Keeping the ELT’s Vision Clear: The Automation behind the Precision Maintenance for the World’s Largest Telescope

03-04-25 - 09:00 (Midden-Europese tijd)

The ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) by ESO, currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama Desert, features a 39-meter diameter primary mirror. Solutions for Process Automation by GF Piping Systems enable the continuous surface treatment of its 798 segments. 

The mirror segments, designed to collect tens of millions of times as much light as the human eye, are made of a glass-ceramic material with very low thermal expansion. In order to achieve the highest possible sensitivity, they need to be recoated every 18 months, which means removing, recoating, and reinstalling two segments every day throughout the ELT’s lifespan. When Fagerström Industrikonsult AB was tasked with designing a washing and stripping plant, the Swedish company selected solutions for Process Automation by GF Piping Systems.

To dissolve the reflective layer, which is primarily made of silver, the washing and stripping plant uses sulfuric acid and cerium sulfate. The segments are then cleaned with ultrapure water and an air knife prior to recoating. After extensive material testing, GF Piping Systems supplied a complete solution consisting of manual and automated valves from the PROGEF product family as well as accessories such as LED position feedback sensors and spring return units. In addition, the company provided measurement sensors for critical parameters including level, pressure, and temperature.

PROGEF is a polypropylene welded piping system designed for durability and high chemical resistance, and therefore contributes to a long-lasting and reliable operation for Fagerström’s washing and stripping plant. At the same time, GF Piping Systems’ measurement sensors optimize compatibility while providing the operators with precise data for this essential process. When the ELT becomes operational at the end of the decade, the washing and stripping plant will play a role in advancing astrophysical knowledge, enabling a deeper exploration of the Universe and providing sharper images of cosmic objects than ever before.

Carl Johan Fagerström, CEO of Fagerström Industrikonsult AB, comments: “When developing and designing one-of-a-kind machines, it is important to understand both the project and the components we are selecting. The collaboration between GF Piping Systems and Fagerström was crucial for success.”

Peter Ernström, one of the Process Automation Specialists at GF Piping Systems who accompanied the entire project, comments: “Fagerström is pushing the boundaries of innovation with its unique solution for the world’s biggest optical telescope. Our extensive experience with process automation for chemical applications allowed us to support Fagerström throughout every project phase and supply a bespoke solution to turn their vision into reality.”

Find out more about this reference case.

Constanze Werdermann

Constanze Werdermann

Global PR Manager

Marketing & Communications

Georg Fischer Piping Systems Ltd

Ebnatstrasse 111

8201 Schaffhausen

Zwitserland

Over GF Piping Systems   
Als toonaangevende leverancier van leidingsystemen creëert GF Piping Systems duurzame oplossingen voor een veilig en duurzaam transport van vloeistoffen. De divisie richt zich op lekvrije leidingsystemen voor tal van veeleisende toepassingen van de klant. De sterke klantgerichtheid en innovatie komen tot uiting in de wereldwijde aanwezigheid op het gebied van verkoop, service en productie en in het portfolio van fittingen, afsluiters, buizen, automatisering en verbindingstechnologieën.

GF Piping Systems heeft verkoopkantoren in 33 landen en is dus altijd dichtbij de klant. De productiefaciliteiten op 40 locaties in Amerika, Europa en Azië zorgen voor voldoende beschikbaarheid en een snelle, betrouwbare levering. In 2024 behaalde GF Piping Systems een omzet van CHF 1'971 milion en had het 8.309 mensen in dienst. GF Piping Systems is een divisie van Georg Fischer AG, opgericht in 1802 en met het hoofdkantoor in Schaffhausen, Zwitserland.

www.gfps.com