If you have ever tried installing a pane for a curtain wall at a height of 30 storeys or the front window of a shop on a very busy street, you might know how people prefer glass even though it’s fragile, bulky and can be mishandled by the technicians. Using conventional tower cranes can help you lift the glass panels from one point to another, but the complicated task lies in landing the glass panels with utmost accuracy without cracking corners or scratching. Get to know more about the Spider Crane models in glass lifting – a very compact and radio administered machine where you cannot underestimate its slim footprint as it delivers amazing lifting capacity specifically made for the modern day façades.
What are Spider Cranes?
Imagine a mini crawler fixed on 4 arachnoid legs. It’s similar to a vending machine which is on the tracks when folded. Upon deployment, you can see the outriggers spread in the form of a spider as it is preparing to attack, making a firm base very wide and long. The capabilities of this Spider Crane varies from 1 to 10 tonnes, its booms can extend to 20+ meters and the complete set will have a weight amazingly less than several forklifts for the rough terrain. The couplers are hydraulic and very quick and it allows the crews to swap the vacuum lifter for blocking the hook or for grabbing the cladding within minutes – flexibility in one chassis.
Spidercranes At Work
Think about a retrofit happening in a busy street at your place where the customer needs to change the sun bleached glazing but is not in a position to block the road. A flat bed brings in the panes in the early morning, the spider crane gently moves through the lobby, the service lift goes up to the 17th floor and gets lifted by sunrise. Two operators move towards the façade, taking out the old panes and carefully slides the new panes every 10-12 minutes. 30 panels will finish installation by afternoon. Remember – the traffic was not stopped, the surrounding offices weren’t bothered. Everything was quick and calm – that’s the assurance of the spider crane.
What are the Key Advantages of Spider Cranes?
1. Super Compact
When in folded mode, several models of spider cranes can pass through a double door or get fit inside a goods lift. While at site, it’s possible for the 4 legs to fit into a wider stance, offering it more than normal stability without taking too much floor space or blocking the roads to the job site. Fold it small and lift heavy is suitable for semi urban sites where there would be no requirement of road closures or hook time of tower cranes are too much.
2. Accurate Positioning
It’s possible for the glass lifter to rotate 360 degrees and tilt to 90 degrees steps. This makes it easy for the technicians to float effortlessly with the help of a wireless remote control, a 400 kg glazing unit that is insulated even through a small opening and fix it on to the right frame without having the need to even touch the pane. This results in quick installations and lesser scratches that could even lead to loss of warranty.
3. Safety
Due to the fact that the manipulator holds the glass, lifting technicians do not have to struggle with a load that is swinging or have the need to guide it by hand. The risk of accident from human mistake will drastically reduce with the integration of outrigger load sensors as well as automatic load moment cut-outs. It has become a strict requirement by some authorities only to use sensor based vacuum lifters for lighting and fixing accurately the glass panels.
4. Labour Costs
While using conventional glass lifters, at least 6-8 people are required to perform the task along with tag-line holders, crane signal guy as well as stradying person. While using a spider crane, only 2 people are required – an operator and an installer thereby reducing the number of technicians and using them for other jobs as well as lowering the total labor cost involved.
5. Faster Job Completion
Spider cranes can easily navigate inside the lift shafts and even over slightly cured slabs allowing glazing continue on one side with major construction activities happening on the other side without having to wait for any tower cranes. Finishing off the envelope quicker implies interior trades can move early thereby reducing the duration of the project and making the capital reach you faster.
6. Versatility
You can make use of the same chassis to service the plat installation, cladding as well as stonework just by changing the panel lifter vacuum head, mini job or stone-slab grab. This kind of having been able to be used for multiple purposes makes your purchase or rental very economical.
Final Thoughts…
Spider Cranes look like modern beetles attached to tower façades, but their original strength lies in how much cost, duration and risk can be reduced. In situations where you need to lift and position larger panes, or have panel fixing to be done in compact spaces, where time and cost are very important, making use of spider cranes is important. If you’re the one who embraces technology in panel lifting, who wish to fix façades without any error and effort, contact Glasslifters.com for more information.
