When shopping in a supermarket, have you ever wondered why the bread in the refrigerated cabinets looks so tempting? Why do the cakes at the bakery counter always have such bright colors? Behind this, the “light-transmitting ability” of the glass display cabinets is a great contributor. Today, let’s talk about the most common tempered glass display cabinets in supermarkets and see how they make the products “look stunning”.
Tempered glass: A master of balancing light transmission and sturdiness
Put ordinary glass into a high-temperature furnace to “bake” it until it is nearly soft, then blow it with cold air quickly – this is how tempered glass is made. Don’t underestimate this process; it makes the glass three times as strong as before. Even if it is accidentally hit, it is not easy to break. And if it does break, it will turn into round small particles, unlike ordinary glass which shatters into sharp, stinging pieces.
More importantly, it doesn’t “block light” because it has become stronger. Generally speaking, 85%-90% of light can pass through tempered glass smoothly, just like a thin yarn curtain can’t block the sun. This means that the bread you see in the supermarket have almost the same color as they do in natural light, and the patterns and text on the packaging can be clearly seen through the glass.
The “light challenges” in supermarkets: How does tempered glass cope?
A supermarket is not a simple room; the light here is like a “hodgepodge” – lights on the ceiling, sunlight coming through the windows, and even spotlights from other counters, all coming from various angles. At this time, if the glass is too “reflective”, it will be as dazzling as a mirror, making it hard for you to see the products inside.
Tempered glass has a little trick: many supermarkets will “dress” it with a thin coating, just like putting an anti-reflective film on a mobile phone. This coating can minimize the annoying reflections, so even if you look at it from an oblique angle, you can clearly see if there are sesame seeds on the bread in the cabinet.
Another trouble is the refrigerated cabinets. You must have seen fog on windows in winter, right? The temperature inside the refrigerated cabinet is low, and it’s hot outside, so the glass is especially prone to “sweating”. Supermarkets have a clever solution: either apply an anti-fog coating on the glass, just like spraying anti-fog agent on glasses; or hide a few thin heating wires in the middle of the glass, with a temperature just enough to “dry” the water vapor, ensuring that you can always see clearly.
Why don’t supermarkets like to use “more transparent” glass?
Some glasses are more transparent than tempered glass, such as ultra-white glass, which has a light transmittance of more than 91.5%, almost like there’s nothing blocking it. But supermarkets rarely use it entirely. Guess why?
The answer is quite practical: money and safety. Ultra-white glass is much more expensive than tempered glass. Supermarkets have so many display cabinets, and using ultra-white glass for all of them would cost too much. Moreover, tempered glass has strong impact resistance. If customers accidentally hit it with a shopping cart, or children pat it out of curiosity, it’s not easy to break. This is very important for a crowded supermarket.
Want to keep the glass transparent all the time? Maintenance has skills
No matter how good the glass is, it will become “blurred” if not maintained. You must have seen some display cabinet glasses covered with fingerprints or dust, which looks uncomfortable. In fact, cleaning is particular: you need to use a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, not a steel wool or hard brush, otherwise small scratches will be left, and the light will become “blotchy” when passing through.
The cleaning agent must also be chosen correctly. Ordinary glass cleaner is fine; don’t use those with strong acids or alkalis, otherwise, the glass surface will be corroded. Also, when opening and closing the cabinet door, do it gently, don’t hit it hard. The edge of the glass is a “weak spot”; hitting it can easily cause cracks, and once cracked, the light transmittance is completely ruined.
Next time you go to the supermarket, you might as well pay more attention to those glass display cabinets. It is these seemingly ordinary tempered glasses that, with their just-right light transmittance, keep the food looking tempting and silently protect the freshness and safety of the products.
Post time: Sep-12-2025 Views: