Material lift proves vital in London landmark renovation

It may be a stretch to say glass lifting can be raised to an art form. However, a project carried out using a counterbalance material lift from Hird was certainly visually impressive.

Glass installation specialists were facing a big challenge to lift glass panels into place during a development project at the Grade II Listed Barbican Estate, home to central London’s premier arts centre.

The solution was to turn to Hird to hire a Wienold GML 800+ counterbalance material lift fitted with a bespoke Kappel glazing manipulator.

The lightweight glass lifting equipment provided the compactness and flexibility needed to lift the four glass panels into place in an area constrained by a mezzanine floor.

Each glass panel weighed 270kg. They had to be lifted up to and through the aperture, then back into it, to be fixed into position. It was a complex process the GML800+ glazing manipulator was made for.

First, a tower crane lifted the counterbalance material lift and vacuum manipulator attachment up to the worksite in a loft space within one of the Barbican buildings.

Each glass panel could then be attached to the glazing manipulator in turn and lifted into position using the smooth and easy to control electric motor on the GML800+ counterbalance material lift.

By using the GML800+ glazing manipulator, PVS Glass Solutions, which carried out the successful installation project, minimised the need for manual handling and the greatly reduced the risk of damage.

It also ensured the glass panels could be installed within a narrow operational window and in time for other contractors to continue their construction tasks working to challenging deadlines.

The glass vacuum lifter can be configured with four or eight suction cups, depending on the size and weight of the load. It is controlled via a radio remote control, providing 360 degrees of rotation and 90 degree tilt.

The Barbican Estate is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation. It includes the Barbican Centre, the largest arts complex of its kind in Europe, opened by The Queen in 1982.

For more information about how the GML800+ glass manipulator can give your development project a lift, call Hird. The GML800+ counterbalance material lift can be fitted with a range of other attachments.

Hird also has an extensive range of other glass vacuum lifters, spider mini cranes and pick and carry cranes available for hire, from four operational depots across the UK.

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