Linear actuators regulate sun protection at Zurich airport
 
The Airside Center at Zurich Kloten airport is a site of intense activity 365 days a year: 17 million passengers a year use the 25 metre high, 250 metre long hall in order to reach their terminals, wait for flights, to have a snack or go shopping. Here, the west façade has been completely glazed, thereby guaranteeing both increased natural light, an impressive view over the landing field and improved orientation within the airport buildings. In order to ensure that the temperatures remain at moderate levels despite the glass frontage, the architects supplemented the heat protection glass with mobile, perforated aluminium slats. The sun protection system is operated via elero linear actuators (type Econom 0).
 

 
One actuator for six slats
 
Nevertheless, despite a façade surface area of 3,800 square metres, only 200 actuators are required in Zurich. Providing a force of 3,000 Newtons, the powerful push rod actuators are capable of moving not only one slat, but six. The linear actuators are equipped with encoders to ensure that all groups of six operate synchronously. The encoders also transmit the current opening percentage to the system, in order to ensure that the shading is precisely adapted in accordance with the sun's irradiation angle. The actuators are also equipped with integrated limit switches and torsion lock pistons.
 

 
The Airside Center was designed by the British architects Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners together with two Swiss architects' offices. In addition, the west façade is not designed to be straight, thus matching the curved roof construction. The actuator technology used also takes account of this challenging building design. Thanks to the slim design and the weather resistant stainless steel casing of elero's linear actuator Econom, this actuator blends inconspicuously into the façade. Here, it ensures precise and reliable positioning of the shading system, an achievement which is appreciated not only within Switzerland.
 

 
Attractive play of light and shade: the slats on the Airside Center at the Zurich Kloten airport are operated via linear actuators (Econom, type 0). Source: Unique / elero
 

 
Thanks to the mobile aluminium slats on its impressive glass frontage, temperatures within Zurich's airport buildings remain pleasant even in summer. Source: Unique / elero