Summary. YTEK Yeni Teknoloji designed, manufactured and installed a folding hydraulic floor hatch for a factory in Anadolu OSB, Istanbul. The hatch opens an 8 × 10 m floor opening so long and heavy materials can be lifted from trucks straight to the upper floor, and seals the floor from the outside environment when closed. The system was delivered in 2024 and is in service.
Requirement
The factory receives long, heavy and bulky materials that must reach the upper floor. The delivery zone sits directly below an 8 × 10 m floor opening, so materials can be lifted from the truck to the upper floor with the in-house crane. When not in use, the opening had to be fully closed to seal the upper floor from heat and cold and to keep it safe to walk on. There was no space around the opening for hydraulic cylinders.
Engineering solution
- Rotary actuator drive: because there was no space for cylinders, two 24 kNm rotary actuators operating synchronously drive the hatch.
- Folding kinematics: the hatch folds as it opens, leaving a 6.3 × 8.9 m clear opening within the 8 × 10 m floor area.
- Thermal insulation: 50 kg/m³ stone wool along the hatch seals the upper floor from outdoor heat and cold.
- Mechanical locking: two locking cylinders lock the hatch mechanically once it is open.
- Flexible control and manual backup: a control panel on the HPU and a local panel that can be placed anywhere; a hand pump on the HPU allows manual opening and closing.
Scope of work
YTEK designed, manufactured and installed the complete system.
System operation
On command, the two rotary actuators fold the hatch open in 30 seconds, a speed set by the customer for safety. The locking cylinders then hold it open, and materials are lifted from the delivery zone through the 6.3 × 8.9 m clear opening. Closing reverses the sequence and restores a continuous, insulated floor.
Outcome
Delivered in 2024 and in service. The factory gained direct crane access from truck to upper floor through a 6.3 × 8.9 m opening, with an insulated floor whenever the hatch is closed.
Frequently asked questions
Why rotary actuators instead of cylinders?
There was no space around the opening for cylinders. Two 24 kNm rotary actuators drive the folding hatch within the available envelope.
How large is the opening?
The hatch covers an 8 × 10 m area and opens to a 6.3 × 8.9 m clear opening for material delivery.
Can the hatch be operated during a power failure?
Yes. A hand pump on the hydraulic power unit allows manual opening and closing.