Solar / Photovoltaics: PV mounting system – mounting rail – mounting profile & roof hooks – for flat roofs, pitched roofs and inclined roofs

The globally active solar mounting system manufacturer Schletter Group is launching a completely redesigned pitched roof system: Thanks to new profile geometries and connecting elements, the "ProLine" system is lighter, more robust, and easier to install than its predecessor. The new product line is available immediately in Europe and will be available in international markets in the coming months.

“Optimizing yield remains the trend in the PV industry. For mounting systems, this means: less material with the same or better load-bearing capacity and shorter installation times thanks to simpler planning and handling on the construction site,” explains Manuel Schwarzmaier, Head of Sales for Roofing Products at the Schletter Group. “With this objective in mind, we designed our new pitched roof system ‘ProLine’ from the ground up.”

Schletter Proline – Image: Schletter Group

Lightweight and highly durable: the new profile geometry

A key component of the system is the newly developed mounting profile. Its optimized geometry allows for less material usage than previous Schletter standard profiles. At the same time, the profile can withstand higher loads. The profile is available in three versions: 35 mm high for smaller spans, 50 mm high for medium and large spans, and 70 mm high for large spans.

Clip in and you're done: the EcoA and RapidA roof hooks

The new generation of roof hooks, "EcoA" and "RapidA," provides the connection to the roof. The unique feature: only a single Torx T40 countersunk screw is needed for attachment to the rafter. This screw is used to first secure the base plate to the rafter. The base plate has transverse ribs on its underside that effectively prevent twisting. If necessary, spacers under the base allow for height adjustment.
In the next step, the roof hook is clicked into place using a unique mechanism. This allows the position of the roof hook to be freely selected along the transverse axis, if required. This enables the hooks to be installed quickly and flexibly on the roof structure.

One-size-fits-all: the RapidPro universal module clamp

Simple and quick installation is also the key feature of the "RapidPro" module clamp, which is designed specifically for the new profiles. Based on the "one-size-fits-all" principle, it can now be used to attach all common module sizes with frame heights between 30 and 47 mm. The fully pre-assembled clamp clips into the upper groove of the profile and is then secured with an M8x40 screw. The clamp is available in natural aluminum and black anodized aluminum.

Kirchdorf/Haag, March 18, 2021

Manufacturer T.Werk has launched the ZELOS solar mounting system for pitched roofs. With the new mounting rail and the flexibly applicable roof hook, the manufacturer expands its successful CHRONOS product family. Thanks to its innovative click profile in the upper channel, solar modules can be attached to pitched and tiled roofs particularly quickly and securely.

Optimized cross-section of the mounting rail saves material

The ZELOS profile, made of aluminum, is available in lengths of 3.15 meters, 5.15 meters, or 6.15 meters and is universally applicable thanks to its various channels and connections. "Compared to the previous model, the ZELOS mounting rail is significantly more affordable because we were able to save a considerable amount of material through the optimized cross-section," explains T.Werk Managing Director Markus Ziegler. The rail is designed for cross-bracing and
easily withstands normal snow loads on corrugated fiber cement and pitched roofs. T.Werk offers a twelve-year warranty on the ZELOS mounting system.

Statically improved roof hook for any roof shape

T.Werk roof hook ALU VAR ​​– Image: T.Werk

Also new to the product portfolio is the ALU VAR ​​roof hook. Thanks to the ten holes in the base plate, the ALU VAR ​​can be flexibly used on any roof shape. The roof hook is height-adjustable in two positions and particularly stable due to its force-fit and form-fitting connections. Its grooved contact surface prevents it from twisting after installation. T.Werk also offers the ALU VAR ​​roof hook with a twelve-year manufacturer's warranty.

Ellzee, June 27, 2019

MultiRail-CSM mounting solution – Image: K2 Systems

At The smarter E trade fair in Munich, K2 Systems presented practical enhancements for its Dome 6 system, designed to cover all applications on flat roofs. An exclusive preview of the new roof-parallel variant, Dome 6.0, and the MultiRail CSM short rail, specifically for corrugated metal roofing, was available directly at booth A4.270. Installers now receive digital support not only during the planning phase via the new K2 Base version, but also during the learning and familiarization phase with the new online training platform, K2 Training, and during the documentation phase via the K2 DocuApp. With two new locations in Australia and Slovenia at the beginning of the year, the installation of numerous megawatt projects using K2 solutions, and increased production capacity, K2 Systems demonstrates its successful development as a leading global manufacturer of mounting systems.

Several extensions make the Dome 6 system a flat roof all-rounder

Thanks to new components and further developments, the Dome 6 system, which can be mounted on one or both sides, can now flexibly cover all common applications on flat roofs:

• Installers can now purchase the system either pre-assembled with rail sets and fixed row spacing or as an unassembled long rail system. The latter, due to its high flexibility, is particularly suitable for large projects and in countries with low labor costs. In keeping with the K2 modular system principle, the new variant requires only the familiar rail connector from the Dome Classic system. During the planning phase in K2 Base, the installer simply selects between the system variants with a single click.
• For added flexibility during installation, in addition to the conventional corner clamping, the solar modules can also be securely fastened using the so-called quarter clamping method. This option is also available to planners in K2 Base and offers an ideal solution, especially for projects with high wind and snow loads, as well as for wider modules (up to 2390 x 1170 mm).
• The modular design of the Dome 6 system also allows for the combination of a double-sided, elevated D-Dome 6 system with a single-sided S-Dome 6 row termination, as well as the utilization of unused space around obstacles to maximize roof space. This combination can already be installed and will soon
  be even easier to plan in K2 Base using a new feature.
• For steeply pitched and existing flat roofs with limited load-bearing capacity, Dome FixPro offers the ideal solution for fixed installation. This standardized solution for roofs up to 10° can be directly integrated into the design in K2 Base and the structural analysis of the project. The placement of the connection points is calculated automatically and displayed in the installation plan.
• The planner can now add the components for equipotential bonding to the parts list in K2 Base with a single click. Along the rails, the new TerraGrif PL, attached to the rail connectors, ensures the necessary bonding. Perpendicular to the rails, the specially designed windbreaker performs this function for the S-Dome 6, while the TerraGrif K2MI is used at the module terminal for the D-Dome 6.

