At a recent customer meeting we were made aware of the fact that our product shelves were being supported by cheap foreign made metal brackets. This was especially discomforting to us since we are custom metal parts producer and an advocate of USA based manufacturing.It seems that our office furnishings has escaped our detailed review and we ended up with wood shelves support by the box store shelf brackets that come over the seas by the millions. We did not install them but we sure as heck were going to "un" install them.
So we proceeded to give our company's product shelf area a complete over haul including removing the cheaply finished, white, thin gauge support brackets with our Forma Steel support brackets made of 1/4" thick stainless steel diamond plate metal. It was like removing Formica and putting in granite! Our Forma Steel supports are made with a laser form process that makes for an extremely durable and heavy duty support. The diamond plate adds the touch of "Grrr" to the appearance of the bracket and finishes the whole product display area off nicely. Parts that used to be on the ground due to weight now are placed on the shelves and supported by substantial shelf brackets.
Note in the pictures the difference between the two styles and makes of the brackets. The thickness of the Forma Steel provide substantially greater strength for the bracket. The finish on the parts are polar opposites with the paint on the cheap brackets barely able to cover the sloppy weld and the formed nature of the Forma Steel support allowing for a smooth face and no distraction from the diamond plate finish. Check out how the shelf in this image is bowing away from the wall. This is due to a heavy parts box being inadvertently placed on the shelf and the shelf deflecting on the brackets. The replacement of the cheap brackets with our Forma Steel supports we were able to stand on the shelf without deflection. There is no substitute for outstanding design and craftsmanship.
Bottom line, when you see a cheap bracket used to do a job that it can't do and in a place where it does not belong - get rid of it. Replace it with something that belongs and that can do the job. Also, remember that when you purchase products that are made in the USA you are supporting some one's job. It is not simply a part. That part reflects the manufacturing base within the United States. When we can support that base we should.For more information or to find the right bracket for the job visit Short Run Pro ( http://www.shortrunpro.com/). The pictures taken for this entry were from my iPhone. Please have mercy.
