Ultimate performance and

freedom of design – the

fischer Zykon anchor combi-

nes both these planning and

design requirements. The

FZP Zykon anchor is a form-

locking anchor, installed me-

chanically in an undercut

drillhole without any expan-

sion pressure. As early as

1997 the Deutsche Institut für

Bautechnik (DIBt) has ap-

proved the fischer develop-

ment for fixing ventilated

natural stone facades with

slab thicknesses above 20

mm and for reveals.

When it comes to retainingpower, the undercut techni-que offers a great deal morethan conventional fixings – italso allows the facade panelsto be optimised: smallerpanel thicknesses and smal-ler panel bending moments.Placing the anchor in the op-timised position can reducethe tension by 50 percentcompared with conventionalsystems. Undercut anchorscan also be used to com-pensate any tolerances in thepanel thickness.

The FZP excels both in itstechnical values and its de-sign options. Invisible fixingpoints in the facade surface,the anchor can be positionedanywhere on the inward fac-ing side of the panel, and thepanels can be replaced easily.The reason ? The undercutanchor makes no connectionbetween panel and wall, butbetween the SystemOne sub-construction and the panel.

The SystemOne subcon-struction has been designedfor high loads, large-sizedheavy natural stone panels,and for bridging non-load-bearing building substances.This type of construction re-duces the installation on thebuilding site and keeps noiselevels down, for instance dur-ing reconstruction work.

The fischer Zykon panel an-chors are also approved forfixing reveal panels. Al-though non-compliant withbuilding standards, most re-veal panels are still fixed bygluing. fischer offers plan-ning engineers and crafts-men an economical and effi-cient solution for mechani-

cally anchoring reveal panelsto what is commonly calledthe mother panels. The natu-ral stone panels to be con-nected are bolted with revealangle pieces.

This anchoring solution pro-vides a number of advanta-ges over conventional techni-ques. Compared with gluing,for instance, there is no longcuring or waiting time to beobserved. As the position ofthe reveal angles can be free-ly chosen, reveal and motherpanels of different lengthscan be used. The anchor bolt-ing technique also allows thenatural stone panels to ex-pand and bend under the in-fluence of high temperatures.

fischer’s anchoring expertshave not only invested a lotof know-how in the develop-ment of undercut anchorsand the subconstruction, butalso in drilling engineering.This drilling device for settingthe undercut drillholes isan indispensable componentof the whole FZP system.The machines, developed byfischer, allow drillholes to bemade fast and economically.

Freedom and safetyfischer Zykon anchor offering more design options

Earthquake-proofZykon anchors meeting Chinese and American

earthquake standards

Safety in earthquake-prone zones is a crucial factor for high-rise

buildings. To prove the point, earthquakes with maximum defor-

mations of the facade elements of 10 cm were simulated in

Peking. The facade anchorings by fischer withstood 30 earth-

quake simulations with as much as 9.4 on the Richter scale. This

meant that the fischer facade anchorings met the stringent

Chinese and American earthquake standards.

For the test setup it was as-sumed that the epicentre ofthe earthquake was locateddirectly underneath the build-ing and that panels had beenattached at heights between150 and 200 meters. The gra-nite panels, 30 mm thick,2 square meters in area andweighing 180 kg, were fixedwith just four (4) FZP 13 x 24anchors.

The Deutsche Institut für Bau-technik (DIBt) has broadenedthe approval for the fischerZykon panel anchor to in-clude other stone grades.Next to natural stone panels,it is now also panels made ofother magmatic igneous rocksuch as granitite, syenite or diorite which can be anchored withthe fischer Zykon anchor. The FZP has been approved by the DIBt

also for anchoring metamorphite with hardstonecharacter, among these quartzite, granulite, gneissand migmatite.

Shanghai has certainly one of themost exiting skylines to offer.fischer know-how is found in manyfacades.

