GML 800+ is the star with glass installation at famous cinema

A new material lift hired from Hird took on a starring role during the installation of a large glass panel at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square – home to many world film premiers.

The GML 800+ has been manufactured by Wienold in Germany, based on design concepts and performance requirements identified by Hird.

The aim was to make the material lift easy to operate, especially in confined areas, while delivering impressive lifting capability, and that was perfectly demonstrated by the success of this glass installation project.

A new glass panel measuring 4 metres by 2.5 metres, and weighing 350kg, was installed in a display window at the cinema.

The GML 800+ counterbalance material lift was fitted with the NEW GML Overhead Glazing Manipulator, designed jointly by Hird, Wienold and Kappel, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 500kg.

Hird Director John Wilding said: “The GML 800+ is simple to operate but that’s because of all the very sophisticated design and manufacture work carried out by Wienold, based on our specifications.

“Glass installation companies often have to operate in live environments, where it is essential to complete glazing projects quickly and safely in the least amount of space to minimise disruption to the public.

“The GML 800+ epitomises an excellent solution for these challenging requirements. It is easy to transport and move into position, is light weight, so can be used both indoors and outdoors, but has great glass lifting performance.”

The material lift, which is exclusively available for hire from Hird in the UK, comes in either manual or electric drive versions. With electric drive, used for this project, the load can be lifted and lowered via a remotely-controlled winch.

While Hird sees the material lift being highly popular with glass installers, it also has many other applications for material lifting and moving, including pipes, steel sections, concrete beams, wooden joists and plastics.

It has a maximum lifting capacity of 800kg, and a working height of up to 7.94m. When fitted with the GML Glazing Manipulator it can even be used to lift glass sheets overhead, for example when installing glass canopies.

The GML 800+ has six large braked castors for easy and safe movement, and has dual safety brakes on the mast. It can be quickly stowed away to a compact size for transporting on a trailer towed by a van.

The GML 800+ and the GML Overhead Glazing Manipulator are available for hire nationally via Hird’s three operational hire centres, which also offer powered access equipment, mini cranes, spider cranes and lifting equipment for hire.

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