Schletter releases new clamp

By Billy Ludt | September 13, 2019

The Schletter Group introduces the next generation of its ground mount system FS Gen 3 that promises less material per kW of installed capacity, a faster assembly and higher load capacity.

The international solar mounting solutions manufacturer continues its campaign focusing on yield optimization, and will present the FS at Solar Power International (SPI) in Salt Lake City.

Most connections on the FS Gen 3 are based on clamps.

“We have radically redesigned the third generation of our globally implemented FS open area system to optimize yields,” said Florian Roos, CEO of the Schletter Group. “With our FS Gen 3, customers save time and money during the installation and optimize their return on investment.”

In addition to using less material per kilowatt, the FS Gen 3 has the same or higher load-bearing capacity and is easier to assemble than ever before, due to the targeted optimization of individual components.

20% span increase possible

For the pile-driven foundations, girders and purlins of the FS Gen 3, Schletter is using high-tensile steel, which is used in the automotive and the mechanical engineering industry. Engineers have redesigned the geometry of the purlins. Instead of following a “Z” profile, the cross-section of the purlins is formed as a downward opening, symmetrical trapezium.

The new shape in combination with the new material significantly increases the load capacity of the purlins. The new purlins can support spans of up to 6.5 meters, which is around 20% more than the previous generation. This means that with the FS Gen 3, more PV capacity can be installed on fewer supports.

The purlins also serve as a cable tray. This renders the application of cable ties obsolete, the company said in a press release.

In order to reduce the time needed to assemble the system, Schletter has also fully optimized and aligned its individual components. Most connections are based on clamps. The construction is designed so that no on-site drilling or pre-punching of holes is necessary.

Modules are installed on the FS Gen 3 are pushed in from below between the mounting system’s tilted rafters.

Clamping connections points along their individual axes offer sufficient leeway to align them to the local conditions in a fast and simple manner, the company said in a press release.

“At every installation, changes have to be made on-site that cannot be planned beforehand such as fine adjustments to the pile driving result,” says Cedrik Zapfe, the chief developer of the Schletter Group. “With the new FS Gen 3, this is not a problem.”

Modules mounted without ladders and lifting platforms

To simplify and accelerate the mounting of modules, Schletter engineers have developed a new rafter lay-in system. The modules are simply pushed in from below between the tilted rafters and then fastened with a slip guard.

“The modules can, therefore, be mounted without any ladders or lifting platforms,” Zapfe said. “This is not only significantly faster but also safer and more economical.”

The rafter assembly can be used for frames of 30, 35 and 40 mm in thickness. Frameless modules or other module strengths can still be fastened with clamp-based rafter systems.

Schletter’s FS Gen 3 and other mounting technologies will be at booth 5407 at SPI in Salt Lake City, September 23 to 26.

News item from The Schletter Group