Bending torque enhancement through free positioning of the plate anchors

Classic anchoring FPZ undercut anchoring

The FPZ is suitable both for spacedinstallations for compensating platedifferences and for flush installa-tions.

connect it12

F F

A C T Competence Centrefischer’s Number One address for façade anchorings

Savings Bank of theRussian Federation,Moscow Facade material: Granite Bethel White,

USA

Facade area: 21,000 m2

Slab size: 1100 x 900 x 20 mm

Anchorings: FZP 11 x 19 M 6

FZP 11 x 12 M 6

Requirement: Compensating differences

in slab thickness through spaced installa-

tion and suspended installation anchors

Museo del Hombre, Spain Facade material: Slate

Facade area: 1,650 m2

Slab size: 500 x 530 x 20

Anchoring: FZP 11 x 10 M 6

Requirement: spatially designed

facade

High-rise buiding, University of LeipzigFacade material: Padang, China

Facade area: 12,500 m2

Slab size: 1200 x 900 x 20 mm

Anchoring: FZP M 6

Requirement: on-site pre-assembly

Bank of China Tower,ShanghaiHeight of building: 226 m

Facade material: Chinese granite

Facade area: 15,000 m2

Anchoring: FZP 13 x 24

M8/6kt /13A4

Requirement: building height caus-

ing high wind suction

forces

Theatre, Place desMartyrs, Brussels

Facade material: Lava Auvergne

glazed-enamelled

Facade area: 30 m2

Slab size: 500 x 500 x 25 mm

Anchoring: FZP

Requirement: rapid installation/de-

installation, fast slab

replacement

scale systems. These auto-matic drilling machines canalso be centrally controlledand monitored via a modemdirectly from the ACT centralstation.

Ever since the early nineties,fischer has been dealing in-tensively with innovative an-chorings for vented facades.With an undercut hole set inceramic facade slabs, Profes-sor Artur Fischer providedthe decisive impulse. A teamof smart developers thenpicked up the idea and tookit to perfection: the fischerZykon FZP anchor for ceramicslabs.

Naturally, the inventionaroused the interest of theexperts and eventually led tothe development of the FZPfor natural stone with largedimensions and great weight.Parallel to the completion ofmajor projects, the develop-

ment of undercut drillingtechniques with sophisticat-ed feeding mechanisms wasrigorously advanced. fischer’snew special in-house de-velopment impressively de-monstrated its capabilitiesduring a major contract inMoscow. For 22,000 m2 natu-ral stone facade at the sav-ings bank, a total of 1,000drillholes were set in graniteslabs every day.

And from these “small” be-ginnings, we now have ateam of specialists at fischerACT who never lose sight ofthe whole.

Competence all round – no

mean claim by fischer’s ACT

facade experts. ACT stands

for Advanced Curtain Wall

Technique. The anchoring

specialists “not only” offer

innovative fixings for vented

facades, but in fact every

conceivable service which

design engineers, planners,

architects and contractors

may expect. To be able to

offer these services in the

most direct way, ACT focuses

on all areas ranging from

development to production

under one roof.

The range of services beginsas early as the planning sta-

ges, involving consulting andadvice, and continues withdesign proposals, tests andstructural calculations. Farfrom considering the job“done” at this stage, the ACTteam then looks after itemis-ed piece lists, the preparationof the subconstructions andthe delivery on time to thebuilding site.

And even then the client isnot left alone. For the ACTspecialists, instructing theusers in the installation pro-cedures for the base con-struction is as much part oftheir job as giving instruc-tions in how to make the

undercut drill holes. The ac-tual drilling technique is anintegral part of the fixing so-lution involving the fischerZykon anchor. This is why fi-scher also offer their own ma-chinery: from single stand-alone site machines to large-

Comparison of fracture forces insoft stone between mandrel bear-ing and undercut anchoring

Comparison of fracture forces ingranite between mandrel bearingand undercut anchoring

Cylindrical drill hole Undercutting Inserting the anchor Expanding the anchor

projectsBuilding

All under one roof at ACT: from development to production

OK (CD3)

