A hand’s breadth thick acrylic glass separates the visitors of the Cologne zoo from river horse, Jenny, 29 years old, and her one-year-old son Nils. Produced for the Heinz Fritz GmbH from baden-württemberg, Herbrechtingen. The third-Generation, family-run company employs 45 staff and specialises in the processing of acrylic glass or Plexiglas.
the use of this glass-like material made of strong, highly transparent plastic is not limited to the XXL discs for aquariums in Zoos. The product range includes display cabinets, Facade elements, elements for the luminaire industry as well as components as a sound and machine protection. Addition to discs for the fancy swimming Pools, a pressure body for research U-boats, and extraordinary objects of art.
The price range is between a Euro for simple products, such as product dividers, and six-digit amounts for individual large-scale projects. The equipment of Apple Stores with lighting objects and a currently in Paris, issued by the art work of Shoe designer Christian Louboutin to count. This is a nearly two-Meter-high stilettos, which seems to be made of a crystal are worked out.
A curved plate of 15.5 metres
“The designers wanted to make the Shoe first made of pure crystal glass, which is technically almost impossible. Since acrylic glass is offered,“ says Jacob Sixl, managing partner of Heinz Fritz GmbH. On the recommendations of the the order finally came to Herbrechtingen. The realization of the Vision took, among other things, due to the complex surface of a crystal a whole three months. “With the opportunities of today, there are hardly any Limits anymore – you could also connect to the Sphinx made of plexiglass,” says Sixl.
another major project is the production of three long-acrylic glass panes for the Brandenburg water Park “spree worlds was”. One of the largest curved acrylic glass pane in Europe, according to the bath; it is 15.5 meters long and 3 meters high. Steven Schwerdtner, head of the marketing Department of the spree worlds, reported: “this disc takes you under water just no more barriers come true. The experience is overwhelming.“ The guests would find it very funny how the penguins on the other hand, met. “A common Play often takes place.” to allow
To such encounters, a high level of material knowledge. In the manufacture of the disc, the different thermal expansion of the material must be adhered to both sides of the pelvis. The thermal Expansion also plays in the storage of the materials play a Central role. “The temperature in our warehouse is constant around 20 degrees Celsius, so that we can process the acrylic glass directly,” explains Sixl. This is not very important, since otherwise the cutting of up to 220 mm thick Plexiglas blocks to comply with the required dimensions.
