Hird introduces Brutus to lead the way in super heavy glass lifting

Glass lifting and mini crane specialist Hird is offering glass installers the UK’s largest vacuum lifter – reflecting a growing demand for “super heavy” glass lifting in the construction and building maintenance sectors.

Hird is the first hire company in the country to offer the Hydraulica 3500, which has a 3,500 kg lifting capacity and is known simply as ‘Brutus’.

The Hydraulica 3500 is designed to allow even the largest sheets of glass or window sections to be lifted, manipulated and installed safely, with complete precision.

Using glass vacuum lifter technology to install glazing is safer, faster, more productive and more sustainable than other methods. The Hydraulica 3500 glass lifter can also be used to lift other non-porous materials, such as plastic, plasterboard, stone and metal.

Hird Managing Director Phil Hird said: “This is a big first for the construction and glass installation industry, and we are very happy to be introducing what we are calling super heavy vacuum lifters in the UK.

Hydraulica 3500, the highest capacity glass vacuum lifter in the UK

“As the office and retail construction sectors continues to recover, and with the continuing trend in the use of larger sections of glass in building design, demand for this sort of vacuum lifting capability will grow, which is why we have brought the Brutus to the UK.”

The Hydraulica 3500, manufactured by Kappel in Germany, provides powered 90 degree tilt, 210 degree lockable rotation and key safety features, including dual independent vacuum circuits and a low vacuum alert.

Irregular loads can be lifted by shutting off individual suction pads. The vacuum lifter has sliding extension arms to manage especially large loads.

Phil Hird said: “Hird now has the widest and most capable range of glass vacuum lifters in the UK. Being the first hire company in the UK to offer this machine allows us to provide glazing installers with a one stop shop.”

Hird is also the UK and Ireland distributor for Valla pick and carry cranes, as well as the Winlet glazing robot, which customers are praising as one of the biggest steps forward in glass installation, in terms of productivity and capability, in a decade.

Hird has its headquarters in Hull, East Yorkshire, and provides a national glass lifting equipment hire service through operating centres covering the southern, central and northern UK regions.