PHILIPP "Wirbelstar" Load-Bearing Device for the PHILIPP Threaded Anchor System

Wirbelstar (RD)

Name: Wirbelstar Lifting Attachments for Threaded Transport Anchors
SKU: 050505054045
Price: 50505054045.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

The Wirbelstar is a flexible load-bearing device for threaded transport anchors used in precast concrete construction. Thanks to its ball-bearing swivel mechanism, the Wirbelstar’s suspension head automatically aligns itself with the direction of the load, enabling safe lifting operations under axial, oblique, and transverse tension. Its robust design ensures high load-bearing capacity, easy handling, and maximum safety.

SKU: 050505054045 Categories: Lifting device, System RD

Request Product

The PHILIPP Wirbelstar is a high-quality load-bearing device for the PHILIPP threaded transport anchor system and was developed for the safe transport of precast concrete elements. Thanks to its swiveling base and integrated ball bearings, the Wirbelstar is suitable for axial, diagonal, and transverse loads and offers maximum flexibility when lifting and moving precast elements.

The lifting attachment consists of a forged ring pin with a suspension link and a rotatably mounted lower section. During the lifting process, the suspension head automatically aligns itself with the direction of the load without the thread coming loose.

This makes the Wirbelstar particularly well-suited for demanding lifting operations as well as the safe installation of wall panels manufactured in a horizontal position.

The Wirbelstar is available in eight load classes, ranging from RD 12 to RD 52, and has a load capacity of up to 12.5 t. Its robust construction ensures a long service life and reliable performance in the daily transport of precast components. At the same time, the well-thought-out design allows for easy release of the load-handling device without additional tools.

As a component of the PHILIPP transport anchor system, the Wirbelstar meets the requirements of VDI/BV-BS 6205 and combines a high level of safety with convenient and cost-effective use in precast concrete construction.

Ball-bearing mounted, rotatable suspension head
Suitable for axial, oblique, and transverse loads
Load capacities up to 12.5 t
Load classes RD 12 to RD 52
Self-aligning under load
Can be released without tools
Low-maintenance design
Part of the PHILIPP transport anchor system
Complies with VDI/BV-BS 6205

CAD wird geladen …

General

What is the legal basis for transport anchors?

In Europe, transport anchors are regulated as lifting accessories in the Machinery Directive and, from 2027, in the new Machinery Regulation. Safety requirements for such “machines” and working coefficients (safety factors) are defined here, i. e. factors for achieving an appropriate level of safety for metallic components and other materials.
EN 13155, which is harmonised in Europe, also applies to the actual manufacture of transport anchors. In Germany, planning, design and application are regulated by the VDI/BV-BS 6205 guideline. In the rest of Europe, either this guideline or CEN/TR 15728 can be followed. A product standard or approval for transport anchors does not exist.

Are transport anchors CE marked?

If transport anchors and lifting devices verifiably fulfil the requirements of the Machinery Directive resp. Regulation regarding steel bearing capacity, they shall be marked with a CE. In addition, the manufacturer has to provide a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for the transport anchor or the lifting device in which those requirements are confirmed.

Are there any regulations for transport anchors in the Eurocode?

The Eurocode 2 refers to existing product standards with regard to the manufacture and mounting of specific precast elements.
In general, “transient situations” shall be taken into account when designing and constructing precast elements in accordance with Eurocode 2. Among others, these include transport and mounting of the precast elements.
This means that the planner is responsible for the design of transport anchors in accordance with Eurocode 2 and, if applicable, the country-specific National Annex and other standards (in Germany DIN 1045-1000).
However, with the help of guidelines, manufacturers’ instructions and if so further services the planner is able to do a complete design of transport anchors.

Do transport anchors require a national technical approval?

Years ago, the DIBt in Germany (highest approval and assessment body) confirmed that “Anchors that are used exclusively for the transport (for lifting) of prefabricated (reinforced) concrete parts (transport anchors) are not construction products within the meaning of public building law. For transport anchors a proof of usability in the form of a technical approval is therefore not required.”.
The manufacturing of transport anchors is regulated in the harmonised standard EN 13155, the design and application in the German VDI/BV-BS 6205 or CEN/TR 15728.

What does a transport anchor system consist of?

A transport anchor system always consists of the actual anchor set in concrete and the belonging lifting device from one manufacturer.
Generally, the transport anchor and the corresponding lifting device can be assigned by means of the marking, the colouring and/or the shape of the recess in the concrete element.
In principle, lifting devices intended for the transport of precast concrete elements shall always be used. Similar devices (e. g. eyebolts) must not be used.
Lifting ropes or chains including hooks (so-called lifting accessory) and crane ropes including hooks (so-called load carrying device) complete the lifting equipment in this context.

