Product of the Month – Oktopus manipulator

Glass vacuum lifter technology is having to respond to the fact that, with modern building designs, removing and installing glazing panels is increasingly challenging.

That’s why the Wirth Oktopus GL-CC777600 glass manipulator, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 600kg, is now available in the Hird glass lifter hire fleet.

We are featuring the Oktopus as our Product of the Month for October because we want to highlight the features that make this highly versatile compact glass vacuum lifter so useful, especially in a tight spot.

Flexibility and extra reach

The glass manipulator can be operated with a short lift arm for weights up to 400kg. Or the glass lifter can be fitted with extension arms that take it up to 600kg or a maximum of 800kg.

This allows glass panels – or other non-porous panels, including metal, plastic, wood and plasterboard – to be lifted, then also tilted or rotated to place precisely in position, or to avoid obstacles.

This significantly reduces the amount of manual handling required, enhancing safety, reducing the size of installation teams, reducing the risk of damage, and increasing productivity.

Oktopus in action

The Oktopus GL-CC777600 glass manipulator is already impressing our clients, as it is put to work on challenging glass lifting hire projects.

One example has been the replacement of glass panels on a large glazed stairwell serving an office building in Greenwich, south east London.

The glass panels are set behind steel support posts so could not be lifted directly from the building.

The answer was to use the Oktopus glass lifter and manipulator attached to a Maeda 405 spider crane from the Hird mini crane hire fleet.

The glass lifter could then be moved into position and used to lift the panels from the building.

Working from a boom platform positioned next to the glass lifter, the operator was able to use the manipulator’s remote controls to tilt the glass panel to the precise angle that allowed it to be moved between the steel posts and then safely lowered.

The same process could be done in reverse, allowing the new panels to be installed.

More architects are turning to exoskeletal building designs due to the benefits they present in terms of thermal insulation and cost reduction – so the need to deploy glass manipulators like the Oktopus will become increasingly common.

For more information about the Oktopus glass lifter and manipulator, and the full range of vacuum lifters in the Hird glass lifting hire fleet, contact us today.

We offer a national glass lifting service from three operational hubs across the UK.

Email: [email protected]