Enhancing Glass Fabrication with Advanced Material Handling & Automation

In today’s fast-paced fabrication industry, glass processors face increasing demands for higher throughput, greater accuracy, and improved safety. Whether handling large lites of glass, dense stone slabs, or heavy-gauge metal sheets, having the right material handling equipment and integrated automation systems is no longer optional—it’s essential.

At Salem Fabrication Supplies, we help fabricators and installers meet these challenges head-on with specialized equipment that improves performance, minimizes damage, and reduces manual labor across the shop floor.

Streamlining Material Handling: Lift, Rotate, Tilt with Precision

Efficient glass material handling equipment is the backbone of a productive fabrication operation. From raw material staging to finished product shipping, every step hinges on safe and reliable movement of the glass sheets.

Lifting Systems for Every Workflow

Cranes and forklifts play a vital role in moving flat glass efficiently through the production area. Overhead cranes, gantry systems, and jib arms enable seamless vertical and horizontal movement, especially in facilities with high-volume or oversized glass.

Salem offers an extensive range of crane systems for glass material handling, including ergonomic workstation cranes and freestanding models designed specifically for glass shops.

For smaller or more manual tasks, hand cups offer control and security in moving individual pieces of glass. Vacuum hand cups reduce strain and improve safety when lifting sheets during inspection, washing, or loading.

Explore our full line of material handling equipment to find carts, racks, lifters, and tables tailored to your fabrication needs.

Vacuum Lifters for Precise Handling

Vacuum lifters are a core solution for moving heavy or fragile panels safely. Salem supplies various glass lifting equipment including motorized lifters with tilting and rotating capabilities, perfect for glass and metal or even stone fabricators working with high-end finishes.

These systems help reduce labor injuries and product loss while improving cycle times during loading and unloading.

Where Automation Transforms Fabrication

Material handling is only half the equation. To stay competitive, many glass shops are investing in automation—not just for cutting or washing, but for full-system integration across their production lines

Tempering Furnace Automation

Tempering remains one of the most important processes in the glass industry. Automated tempering furnaces ensure consistent quality by managing exact temperature profiles and cooling times.

Glass Cutting Lines: Precision at Scale

Manual glass scoring and breaking are increasingly replaced by high-speed glass cutting systems these automated machines deliver fast, accurate cuts while reducing operator fatigue and human error.

Salem’s equipment supports straight-line and shape cutting, with options for laminated and coated glass. Pair these systems with automated loading systems for maximum efficiency.

Automated Loading and Unloading

To reduce manual labor and injury risk, fabricators are incorporating automated loading and unloading systems. These systems move glass onto cutting tables, washers, tempering lines or storage systems with precision and minimal human intervention.

Loaders use suction arms or belts to transfer sheets, while unloaders reposition them for stacking, inspection, or edgework. Integration with existing equipment ensures a smooth, consistent flow from start to finish.

Spotless Results: Automated Glass Washers

Clean glass is critical for coating, tempering, and lamination. Modern glass washing machines offer multiple brushes, air knives, and drying stages to remove contaminants and moisture.

These washers are designed for both standalone and in-line configurations, making them ideal for facilities aiming to reduce downtime between processes. Features like automatic water temperature regulation and glass thickness detection optimize results while minimizing operator input.

The Benefits of Integrated Systems

The biggest gains come when material handling and automation work together.

When you combine vacuum lifters, automated loaders, and smart tempering and other fabrication lines into one continuous workflow, you minimize handling, reduce bottlenecks, and maximize throughput. This kind of end-to-end efficiency boosts not just output—but profitability.

Additional benefits include:
 

• Improved safety: Less manual lifting reduces workplace injuries.
• Reduced breakage: Precision movement minimizes product damage.
• Labor savings: Fewer operators can oversee more production.
• Scalability: Automation grows with your business.

Whether you're upgrading a single line or building a facility from scratch, Salem's solutions help future-proof your operation.

Why Fabricators Trust Salem

Choosing the right partner is just as important as choosing the right equipment. Here’s why Salem Fabrication Technologies Group stands apart:

Industry Expertise

Salem has over 90 years of experience serving glass, stone, and metal fabricators across North America. Our in-house engineers and service technicians understand the challenges you face—and deliver solutions that work in the real world.

Full-Service Solutions

From glass lifting equipment to automated glass cutting systems, Salem offers a full suite of fabrication tools. But we don't stop at equipment and tooling—we also provide installation, training, and after-sale support.

Trusted Brands

Salem Fabrication Technologies Group, operating through its two divisions—Salem Fabrication Supplies and HHH Equipment Resources—partners with industry-leading manufacturers such as Wood’s Powr Grip, Gorbel, NorthGlass Automation, and Skill Glass.  In addition, we offer our proprietary lines of automated equipment, including Kodiak AFS and advanced robotic arm solutions.  As a result, every machine sourced through Salem is backed by proven industrial reliability, elite performance standards, and comprehensive support.

Customer-Centered Approach

Salem isn't just a supplier—we're a strategic partner. We take time to understand your workflows, pain points, and goals. Then we help you choose the right mix of material handling equipment and automation systems to meet them.

Ready to Upgrade Your Operation?

Whether you need a single vacuum lifter or a fully automated cutting and tempering line, glass polishing line or want to include robots in your process, Salem has the tools and equipment—and the team—to help.