13

Mandrel: � 6/25/d1 = 15Anchor: � 13 x 20

hv = 20 mm

Red Main sandstoneςBZ = 8 N/mm2

FZP Anchor

Mandrel

Distance S in mm

Forc

e F

in k

N

Mandrel:� 6/25/d1 = 10Anchor:� 13 x 15hv = 15 mm

Bianco SardoςBZ = 10 N/mm2

FZP Anchor

Mandrel

Distance S in mm

Forc

e F

in k

N

opens up new perspectives

fischer Zykon plate glass anchor FZP-G

small fixing points

(20 mm diameter)

no glass penetration

no dirt on the outside

no sealing problems

no contact between

A4 steel and glass

low thermal transfer

visual facade quality

system engineering with

high quality materials

automatic drilling system

Star Solution Bracket

adjustable glass plate

position in vertical and

horizontal direction during

the installation on site

absorbing thermal

expansion

attachment options to

many different profile

geometries

one basic bracket for

two-point or four-point

fixings

more architectural design

options

The anchor specialist fischer

has managed to apply the

undercut technology to plate

glass. A computer-controlled

drilling technique and an ad-

vanced design version of the

reliable Zykon panel anchor

allow this new method of

frameless facade glazing.

Besides offering more archi-

tectural options, it is mainly

the significant cost reduction

– compared with previous

anchoring methods – which

planning engineers and ar-

chitects can reckon with in

future. This new method

could result in more point-

fixed glass to be used in ex-

terior and interior design.

“We have experimented foreight long years, at firstagainst the misgivings of ex-perts”, says Stefan Lind offischer ACT (Advanced Cur-tain wall Technique). “Under-cut anchorings in glass are atotally new field with no theo-retical data to fall back on.”Most recently, the system hasbeen tested at the glass-makers St. Gobain and Pil-kington for its suitability in

mum transparency of theglass. The undercut drillholeand the bevelled edge ismade in a single process.fischer has developed a com-puter-controlled drilling unitspecially for this application.

The FZP-G anchor (the “G”stands for “glass”) is an ad-vance development of thefischer Zykon panel anchorused for natural stone facadeanchorings. The FZP-G ismade of A4 stainless steel. Itis surrounded by a jacket-type plastic mantle which ser-ves several purposes: It em-beds the anchor elastically in

The benefitsat a glance

the drillhole, prevents contactbetween steel and glass, and– due to its bright colouring –reduces the visibility of theanchor inside the glass.

Anchorings of glass facadesthat are expected to holdenormous loads, should beas small and inconspicuousas possible and should alsoimpair the aesthetic appea-rance of the surface as littleas possible. But, to ensurethe adjustment and to ac-count for potential expan-sion, the demands made onthe subconstruction rise dra-matically in point-fixed glasssystems. This problem islargely eliminated by thenovel Star Solution retainingsystem which, used in con-nection with the undercut an-

choring, reduces the visibleportion of the subconstruc-tion to an absolute minimum.

The “Star Solution”, its de-sign reminiscent of a star,allows nodal point and two-point solutions with the grea-test of ease: the holders areadjusted using positioningscrews, and the panels canbe shifted horizontally intothe desired position. Toleran-ces and thermal expansionare absorbed directly in thepanel level without any con-straining forces.

Friendly reception at the “Centro 360” The “Canyon Wall” – a case for the FZP-G The fischer Start Solution for new design freedom

The “Centro 360”restaurant in Singapore

practice. “Now we have afully developed and econo-mical solution which offersmany benefits” says the de-velopment engineer.

Unlike previous systems forthe point-fixing of glass, thepanel is no longer drilled andpierced fully. The anchoringis made directly into the glassin an undercut drillhole. Thefixing point is sealed, protect-ed from dirt and – unlike inthrough-type point fixings –does not act as an undesir-able thermal bridge. Under-cut anchorings introduce noexpansion forces into theglass at the fixing point. Theanchor holds by form-lock-ing: once set, it adapts to thegeometry of the drillhole andfills the undercut.

