Commercial display racks (also known as commercial display stands, retail shelving units, POP/POS Displays) rely heavily on the display stand's design, dimensions, load-bearing requirements, budget, and expected lifespan for the quantity, specific specifications, and processing of metal raw materials used.
1. Quantity of Metal Raw Materials Used
Small Countertop Displays:
Usage: Usually very small, possibly ranging from a few hundred grams to 1-2 kilograms.
Typical examples: Mobile phone accessory stands, small jewelry displays, countertop cigarette and alcohol promotion stands.
Medium-sized Floor Displays (Medium Duty):
Usage: This is the most common type, with moderate usage. A typical medium-sized floor display (e.g., 1.5 meters high, 0.6 meters wide) may require 5-20 kilograms of metal.
Typical examples: Beverage racks, snack display racks, clothing hanging racks, some book and magazine stands.
Heavy-duty or Large Displays:
Usage: Larger quantities are used, possibly requiring 20 kilograms to 50 kilograms or even more. This depends on their structural complexity, number of tiers, and load-bearing capacity.
Typical examples: Tire display racks, large home appliance display racks, building material sample stands, multi-layered high-capacity storage-style display racks.
Customized or Special Structure Displays:
Usage: The range fluctuates greatly, from tens of kilograms to hundreds of kilograms, depending on the specific design.
Main Factors Affecting Usage Quantity:
Dimensions: Taller, wider, and deeper display racks use more steel.
Number of Tiers and Load-bearing: The more tiers and the greater the weight each tier needs to bear, the thicker the material required for the frame and shelves.
Design Complexity: Complex structures and additional decorative metal components will increase usage.
Wall Thickness of Tubes or Profiles: To ensure strength and stability, increasing wall thickness will significantly increase weight.
2. Main Metal Raw Materials Used and Their Specifications
The primary metal raw materials used for commercial display racks include:
Mild Steel / Carbon Steel:
Characteristics: Most commonly used, lowest cost, easy to process (cutting, bending, welding).
Forms and Specifications:
Square Tube / Round Tube:
Common sizes: 15x15mm, 20x20mm, 25x25mm (square tube); φ15mm, φ19mm, φ25mm (round tube).
Wall thickness: 0.8mm - 2.0mm. Wall thickness determines load-bearing capacity.
Wire / Rod:
Common diameters: 2mm - 8mm. Used for making mesh panels, hooks, shelf edges, etc.
Sheet Metal:
Common thickness: 0.8mm - 3.0mm. Used for making back panels, side panels, bases, irregular parts, etc.
Flat Bar:
Common sizes: 10x2mm, 20x3mm, etc. Used for reinforcement, support bars, decoration, etc.
Stainless Steel:
Characteristics: Corrosion-resistant, good luster, high-end appearance, high strength, but significantly higher cost than mild steel.
Common grades: 304 (more corrosion-resistant, often used in food, medical, or high-end settings), 201 (economic type, for general use).
Forms and Specifications: Similar to mild steel, also available in tubes, wires, sheets, etc., specifications customized as required.
Uses: High-end jewelry display cases, food-grade display racks, medical supply racks, etc.
Aluminum Alloy:
Characteristics: Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, easy to extrude, good thermal conductivity, but higher cost than mild steel, and relatively lower strength (for the same volume).
Common grades: 6063 (common architectural profile, easy to extrude), 6061 (higher strength).
Forms and Specifications: Primarily extruded profiles (such as various cross-section columns, beams), also available in sheets.
Uses: Portable display stands, exhibition display systems, lightweight display racks, and displays where weight is a critical factor.
3. Processing Methods for Metal Raw Materials
Before and after being made into commercial display racks, metal raw materials typically undergo a series of processing and surface treatments to meet design requirements and improve durability and aesthetics.
Cutting:
Methods: Saw cutting, laser cutting, plasma cutting, shearing machines, etc.
Purpose: To cut raw materials into the required dimensions according to design drawings.
Stamping / Bending:
Methods: Punch press, bending machine.
Purpose: To punch holes, shear, and form sheet metal, and to bend tubes and sheets to create specific angles and shapes.
Welding:
Methods: Arc welding, spot welding, CO2 shielded welding, etc.
Purpose: To connect multiple metal components to form the overall structure of the display rack. Welding quality directly affects the strength and stability of the display rack.
Grinding / Polishing:
Purpose: To remove welding slag and burrs, smooth the surface, and prepare for subsequent surface treatments, especially for stainless steel display racks which often require mirror or brushed polishing.
Surface Treatment: This is a crucial step in enhancing the display rack's appearance and durability.
Powder Coating:
Characteristics: Most commonly used. Environmentally friendly, wide range of colors, strong adhesion, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant. Powder paint is electrostatically applied to the metal surface, then cured by high-temperature baking.
Effects: Matte, glossy, textured, frosted, and various other effects.
Electroplating:
Characteristics: Bright surface, metallic texture, such as chrome plating (bright chrome, matte chrome), nickel plating, zinc plating. Good corrosion resistance.
Uses: Hooks, wire baskets, small accessories, or display racks aiming for a high-end metallic luster.
Liquid Painting:
Characteristics: More freedom in color selection, can achieve complex patterns, but wear resistance and environmental friendliness are inferior to powder coating.
Anodizing:
Characteristics: Specifically for aluminum alloys. An oxide film is formed on the aluminum surface through an electrochemical reaction, increasing hardness, corrosion resistance, and aesthetics (can be dyed).
Brushing / Mirror Polishing:
Characteristics: Primarily for stainless steel. Enhances the texture and luster of the metal itself.
Galvanizing:
Characteristics: Used for outdoor or humid environments, providing excellent rust protection (hot-dip galvanizing, electro-galvanizing). Usually serves as a base layer of protection.
In summary, the selection of metal raw materials and processing methods for commercial display racks is a comprehensive consideration process, aiming to balance cost, function, aesthetics, and durability.
The selection of metal raw materials and processing methods for commercial display racks is a comprehensive consideration process, aiming to balance cost, function, aesthetics, and durability.