The “ice princess” can be used to carry out resistance tests on windows, doors and façades across a temperature range between -20°C and +90°C – with positive wind loads that simulate wind speeds of up to 450 km/h.
Window, door and façade units up to 8 metres wide and 4 metres high can now be tested under the harshest climate conditions. The new test facility allows cyclical changes to climatic conditions, such as between day and night, to be simulated, for example. The test facility was developed together with ift MessTec GmbH from Rosenheim.
The Schüco Technology Center's technical requirements were high. For example, 20 kW heating power, 85 kW cooling power, and maximum water flow of 80 l/min all had to be ensured. Added to this was the fact that a maximum of 5000 m³/h of air needed to be circulated in the air conditioning. The preparation and development stage lasted one year in total. Now all the work has been completed successfully and the test facility is now ready to test the first exhibit under extreme climatic conditions.
Picture credits: Schüco International KG
From left to right: Matthias Fröhleke, Managing Director of ift MessTec GmbH from Rosenheim, and Rolf Schnitzler, Site Manager for ift West in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, hand over the test facility to Tim Leimkühler, Head of Weathertightness Tests in the Schüco Technology Center, and Karl-Heinz Welk, Head of the Schüco Technology Center.