Stainless Steel Spider Fittings Case in Santiago | Glass Curtain Wall & Glass Canopy Project
This project showcases the application of stainless steel spider fittings in a commercial glass curtain wall project located in Santiago, Chile. The building adopts a modern architectural style commonly seen in the central districts of Santiago, where transparency, clean lines, and lightweight structures are important design elements. The spider fitting system, including 4-arm and 2-arm models, was used to fix large glass panels to the steel structure, creating a stable, bright, and visually appealing façade. The on-site installation was documented in the video, allowing local customers to clearly understand how the spider system works in real engineering environments.
In Chile—especially in cities such as Santiago, Las Condes, Providencia, and Vitacura—glass curtain walls are widely used in shopping centers, office buildings, transport stations, hotels, and commercial plazas. Local users often search for terms like fachada de vidrio, muro cortina, herrajes de acero inoxidable, vidrio templado, and estructura metálica, so this project highlights the practical installation methods of these systems. As local building standards become more modern, the demand for high-quality spider fittings grows significantly.
In this case, the 4-arm spider fittings were mainly installed in the central areas of the curtain wall to support large glass panels. This type of spider distributes load evenly in four directions, transferring weight to the steel structure through spider routels and supporting bases. The 2-arm spider fittings were installed at the edges and transition areas, providing additional stability while ensuring a clean and continuous façade. The installation team positioned the spider bases according to the glass size and structural calculations, ensuring that every connection point met the required load-bearing conditions.
Santiago’s climate presents particular challenges for outdoor metal hardware. Seasonal wind speeds can be high, and temperature differences between day and night are often significant due to the influence of the Andes Mountains. This makes material stability and corrosion resistance especially important. The stainless steel spider fittings used in this project were manufactured from high-grade stainless steel with corrosion-resistant surface treatments, making them suitable for long-term outdoor exposure. Even under humidity, rain, and UV exposure common in Chilean climate conditions, the fittings maintain their structural integrity for many years.
The video shows the detailed installation process of the spider fittings. Before installing the glass, the construction team fixed the spider bases and routels to the steel beams. Precision alignment ensured that each connection point stayed in the correct position. When lifting the glass panels, the team adjusted them using professional lifting tools. Thanks to the spherical adjustment mechanism inside each routel, the angle and orientation of the glass could be fine-tuned to achieve perfect alignment—a process essential for minimizing stress on tempered and laminated glass (vidrio templado y vidrio laminado). After alignment, the spider arms were securely tightened, achieving a stable and reliable connection.
In addition to the main curtain wall, this project included a glass canopy (techo de vidrio). Glass canopies are commonly installed at entrances of commercial plazas, residential buildings, and transport stations in Santiago. They provide protection against rain while maintaining a transparent and modern appearance. The canopy in this case used laminated safety glass supported by stainless steel spider fittings. The video clearly shows how the spider system connects the glass to the cantilevered steel beams. By maintaining consistent spacing, angle, and slope, the canopy achieved both functional and aesthetic goals.
For local architects and contractors searching for reliable glass façade solutions, stainless steel spider fittings offer several advantages. They create an open and elegant appearance, allow for larger glass panels, and eliminate heavy frame structures. This aligns extremely well with Santiago’s modern architectural trends, where many new buildings favor full-glass designs that emphasize openness and natural light. Developers in Chile often prioritize durability, low maintenance, and long-term stability, and stainless steel spider systems meet those expectations.
The installation steps for this project included steel structure preparation, base plate positioning, routel installation, glass lifting and alignment, spider tightening, and final inspection. Each step was executed carefully to ensure long-term safety. The combination of mechanical strength and visual transparency is one of the main reasons why spider façade systems are widely adopted in Chilean commercial developments.
To help local customers evaluate this system more easily, the entire installation process has been published on YouTube. The link is provided below:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/woFxbP8kuho
Our spider fittings used in this Santiago project are suitable for a wide range of applications across Chile, including shopping malls, business centers, transportation hubs, airports, hotel lobbies, and public buildings. We supply a full range of products such as 4-arm spiders, 2-arm spiders, single-arm spiders, spider routels, bases, tension components, and custom glass hardware. Surface finishes can also be customized—mirror polish, satin (brushed), bead-blasted finishes, etc.—to match different architectural styles in Chilean projects.
As the demand for high-quality façade systems grows in Chile, especially in Santiago’s rapidly developing metropolitan area, the stainless steel spider fitting system provides a reliable, durable, and visually impressive solution. Whether used for curtain walls, canopies, skylights, or atrium installations, spider systems continue to be one of the most effective technical solutions for modern glass architecture. If you have ongoing or upcoming projects in Santiago or other regions of Chile, we can provide complete product support, engineering consultation, and fabrication services tailored to your requirements.
