Innovative lifting tool for large and heavy glass elements

"As a Dutch manufacturer, we have a healthy, cross-border growth ambition," says Sales Manager Hans Alblas. "We are represented in more than 20 countries, deliver our products in over 100 countries and are still growing. For that reason, last year we moved into new premises with a fully equipped production area. Here we assemble and test all our machines, including related products. In the new building we have all machines in stock so that we can respond very quickly to market needs. Parts, which are also in stock, are also readily available."

Develop and optimize

Alblas continues, "Everything we manufacture, we develop ourselves. We do this on the basis of market demand. We have a lot of contact with clients and end users in order to arrive at practical solutions and to continuously optimize them. What contributes to this is that we not only sell our machines but also rent them out. The ultimate opportunity to put them into practice. Of course, we also ask for feedback from the customer: what could be improved? By involving the customer in this, we are able to continuously optimize our products. Among other things, this approach has led to some great developments for lifting and placing glass elements."

Lifting, turning, tilting, positioning

The latest development concerns the VIAVAC GBH-1800; a glass piston that can be used to assemble large and heavy glass elements up to 1,800 kilograms. "We engineered and manufactured this glass piston for the realization of an innovation center in Germany," says Alblas. "This building has a curved facade, consisting of cold bent glass panels. The VIAVAC GBH-1800 made the assembly of these elements a lot easier. Not only because the glass piston can handle so much weight, but also because it can electrically/hydraulically tilt the elements 90 degrees and rotate them 360 degrees. Another advantage of the VIAVAC GBH-1800 is its wide applicability. The machine can be put together in ten different ways. So you can use it to place not only very large windows, but also small and narrow ones."

Smaller glass vacuums

The VIAVAC GBH-1800 builds on the VIAVAC GBX and VIAVAC GBL. The VIAVAC GBX can hoist glass elements up to 800 kilograms. This glass piston was used, for example, for the realization of a large glass dome in Amsterdam-West. This dome has a diameter of over 65 meters and consists of 744 glass elements of different sizes. So the fact that the VIAVAC GBX, like the VIAVAC GBH, has various configurations was very applicable to this project. Alblas: "The VIAVAC GBL goes up to 500 kilograms and is our best-selling glass suction dredger. Its compact shape and low dead weight make it very suitable in combination with a mini crane or truck-mounted crane." 

Accessories and service

All VIAVAC glass vacuums are available with a short suspension arm, protective covers and a remote control for remote suction and discharge. Specially designed transport frames also allow the glass vacuums to be easily transported. "With each glass vacuum, we offer a comprehensive user manual and instructional video," says Alblas. "For inspection, service and maintenance of the machines, customers can also come to us. We also do this for glass vacuums from other suppliers."

Future developments

When asked what developments VIAVAC expects in the near future, Alblas replied, "To further broaden our portfolio, we keep our ears and eyes open for new demands from the market. Today's architecture shows more and more specific applications in glass. Glass surfaces are getting bigger and bigger and taking on more and more special shapes. This is where we see opportunities."