The new headquarters of the Anglo American mining company and its subsidiary, De Beers, the world’s largest diamond manufacturer and trader, was built on a surface of 18,000 sq m (200,000 sq ft) at 17 Charterhouse Street. This involved renovating the existing offices as well as removing and reinstating two floors. 

Products by the Bavarian SSG Solnhofen Stone Group SSG Based in Bavaria were used during the implementation of the ambitious facade made of glass and natural stone. The client opted for the Maxberg Jura limestone upper layer beige and the Padang G654 granite stone types. Heavy loads and the desire to have concealed fastenings presented a particular challenge to the contractors, the Swabian firm Radeberger Fensterbau GmbH and their British partner, the Schneider Group. In order to solve this fastening issue, the contractors appointed the fischer facade systems division of the fischer Group of Companies. The company specialises in all-in-one solutions for the installation of rear-ventilated facades. “We developed a custom solution based on pull-out tests, which resulted in the undercut anchor FZP II 13x26 M8/SO/17 A4, of which 20,000 units were used”, says Steven-Henrik Maier, Market Manager facade systems at the fischer Group of Companies. 

Gerhard Regler, Project Manager Facade Technology SSG-Solnhofen Stone Group, emphasizes: "The use of three fischer automatic drilling machines at the SSG plant in Gundelsheim and the factory insertion and expansion of the anchors also led to a significant cost reduction in on-site installation."

The manufactured size and variant of the stainless steel Zykon panel anchor precisely matches the specific project requirements and offers a high degree of corrosion resistance. “Tests carried out with panels made of Portland limestone have confirmed the safety of this solution, which also fulfils the customer’s aesthetic requirements with its concealed fastening”, Steven-Henrik Maier adds. “This convinced the decision-makers just as much as our broad range of services, which ranges from custom solution development and advice to on-site support on the construction site”.

Equipped with fischer undercut anchors, the rear-ventilated facade fulfils the high requirements in terms of sustainability and climate control while providing an aesthetic look, protection and lasting safety.