Are there differences between threaded transport anchors with RD or M thread?

The PHILIPP Threaded transport anchor system consists of a combination of various transport anchor types with a socket (female thread) and corresponding lifting devices with a thread (male thread). Both system components are offered with metric round (RD) or metric (M) thread.
The combination does not lead to a reduction of the load-bearing capacity. In general, this applies to all types of threaded sockets.

Please note that the combination of RD external thread and M internal thread is not possible.

Planning

Under what circumstances stainless steel transport anchors have to be used?

There is no repeated use of transport anchors if they are only used within the transport chain, i. e. from the manufacture of a precast element to installation on the construction site. In this case, transport anchors can be made of any (steel) material.
If concrete elements (e. g. cover slabs, crane ballasts) are lifted again after the initial installation, anchors must be made of an approved stainless steel due to repeated usage.

How are transport anchors designed?

The most important parameters in the design of transport anchors are:

Dead weight (incl. position of centre of gravity)
Number and arrangement of anchors
Formwork adhesion
Dynamic loads
Load direction

Before and during the design the following important steps have to be done by the planner:

Thinking ahead and planning
Defining and determining
Evaluating, selecting and sharing of information
Consider manufacturer’s instructions (Installation and Application Instruction)

Detailed information can be found in the General Installation and Application Instruction.

Building

Is it allowed to weld on transport anchors when installing them?

Subsequent welding on PHILIPP lifting anchors is generally not permitted.
Welding is only permitted by the manufacturer acc. to the rule German of the Employer’s Liability Insurance (DGUV 101-001).
Possible material embrittlement, internal stresses, etc. cannot be prevented by repeated heating (e. g. by welding processes) and thus welding on lifting anchors is generally not recommended.
The German VDI/BV-BS 6205 guideline also deals with welding but only on the reinforcing steel belonging to a transport anchor and only under certain conditions. Generally, weld spots to fix the anchor to the reinforcement nearby are not considered as critical.

Can transport anchors be bent or even shortened?

Modifications of any kind to transport anchors are generally not permitted.
The shape and dimensions of the transport anchors are generally based on calculations and related tests. The load-bearing capacities are derived from these, taking safety factors into account.

Manipulations in the form of bending, shortening or welding reduce the load-bearing capacity of a transport anchor in an unforeseeable way and thus represent a potential risk within the entire transport chain of a precast concrete element.

Use

Can transport anchors and lifting devices from different suppliers be mixed?

EN 13155, the standard which applies to the manufacture of transport anchor systems, sets high safety requirements and states the obligation to design and mark these systems in such a way that a clear assignment of compatible transport anchors and lifting devices is guaranteed.
The VDI/BV-BS 6205 guideline completes this requirement by stating that a compatibility across manufacturers of transport anchors and lifting devices shall be strived for and proven by the manufacturers. Such proof of compatibility is very time-consuming and costly for all manufacturers and is not very practical.

Does lifting devices have to be inspected regularly?

The German employers' liability insurance association specifies binding requirements for the inspection of lifting devices (DGUV 109-017, section 8). This must be carried out at least once a year by an authorised person. This can be a qualified person from your own company or an external third party (e. g. PHILIPP).
Depending on the conditions of use or for justified reasons, inspections may also be required at shorter intervals or on an exceptional basis.
However, in addition to the official inspection requirements, it should always be in the interest of every user of lifting devices to do a visual inspection before each use in order to protect themselves and their colleagues from potential risks.

Can transport anchors also be used for load securing?

The German VDI/BV-BS guideline states: “
Lifting inserts which have been used improperly during load securing or which have been subjected to exceptional loads, e.g. due to load slippage, must no longer be used to transport the precast concrete part.“.
Therefore, we recommend to use additional transport anchors only for load securing and to label them clearly on the precast element.
For each application, transport or load securing, appropriate verifications shall be provided.

Can transport anchors be used to fix constructions permanently?

Even though the mechanisms of action of transport and permanent anchors are very similar, the normative and technical background is completely different.
Anchors for the permanent fixing of any construction are safety-relevant construction products and must be approved as there is currently no product standard. Both, the specified test guidelines as well as the design are completely different compared to a transport anchor.
Thus, a lifting anchor must not be used for a permanent fixing, just as lifting a concrete element is forbidden with an anchor intended for a permanent fixing of constructions. Combining applications and thus saving on mounting parts is not possible with these product groups.

Recycling

Are transport anchors recyclable without restriction?

Nearly all transport anchors consist exclusively of metal parts, so that they can be sorted and recycled with the reinforcing steel without restriction when (precast) concrete elements are removed.
However, if complete precast elements are to be reused, installed transport anchors must no longer be used for lifting (exception: stainless steel transport anchors).