End Effector installs curtain wall where cranes can't fit.
Press Release Summary:
Hydaulically powered 5-Axis End Effector utilizes vacuum connection system for lifting and positioning pre-glazed curtain wall panels and other architectural components weighing up to 3,000 lb. End effector mounts to tangs of most 6,000-10,000 lb variable reach forklifts and uses up to 16 vacuum cups in customizable configurations. Six remote functions enable installers to move panels from horizontal plane to vertical plane with smooth precise movements.
Original Press Release:
Explore1.ca's 5 Axis End-Effector Installs Curtain Wall Where Cranes Can't
Toronto, Ontario, January 17, 2005 - Construction today is more about material handling than craftsmanship. Large pre-manufactured building components dominate the modern construction landscape. Well orchestrated material staging and the cost effective handling of pre-glazed curtain wall panels or other architectural components is often the mark of profitability in today's highly competitive construction markets. To meet this need Explore1.ca has developed the hydraulically powered forklift mounted 5 Axis End-Effector with a vacuum connection system for the lifting and positioning large pre-glazed curtain wall panels and other architectural components.
The 5-Axis End-Effector easily mounts to the tangs of most 6,000 to 10,000 lbs variable reach forklifts. Using hydraulic power the end-effector can easily lift and position panels up to 3000 lbs. The end-effector typically utilizes up to sixteen vacuum cups in customizable configurations. Six remote functions enable the installers to take panels from a horizontal plane (the crate) to a vertical plane (the wall) and position the panel with smooth precise movements. The end-effector has the capability to install pre-glazed curtain wall system components in areas where overhead interference limits the use of cranes or hoists. The design is flexible enough to allow for a wide variety of customizations to meet specific project challenges.
Utilizing the mobility of a variable reach forklift, the end-effector can lift and position panels in areas not accessible to cranes or hoists. The 5-Axis End-Effector has already proven its value on demanding projects like the American Airlines Terminal at JFK Airport in NY. According to Juan Speck president of Sota Glazing Inc., "The end-effector was the perfect solution in an area where more conventional cranes or hoists and below the hook vacuum lifters were not options due to overhead obstructions created by the staggered floor slabs." Speck continues, "With the end-effector installers have been able to install large pre-glazed panels in areas that would have traditionally had to be stick built. While this obviously saves labor in the field the added savings for us is not having to separately engineer stick and pre-glazed wall system components for the same project."
About Explore1.ca
Established in 2002 Explore1.ca provides manufacturing, and construction consulting services for glass and aluminum companies. Focusing on pre-glazed curtain wall system components explore1.ca offers innovative solutions for design, manufacturing, construction and quality assurance challenges. With over 25 years of experience in the glass and aluminum industry Explore1.ca has a proven record providing leadership in solving product integration and application problems for contractors, fabricators and manufacturers.
