Two of GGR Group’s most popular machines, the UNIC URW-095 mini spider crane and MRT4 glass vacuum lifter, have teamed up to complete a tricky glazing job. This challenging project required the dynamic duo to lower panes of glass down five floor levels from the rooftop, of a building in the heart of London’s entertainment district, right down to the basement; the glass had to be lowered through a narrow well in the scaffolding surrounding the building.

The mini but mighty UNIC URW-095 has almost one tonne of lifting power making it one of the most popular mini spider cranes in the industry. With its versatile outrigger configurations, the URW-095 mini spider crane can work on uneven surfaces and slopes, whilst its tracked mobility enables the crane to travel over rough terrain and even climb stairs. A radio remote control and Lift-Smart Advanced Safety System with intelligent voice warning system teamed with GGR’s lifting experts and operators means that customers can be sure that their project is in the safest hands.

Working from a rooftop in central London certainly has the benefit of spectacular views. In the heart of the West End’s cultural and entertainment district the building has a very rich musical history; it was the home of Studio 51 in the swinging 60s with the likes of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles having recorded there. This iconic building is now being sympathetically refurbished from office space to high end residential apartments. The project has been brought to life through the vision the award-winning John Robertson Architects.

The building’s restoration includes replacing the glazing; GGR was tasked with the delicate operation of the lifting and lowering of glass panels measuring 2.3m x 2.6m and weighing 225kg each. The URW-095 mini spider crane tackled the lifting and lowering and the ever popular MRT4 glass vacuum lifter took care of securing the glass. With 320kg of lifting power, full 360 degree continuous rotation and 90 degree tilt, the MRT4 Quattro is one of the most versatile vacuum lifters available. The glass panels were lowered from the rooftop down through a well in the scaffolding measuring just 900mm wide and 3200mm long using the crane’s ability to work with millimetre precision to full advantage.

This is not the first time that GGR has been called upon to help with projects on iconic buildings, read more about our work at The Shard, the Serpentine Gallery, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Beetham Tower.

If you would like to see some of our machines in person and find out how we can help on your project you can see us at Liftex 2015 that is taking place at Liverpool Exhibition Centre on 11-12 November. You will find GGR on stand 119, come along and say hello.