From desert sands to high mountains

Whether extreme heat, freezing cold or spectacular heights - environmental influences affect the installation of glass panes in many ways. This is why Heavydrive develops special installation systems for its projects around the world that are adapted to the local weather conditions.

Use in heat and strong winds

As part of the NEOM project, Heavydrive installed differently shaped and curved windshields on the vacation island of Sindalah (Saudi Arabia). In high temperatures and strong winds, glass elements weighing up to two tons (4409 lbs) had to be installed, which were curved concave and convex and sometimes polygonal with angled edges. On the one hand, this required special equipment for extremely large and heavy curved panes, which could safely suck in the glass elements even when hot. On the other hand, an efficient installation solution was needed to keep the number of systems used to a minimum, as the wind made it difficult to transport the devices to the island.

Heavydrive used the VSG 2000 KR-35 and VSG 800 KR-20 vacuum suction systems as well as the VSG 3000 counter traverse with extension up to 4.8 meters (15.7 ft) overhang. The suction units have been specially developed for curved panes. As the suction plates of the systems can be switched off individually, the vacuum suction system was adapted to the glass size in just a few simple steps. In this way, the differently sized panes could be completely set with the help of just two Heavydrive suction units.  

Assembly in the high mountains

The use of vacuum suction devices at extreme altitudes is always associated with risks. There is a danger that the pressure equalization will not work and the glass elements cannot be sucked in safely. For use at the Falginjochbahn mountain station in Kaunertal (Austria) at an altitude of 3200 meters (10500 ft), the South Tyrolean customer Pichler Projects therefore booked an experienced service technician in addition to the Heavydrive GMG 350 glass robot.

The Heavydrive expert first checked the negative pressure of the glass mounting device and adjusted it to the atmospheric external pressure at height. To compensate for the reduced vacuum, special suction plates with increased suction capacity were also fitted. The 15 damaged panes weighing 150 kilograms (330 lbs) could then be replaced.

In the South Tyrolean Dolomites (Italy), Heavydrive installed glass elements weighing up to 1700 kilos (3748 lbs) at an altitude of 2050 meters (6726 ft). The panes had to be set into the façade at an angle and in some cases overhead - all within just two days and under poor weather conditions.

The Heavydrive expert adjusted the air pressure of the equipment to the altitude of over 2000 meters. The façade elements were then safely sucked in using the VSG 2000 KMHL suction system with inclined adapter and the VSG 3000 counter traverse, transported to the opening and swiveled to the required 17 degree external inclination using the inclined adapter. The panes could then be set from the outside. As the system has infinitely adjustable plates, the Heavydrive expert was also able to set the smaller, triangular edge panes of the façade with the same system. To do this, the suction plates were adjusted to the size of the panes in just a few simple steps.

Safe installation in icy cold conditions

A cold snap on the construction site can quickly turn into a horror scenario: The machines come to a standstill and conventional glass mounting systems lose suction power, as the low temperatures make the rubber hard and brittle. Heavydrive has therefore developed a special rubber compound that allows the suction pads to remain flexible even at temperatures as low as -20 degrees and guarantees full friction on the glass pane.

The winter-proof suction pads have already proven themselves in practice many times, for example during installation at the Grand Théâtre de Québec (Canada) or on the roof glazing of the new building at Berlin Schönefeld Airport, when temperatures suddenly dropped to -15 degrees.

Customised solutions for every situation

"We want to offer the best and most efficient solution for every project. Thanks to our many years of international practical experience, we know what is important in detail and which factors play a role in planning," explains Heavydrive Managing Director Günter Übelacker. The Heavydrive experts advise the customer from the outset and then put together the appropriate systems. In the event of unusual requirements, the devices are customised in the company's own workshop. The suction system is then tested in a test run and optimised again if necessary, so that the application runs without any unwanted failures and the systems perform reliably even in extreme weather conditions.