Heavydrive assignment at Solar Decathlon Europe in Wuppertal

The EFdeN VATRA prototype house of the Romanian college team at the Solar Decathlon Europe international competition was dismantled using the Heavydrive VSG 450 K vacuum suction system. This system disassembled glass elements with dimensions from 0.7 x 0.7 metres (2.3 x 2.3 ft) to 1.30 x 2.70 metres (4.3 x 8.6 ft) and weighing 100 kilograms (220.5 lbs) to 300 kilograms (661.4 lbs).

The suction system has a load capacity of up to 450 kilograms and is suitable for glass panes measuring from 900 x 680 millimetres (35 x 27 inches) to 3,900 x 2,500 millimetres (154 x 98 inches). The Bucharest university team was on the lookout for a flexible system able to handle the installation of all glass elements. The VSG 450 K fulfilled this requirement to perfection. The suction system could be easily and quickly adapted to the different glass panes.

Solar Decathlon Europe (SDE) is a competition challenging students from all over the world to design and construct buildings with an energy requirement covered only by solar power. Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22 focussed on sustainable building and living in the city. In Wuppertal, 18 college teams from eleven countries presented their designs for a sustainable, ecological and green architecture of the future.

"From logistics and transport to the use and drive of our systems, Heavydrive has been distinguished for years by its sustainable approach. That's why we are especially glad when we can offer our equipment to competitions that focus on the ecological architecture of tomorrow", explained Günter Übelacker, Managing Director of Heavydrive. As long ago as 2013, the Heavydrive Team was in operation at the Solar Decathlon Europe in Madrid for the Hochschule Konstanz (Constance University) team. The VSG 450 KL4 vacuum suction system was used there to position extra-long solar panels and glass pieces with pinpoint accuracy.