A powerful vacuum lifter supplied by Hird has been used to lift a giant glass sliding door into place for the hit Channel 4 TV show Grand Designs.
The Hydraulica 1200 vacuum lifter was used to lift the glass sheet, which at 1,100kg and 6 metres by 3.1 metres, is thought to form one of the largest glass sliding doors ever fitted in a domestic property.
It was conceived, designed, fabricated and installed by Cantifix.
The delicate operation appears in the Grand Designs episode, broadcast on October 30 2013, about a couple who were building a dream home and micro-brewery near Newbury, in Berkshire.
Hird Director John Wilding said:
“The Hydraulica 1200 did a great job. It was vital that the glass could be moved and controlled with complete confidence.
“To provide additional assistance to the Cantifix, we also had one of our RTITB-trained operators on site during the lift.
“It had to be lifted into precisely the right location and placed with the tiniest margin of error on the runners designed to hold it in place, and the glass lifter played its part perfectly.
“In terms of the size and weight of glass, it was a first in the UK for an electric-powered sliding door. It was certainly impressive to see it being lifted into place.
“This was a highly specialised task. Hird is only one of a very small number of suppliers of glass lifting equipment that has glass lifters with the right capability.”
The Hydraulica 1200 vacuum lifter has a maximum lifting weight of 1,200kg. It has 10 powerful suction cups that can be set to lift irregularly shaped sheets.
As well as glass, it can be used to lift other materials, such as metals, plasterboard, concrete, wood and plastics.
A Woods Powr-Grip P11104 vacuum lifter serviced and maintained by Hird was also used on the same day, to lift a curved, circular roof window in to place.
The Hydraulica 1200 vacuum lifter has a number of sophisticated safety features, including dual circuits so if one fails, the other will hold the material being lifted.
However, it’s not the most powerful vacuum lifter available from Hird. The Hydraulica 2000 glass lifter has a lifting capacity of 2,000kg.
So, when clients want to lift an even bigger piece of glass, Hird is ready!
Hird provides vacuum lifters on a nationwide basis, from three depots.
Northern – 01482 227333 Central – 01302 341659 Southern – 0203 174 0658
