The Schletter Group is rolling out the latest version of its configurator tool and new models of roof hooks, flat roof racking and ground mount tracking system. The company will showcase these new products in an online trade fair from June 23 to 25.
“The increasing desire for yield optimization means that attention is now focusing on handling as well as maximum material efficiency — from planning to installation on-site,” said Schletter CEO Florian Roos. “With our Configurator 3.0 and newly developed roof hooks, we are taking yet another great step forwards for our customers.”
Schletter developers have worked to reduce material usage per kilowatt of PV capacity by using highly durable materials and new geometries, following a “one size fits all” principle to encourage simpler installation, storage and logistics.
Planning in Google Maps: the Schletter Configurator 3.0
The Schletter Configurator 3.0 allows users to plan roof systems much faster and more easily than before. For the latest generation, the Schletter programmers have fundamentally reworked the tool, which has been reliable for years and added a number of new, improved functions.
Planning in Google Maps is now possible, for example, Roof surfaces can be marked out and planned directly in Google Maps via an interface. Once the roof inclination has been input, the system calculates the exact size of the roof surface to be configured and, if required, suggests the optimum configuration, depending on alignment. When the zip code or name of the town is entered, the system then takes over the regional standard loads for wind and snow automatically – and it can do it worldwide. To enable this, the Schletter Configurator incorporates the world’s most extensive load determination database.
The Configurator is a planning software that’s been developed by the Schletter Group for the last decade. The software is free of charge, and as a memory-saving client application, it is also maintenance-free and always available in the latest version.
In the future, it will also be possible to export the planning as a DXF file, which means that it is can be connected to the standard planning programs used by architects, structural engineers and planners. The program generates a structural analysis and verifiable documentation for all plans produced by the configurator. The parts lists can be adapted and expanded manually.
Where previously only one roof could be planned at a time, several roofs and roof systems can now be processed within one planning element. This makes handling much easier, because the location parameters such as terrain category, relevant standard loads etc. only need to be detected by the system or input once. It is thus possible to configure different roof types with different installation systems and alignments in one plan.
Users can choose between fast configuration and professional mode. In fast configuration, the system suggests the configuration that is best, based on size, alignment and structural loading. In professional mode, users can select the individual parameters flexibly for themselves.
Pitched roof hooks
Schletter is launching two new roof hooks for pitched roof installation. For low loads, the company has developed the new EcoA roof hook, made from aluminum. It allows fast, flexible mounting using hooks and is fixed in place with one Torx plate head screw. The hook is height-adjustable and can thus be used for different roof battens. It can also be combined with all standard Schletter profiles.
“With the cost-optimized EcoA aluminum roof hook, we will be able to cover the majority of applications on tiled roofs with one fixing element in the future”, said Cedrik Zapfe, technical director of Schletter Solar GmbH.
The Schletter Group has developed the new HSL roof hook series for high wind and snow loads. The one-piece welded roof hooks with a rail thickness of 6 or 8 mm are made from high-strength steel. The degree of strength, which has been considerably increased once again compared with its predecessor, meets all the requirements for mechanical strength, stability, structural integrity and durability. A new zinc flake coating makes the roof hook particularly resistant to corrosion.
The newly developed spacer plate, which is suitable for all Schletter roof hooks in the Rapid and Eco ranges, allows variable height adjustment in 2.5 mm steps.
Ground mount and flat roof systems
Schletter will also be presenting its current ground mount and flat roof systems at the in-house trade fair. These include the Schletter Tracker which, the FS Gen 3 open area system.
“With the FS Gen 3, our customers will save time and money on installation and optimize their return on investment”, Roos said.
The FixGrid 18 flat roof system is also being presented with an additional module angle of 10°. Maximum ease of installation was once again the priority in its development. The FixGrid 18, for example, has a newly-developed factory-mounted screw-in connector that can be installed without tools. It is also largely prefabricated: the surface protection mats are pre-mounted on the base supports of the FixGrid 18 kits, for example, to reduce mounting time and thus the costs per kW of installed PV capacity.
News item from the Schletter Group
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