Product of the month – Hydraulica 3500 vacuum lifter

We all like a good view. But creating it in a modern building can be a weighty challenge – which is why our Product of the Month for September is the Hydraulica 3500 vacuum lifter.

The Hydraulica 3500, manufactured by Kappel can lift sheets of non-porous material weighing up to 3,500 kilogrammes, making it what we call a super-heavy vacuum lifter.

That is equivalent to two Land-Rover Evoque cars. The fact that a vacuum lifter can get an object weighing that much off the ground under full control with nothing more than air suction is a feat that often makes experienced construction personnel stop and stare.

It is a sight being seen more and more often as building designers find new and better ways to use glass to construct buildings with, not just windows to look out of.

Architectural glass is commonly used in construction now, which led Kappel to creating the Hydraulica 3500 vacuum lifter, exclusive to Hird in the UK, and affectionately known as Brutus.

Apart from the sheer size of sheet glass panels, there are four other reasons architectural glass is heavier than the everyday window. We can refer to them as the four Ss.

1. Strength – if a glass panel is expected to take part of the load of a structure, it is going to have to be thicker. Many large structural glass panels are made up of multiple laminated sheets of glass to add strength.


2. Solar – glass must have excellent thermal properties to meet modern insulation standards. This can also add to the thickness required for large panels.


3. Sound – excellent acoustic performance is also vital, as the density of developments in urban environments increases, and demand grows for buildings that block out, or keep in, noise.


4. Security – the need to protect buildings, their occupants, and passers-by from terrorist threats is a sad fact of life. Glass atriums and walls must be able to better withstand a bomb blast or being crashed into by a truck.

In fact, development of vacuum lifters like the Hydraulica 3500 is only just keeping a step ahead of what is possible in building design.

As architects release their drawings, construction companies are sending specifications to curtain wall installers, who then call Hird asking for a vacuum lifter to carry out a new challenging task.

The Hydraulica 3500 vacuum lifter is the result of Hird working closely with Kappel, to second-guess the market, and make available glass lifting equipment that quickly becomes essential.

Using material vacuum lifter technology to install glass panels 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.

The vacuum lifter combines excellent load safety with industry-leading control for such heavy loads.

It has powerful dual independent vacuum circuits that protect the load against sudden loss of suction, along with audible and visual low vacuum alarms.

The vacuum lifter can be tilted hydraulically through 90 degrees, and has 210-degree lockable rotation, so materials can be placed and held in place with precision.

Also, irregular loads can be lifted with the assistance of individual suction pad shut off. The size of loads can be accommodated with sliding extension arms, maximising load stability during lifts.

The Hydraulica 3500 vacuum lifter can be used with a pick and carry crane or a tracked spider crane. Hird has a wide range of both cranes for hire, including Valla pick and carry cranes and Maeda spider cranes.

For more information about the Hydraulica 3500 material vacuum lifter, get in touch with Hird. We can scope any glass lifting project and advise clients on the best combination of equipment to deploy for maximum safety and productivity.

Hird also provides a full range of lifting training, including accredited RTITB vacuum lifter operator training. So, no matter how big the load, the operator at the controls will be just as safe as Brutus.

Hird delivers a national service via three regional operational hubs. Contact Hird today.

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