Exclusive premiere of the new Dome 6.0 and the MultiRail CSM

Following the K2 modular system principle, the engineers at K2 Systems have developed a new, roof-parallel flat roof system, based on the well-known Dome 6 system. This system will be available by the end of the year and can be planned using K2 Base. As the name Dome 6.0 suggests, the system has a zero-degree installation angle. The parallel installation ensures power distribution throughout the day, does not cause shading on the roof, and, thanks to its low profile, offers an ideal solution for countries with strict installation height regulations.

Due to the rapidly increasing demand for corrugated sheet metal roofing solutions, K2 engineers have expanded the MultiRail system, originally designed for trapezoidal sheets, to include a second rail variant. The new MultiRail CSM (CSM = corrugated sheet metal) for corrugated sheet radii of 22-45 mm is quick and easy to install, as it combines the rail and fastener into a single component. This new component also integrates seamlessly into the K2 modular system and is compatible with the standard OneMid/OneEnd universal module clamp.

Digital services save time, simplify planning, and reduce paperwork

The digital modules in the portfolio provide installers with even better support throughout the entire process. "Our goal is to offer comprehensive solutions. With the new K2 Training program, we help PV beginners with varied learning paths during the learning and onboarding phase. The K2 CheckApp accelerates project data entry in the quotation phase, the K2 Base online software simplifies the planning phase, and the K2 DocuApp shortens and simplifies the documentation phase," summarizes Stefan Köhl, Head of Digital Solutions at K2 Systems, regarding the digital services.

At the start of the trade fair, the company is presenting a new version of its free planning software, K2 Base. With the new version 3.1, planners will soon have access to features including CAD export of project data in DWG and DXF formats, automatic detection of snow and wind loads, and an improved parts list with new features. The undo and redo functions, which allow for quick reversal of actions using the shortcuts Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y respectively, make editing even more flexible and faster. Furthermore, the new automatic saving feature reduces the risk of data loss, and improvements to the project workflow ensure even faster and more user-friendly design of the appropriate mounting system. The development team is addressing the company's international growth with new integrated national appendices, such as those for Finland, Romania, India, and Australia, as well as 10 additional system languages, including Slovenian, Finnish, Greek, and Turkish.

“Installers save around 30% of their working time when creating project documentation with our K2 DocuApp, released in June,” Stefan Köhl continued. Available in the Google Play and iOS App Stores, the app enables fast, digital, and manufacturer-independent documentation of PV systems. All relevant data and documents from module, storage, inverter, and mounting system manufacturers can be created, managed, and shared between parties—for example, between project planners and on-site installers—from anywhere, on the construction site, or from the office. The project is then legally finalized with the customer's digital signature directly on the smartphone or tablet. This significantly reduces administrative work overall, and all parties involved have a structured overview of all documents. Furthermore, if the installer uses a K2 mounting system for the project, all planning data and reports from K2 Base and related to the products are automatically available in the app with a single click.

With the start of the trade fair on October 6th, the free, interactive K2 Training platform also launches. It provides a solid and engaging introduction to fundamental knowledge about advising on, planning, and installing K2 mounting systems through compact, progressive learning videos. Each learning module concludes with a quiz where installers can test their knowledge and subsequently receive a personal certificate. This certificate confirms the installers' expertise and commitment to quality for their customers. The platform enables even more efficient planning, especially for newcomers and career changers. In the "Tile Roof" learning path, PV beginners learn the basics of quick and easy planning, as well as the specific considerations for projects with high snow and wind loads and how to overcome structural challenges.

K2 Systems continues to grow and further expand its market leadership

With the successful rebranding of its American and Mexican subsidiaries, K2 Systems has been operating globally under a single brand since the beginning of the year and, with its two newly established locations in Australia and Slovenia, is serving further important markets this summer. Together with a worldwide sales network comprising over 120 partners in the electrical and solar wholesale trade, the company is further expanding its global presence and continuously developing new fastening solutions.

The combination of long-standing expertise and local know-how enables new initiatives, such as the new MultiRail variant for corrugated metal roofs in Australia and New Zealand. As the first mounting system manufacturer ever, K2 has also been offering French installers the Assurance Décennale insurance since March, in addition to the classic ETN product certifications. This year, the company's growth and the global breakthrough of renewable energies have
also led to a tripling of its production capacity. "In close coordination with our existing and new suppliers, we have significantly broadened the foundation of our production. Despite the global raw material and production restrictions caused by the pandemic, we managed, for example, to deliver 300% more of our highly sought-after CrossHook 3S/4S roof hook by the end of last month than we did in March of this year," explains Managing Director Katharina David, describing the current situation. K2 Systems' user-friendly fastening systems are used not only in the residential sector but also in large-scale projects. For example, the two largest plants in Serbia, with 826,000 kWp, are
equipped with the MultiRail system, and a 12.7 MWp plant in northern Italy, one of the largest rooftop plants in Europe, recently went online using the D-Dome 6 flat roof system.

Renningen, October 5, 2021

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