Meylen

Window Systems — Schüco ASS

Lift first.
Then slide.
Six metres of sky.

Most sliding doors fight their own gaskets. Schüco lift-slide systems eliminate that friction entirely — the sash lifts clear of its seal before moving, so a panel weighing the same as a small car glides open with one finger. What this enables architecturally is the reason designers specify it: glass apertures that redefine what a room can feel like.

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Schüco ASS 77 lift-slide door fully open — panoramic terrace connection

The Mechanism

Why "lift" changes everything.

A conventional sliding door presses its sash laterally against a brush or rubber seal — creating friction that compounds with every kilogram of glass added. Opening becomes heavy. Sealing becomes a compromise. The system chooses between "slides well" and "seals well."

Lift-slide resolves this by separating the two functions in time. On handle rotation, an integrated cam mechanism raises the sash 3–5 mm before any lateral movement begins. The gasket contact is completely broken. The sash now rides on precision steel ball-bearing rollers — its full weight, balanced, friction-free.

On closing, the sequence reverses. The sash glides into position, then the handle rotation presses it down onto the perimeter gasket with calibrated compression — identical every time, regardless of how long the door has been installed.

Lift-slide mechanism diagram — sash lifts before sliding on precision rollers
Opening sequenceHandle turn → sash lifts → slides on rollers
Closing sequenceHandle turn → rollers lock → sash presses onto seal
Typical track options2-track (one fixed + one sliding), 3-track, 4-track
Standard sash weightUp to 300 kg (ASS 77 PD)
Uw value range0.79 – 1.1 W/(m²K) depending on glazing
AutomationElectric drive optional — KNX / IO-Homecontrol compatible

Why It Matters

01

Effortless Movement — Regardless of Size

The defining characteristic of a lift-slide system is its actuation sequence: when the handle is turned, the sash first lifts a few millimetres off its sealing gasket via an integrated lifting mechanism. The compression load disappears entirely. What remains is a panel — potentially weighing 300 kg or more — that glides on precision ball-bearing rollers with one finger of force. This is not an exaggeration; it is physics. Friction is eliminated before movement begins.

02

Spans That Redefine a Room

Standard sliding systems are limited by gasket friction and frame rigidity. Lift-slide removes the gasket variable from the equation. Schüco's ASS 77 platform accommodates individual sash elements up to 3 metres wide and 3 metres tall — and multi-track configurations can extend the total aperture to 6 metres or beyond. For open-plan living that genuinely connects to the outdoors, no other residential system competes.

03

Sealed to Passive House Standard When Closed

The same lifting mechanism that makes opening effortless works in reverse on closing. As the handle completes its rotation, the sash presses down uniformly onto the entire gasket perimeter with engineered compression force. The result is a seal that outperforms many fixed windows — achieving Uw values as low as 0.79 W/(m²K) in optimised configurations. There is no draught, no thermal bridge, no acoustic leak.

04

Structural Glazing at Residential Scale

Because the aluminium frame carries all sash load on its lower roller track — rather than distributing it through the glass itself — triple-glazed panels of extreme size become structurally viable. This enables a visual grammar previously reserved for commercial facades: floor-to-ceiling glass that reads as continuous, with frame profiles that effectively disappear at architectural distance.

Schüco Systems

Two platforms.
Every aperture.

The panoramic standard

Schüco ASS 77 PD

Construction depth: 77 mm
Max. sash weight: 300 kg
Uw from 0.87 W/(m²K)
Max. sash width: 3,000 mm
RC2 burglar resistance available
Motorisation & smart home ready

Folding-slide for maximum aperture

Schüco ASS 70 FD

Construction depth: 70 mm
Folds flat against facade when open
100% clear aperture achievable
Up to 6 panels per track
Internal & external configurations
Ideal for terrace & pool surrounds

Climate & Context

Built for European winters.
Perfect for everything else.

Lift-slide systems were engineered for the demanding requirements of Northern European climates — passive house insulation, wind-driven rain resistance, and decades of thermal cycling without seal degradation. These specifications translate directly into performance advantages in hot, coastal, and high-UV environments.

For projects in Australia, the Middle East, or Southeast Asia, the thermal performance argument reverses: the same gasket integrity that keeps cold out in Germany keeps conditioned air in during a Perth summer. The system's tight seal means air conditioning load drops measurably compared to brush-sealed alternatives.

Aluminium also responds better than timber or PVC to salt air and UV exposure. Schüco profiles are powder-coated to Qualicoat Class 2 standards — the external surface is warranted against chalking, cracking, and colour shift for 10 years in coastal conditions.

Continue Exploring

Tilt-and-Turn Windows

The dual-mode casement — explained

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Glazing Options

Thermal, acoustic & safety glass

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Architectural Shading

Roma external blinds & roller shutters

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Begin Your Project

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Our engineering team advises on system selection, track configuration, structural requirements, and glazing specification — for projects in Germany, Australia, and worldwide.

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