RALF installation robot

The first machine that GGR commissioned was the Robotic Articulated Lifting Frame, more commonly known as RALF, in 1999.

It was created because building contractors were looking for a machine that could efficiently install glass but without the need to use a costly tower crane or larger mobile crane that required a road closure—something which was often difficult in a congested city centre. The tracked and robust RALF was for outdoor operation and meant that manpower could be reduced to just 3 men plus an operator. The RALF could navigate over rough terrain, had an in-built operator cab, a telescopic arm that could lift to height of 5.92m and a 600kg capacity.

The RALF included an innovative robotic vacuum head which could precisely tilt and rotate glass loads into position for installation. GGR’s specialist engineers developed the unique, multi-positional manipulating head that could slew 80° left and right, tilt up and down 80° and rotate continuously 360° to manipulate loads into the ideal angle ready for fitting.

This prototype machine was a learning curve for GGR as it was a heavy machine so needed developing further to make it more lightweight. Only one RALF machine was ever made, but as it was hired out for a number of jobs, including glazing work at the McLaren headquarters in Surrey.

EMU robot

The EMU (Ergonomic Manipulating Unit) robot was also developed in 1999 and is still a popular machine in GGR’s hire fleet today. The lightweight and flexible EMU was designed to work internally, glazing buildings from the “inside-out” when heavier craneage or scaffolding was not possible.

The robot consists of a compact frame for interior access onto which a patented hydraulic manipulating head with two vacuum circuits is mounted.  Working from the inside of a building, the machine can angle and push glass outside of a building envelope, realign it, then pull it back into position for fixing.

The EMU robot achieved recognition from the Design Council and won the ‘Quality in Construction’ award by Construction News magazine. The EMU went on to glaze some of the most prestigious buildings in the UK including the Royal Opera House, Heathrow Terminal 5, Tate Modern, Salford Lowry hotel, The Houses of Parliament, Portcullis House, Spinnaker Tower Portsmouth and many more.

Since then, GGR has developed multiple versions of the EMU robot with lifting capacities of 500kg and 1000kg to cope with the growing architectural trend for larger, heavier pieces of glass.  GGR has also commissioned a number of bespoke EMU robots for specific projects over the years, including a version to lift glass reinforced concrete panels for Crossrail, a model for installing cladding which was used at Edinburgh Airport and a steel beam lifting attachment for constructing check-in desks at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2.

HOMER robot

In 2004, GGR started to develop the High Operation Mounted EMU Robot, a.k.a HOMER, to provide an easier means of glazing at height. The HOMER has the same range of movement as an EMU robot, with a unique robotic head for manipulating glass, however the machine was designed to be mounted onto a telehandler for glazing at height and below tricky overhangs.

This machine has been used to glaze noteworthy buildings across the UK including Chobham Academy in the Olympic Athlete’s Village, BMX Velodrome in Manchester, Riverside Museum in Glasgow, Liverpool Echo Arena, Museum of Liverpool and more.  Without the use of a HOMER robot, glazing and cladding these buildings would have been a difficult, slow and costly process.

Car Lifting Hoist

In 2011 GGR Group launched a new car lifting hoist which had been designed, tested and built by our in-house research and development team. GGR developed this below-the-hook device in reaction to customer demand for a safer solution for lifting cars using GGR’s compact cranes.

The Car Lifting Hoist has an adjustable frame which can be adapted to suit various sized cars up to 2.4 metres wide and 2.5 tonnes in weight. The hoist has been used to lift everything from an Aston Martin supercar to a compact Mini Cooper, and even used to lift cars for an exhibition at the famous Silverstone race track. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor work, the car lifting hoist can be used in shopping centres, for exhibitions and in car showrooms.

Custom Built A-Frames

Our workshop team offer a bespoke trolley building service, where we can create an A-Frame trolley suit your specific size, capacity and budget requirements. GGR can design, test and certify standard and liftable A-frame stillages as well as angled adjustable trolleys. Trolleys can be fitted with fork entry points, lifting eyes and fixed, swivelling or braked hard/ soft castors. Contact our technical team to find out more.