The special drill holes can bemade with glass thicknessabove 10 mm, with an em-bedment depth of 6 mm, or7 mm in 12 mm glass thick-ness. Small fixing points witha diameter of 20 mm and lowedge distances of 50 mm andabove guarantee the maxi-

connect it14

Zykon in glass

The FZP-G is also suitable forfixing solar modules

Anchor flexiblyembedded

Carrier glass

EVA film

Glass Solar cell

fisch

er w

orld

fisc

he

r wo

rld

+++ Almost 200 guests followed aninvitation by fischer and the Singa-pore Institute of Architects(SIA) to attend a seminar on faca-de anchorings. The event, held inSingapore, focused on the fischerdivision ACT (Advanced CurtainWall Technique, see also pages 12 –14). The highly innovative fixing solution for natural stone, ceramic, fibrecement or glass panels developed by this division met with overwhelminginterest among the assembled architects and planning engineers. +++

+++ fischer UK has opened new offices in Lon-don, a focal point tobetter serve the Grea-ter London area. Thepeople at fischer UKfocus their commit-ment on the technicalsupport for planningengineers and desi-gners. +++

+++ In just three years, the Pado-va Marathon has become a majorsports event and an internationalcelebration for the whole city. Thisyear 2254 athletes, from the USAand Austria, from France and Swit-zerland, from Nigeria and Kenya,Australia and Japan saw the starter flag comedown. But he biggest group of athletes camefrom Germany, among them seven fischer

people from the Tumlingen and Denzlingen locations. During thefive kilometre city run – with over 10,000 runners ! – the fischer locationsfrom both sides of the Alps entered a mighty contingent of 92 runners, ledby company chief Klaus Fischer and Italy’s managing director SteffenZügel (small photo). Representing the major sponsor, Klaus Fischerhonoured the fastest marathon runners at the award ceremony: among thewomen, Giovanna Volpato from Padova (large photo) came first with2:39’31 hours, ahead of Esther Barmasai from Kenya. Among the men,Douglas Rono from Kenya came first with 2:11’01, ahead of Giacomo Leonefrom Italy. +++

“Befestigungstechnik im Beton- und Mauerwerkbau”(Anchoring Engineering in Concrete and Masonry)

is the title of this book, authored by Prof. Dr.-Ing.Rolf Eligehausen, University of Stuttgart, and Dr.-Ing.Rainer Mallée, head of research at fischer. This de-tailed standard work has been published as part ofthe Building Engineering Practice series by Ernst &Sohn, Verlag für Architektur und technische Wis-senschaften GmbH in Berlin. The book gives a de-tailed and concise outline of the state of the art inanchoring engineering with insertion components,plugs and setting bolts in concrete and masonry.

The chapter “Befestigungen in Beton” (anchorings in concrete) deals indetail with the anchoring elements and their effective mechanisms, and in-vestigates the load-bearing behaviour in cracked and non-cracked concrete.Other subjects include the performance and behaviour under corrosion ex-posure, behaviour under fire exposure, and the performance under seismicimpact and shock. The design of anchorings is explained in detail by way ofpractical examples.

The chapter “Befestigungen in Mauerwerk” (anchorings in masonry) dealswith masonry work and describes the load-bearing behaviour and the designof plastic and injection-type anchorings. Criteria for selecting the various an-choring means round off the chapters.

Rolf Eligehausen, Rainer Mallée, Befestigungstechnik im Beton und Mauerwerkbau, 368 pages, ISBN 3-433-01134-, R 99,–

“The mountain calls” – thismaxim of the great alpinistLuis Trenker has also beenfully em-braced by Jiři Kyncl.At the tender of 15,Jiři, now managingdirector of the Czechmarketing compa-ny fischer interna-tional s.r.o. disco-vered his passionfor mountain-climb-ing. And ever sincethen he uses every op-portunity to face newchallenges. Comingfrom the Italian side,he has climbed the

legendary Matterhorn (4474meters) in the Valais Alps forthe second time via the “LionRoute” to descend on the

Swiss side via the “HörnliRoute”.Kyncl’s highest peakwas in Uzbekistan inthe Pamir Mountains:the Pik Lenin, rising to7134 meters above sea

level. “The air up there ispretty thin” says Kyncl.But the intrepid climber isalready looking forward tohis ultimate challenge:“I’m confident I will even-tually tackle an eight thou-sand meter mountain.”

At the limitsThe mountain calls – again and again Book tip

CEO Klaus Fischer (right) and Steffen Zügel (left)

+++ At the innovation competi-tion, held every other year duringthe VETECO specialist trade fair inSpain, fischer ibérica has won se-cond place. The award went to theglass anchoring system “Star Solu-tion” (FZP-G) which the Spanishdemonstrated using a photovoltaicsystem. +++

15