Glass is being used more and more in to make a big impact in architecture, with traditional rectangular shaped units being abandoned for more unusual angular, curved and irregular shaped panels which add an extra special something to city high-rise buildings and home renovation projects.

Luckily GGR has got a range of over 30 glass suckers available to choose from for handling glass of all shapes and sizes.  With multi-configurable lifting frames and movable vacuum pads that can be individually isolated, these machines can safely handle the curves, contours and angles of glass panels.

The Hydraulica 1200 vacuum lifter has been used to help add a modern touch to renovated homes by installing large circular skylights. As well as fitting a large glass circle to the roof of the kitchen at a house in Bishopgate, London, this lifter also appeared on Channel 4’s Grand Designs where it teamed up with a MRTA611 lifter to install £20,000 worth of roof light in two semi-circle sections.

The 2-pad MT2 and MRT2 dual circuit glass lifters are ideal for lifting small triangular panels to create impressive looking glass rooftops and canopies, like at Edinburgh Waverley station and One Angel Square in Manchester.

A robotic GL-UMC600 glazing attachment fitted to a UNIC mini crane proved to be the perfect solution for installing trapezoidal shaped units in hard to reach areas when helping to create the striking façade of the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

A Hydraulica 1200 also helped create the glass centerpiece of a registry office in Blackpool by lifting two £25,000 trapezoidal panels into position using a UNIC URW-706.

Vacuum pads can often be moved along the lifter’s extension arms to provide enough support for larger or longer loads, as seen on the Hydraulica 1200 working at Jean Nouvel’s summer pavillion at the Serpentine Gallery in London.

The Kombi 7211 CeDe SO02 has a unique 7 metre long lifting frame and was especially designed for lifting long thin panels, like these glass fins at the One Snow Hill building in Birmingham.

Thanks to vacuum technology and these innovative lifting machines, architects can continue to push boundaries in their designs by creating braver and bolder glass structures with unusual shapes that really make an impression.

Take a look at our glass sucker range online here or register for a new GGR Group catalogue.