This allows the rack to absorb the shocks and vibrations of a busy factory floor without the risk of brittle failure at weld points. A full welding process, as opposed to spot welding, ensures that all structural joints can withstand the dynamic loads of a fully laden rack in motion. Finally, an electrostatic powder coating provides a durable, corrosion-resistant finish, crucial in environments with high humidity from glass washing and edging machines.
Safe in-plant transfer is paramount. These racks are equipped with heavy-duty polyurethane casters—two fixed and two swiveling with brakes—for maneuverability in tight spaces. A key safety differentiator is the foot-actuated lifting mechanism. Unlike a simple wheel brake that relies on friction, this system mechanically lifts the load off the casters, planting the rack firmly on fixed blocks. This provides an absolutely stable platform for loading and unloading, even on floors that may be wet or oily, drastically reducing the risk of accidents and protecting both personnel and product.
The following table outlines common specifications for full base harp racks, which can be customized to meet specific operational requirements.
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Frame Material | Q235A Carbon Steel |
| Base Design | Full Steel Base with custom-width slots (PVB or HDPE lining available) |
| Divider System | Steel core dividers with protective PVC casing |
| Standard Load Capacity | 1500 kg (3300 lbs) dynamic load; higher capacities available |
| Casters | Heavy-duty Polyurethane; 2 fixed, 2 swivel with brakes |
| Safety Feature | Foot-actuated lifting and locking mechanism |
| Assembly | Knock-down bolted assembly for reduced shipping costs |
The primary advantage is continuous support. A full base eliminates the gaps found between rollers, providing a stable, uninterrupted platform for the entire bottom edge of a glass sheet. This makes it ideal for safely storing and transporting non-standard sizes, irregular shapes, and narrow glass lites that would be unstable on a roller base.
Yes. The slot width is a key customizable feature. For businesses handling thin glass, such as 6mm sheets for IGU production, the slots can be manufactured to a precise tolerance (e.g., 8-10mm) to minimize movement and prevent vibration-induced damage during transport.
The knock-down, or bolted assembly, design allows the rack to be shipped flat-packed. This significantly reduces the shipping volume compared to a fully welded unit, leading to substantial savings on freight costs, especially for international container loading and delivery to job sites with limited access.
This mechanism provides a higher level of safety than standard caster brakes. It mechanically lifts the rack, transferring the weight from the mobile casters to fixed feet. This creates a completely stationary platform, eliminating any risk of rolling or shifting during loading and unloading, even on slick or uneven surfaces.
Absolutely. While designed with glass in mind, the high-density vertical storage principle is effective for any sheet material. It is commonly used by architectural door and window manufacturers for storing wooden panels, metal sheets, and other flat stock materials within their production workflow.
