Before modern technology produced acrylics, most store fixtures, especially those requiring the retail consumer to look through or inside, were crafted with glass. Many still are, and because of equally progressive technological advances, glass now rivals acrylic in the variety of strengths, shapes, patterns, and textures available. One of the most practical improvements to glass has been the tempering process. The result of this process is layers of high compression on the surface, balanced by high tension at the center, which produces a glass that is four to five times as strong as annealed glass. Display International Corp. If the glass is broken, the potential injury to customers is reduced.
Laminated glass is used for extra security and is especially worthwhile for jewelry display cases.
The store fixture industry uses both tempered and laminated glass. However, because laminated glass applications are more specialized, the larger trend has been toward tempered glass. Liability concerns are a principal reason behind the rise of tempered glass, he says. When annealed glass breaks, it breaks in big pieces and can cut severely. Some insurance companies, and even some states, are requiring retailers to move toward safety glass.