Various building projects have meanwhile been completed using the pile pushing machine. The Pile Pusher Pro has already pushed a total of 3,700 piles into the ground. Why do contractors and the local area benefit from the Pile Pusher Pro? Why is this foundation machine considered the number one innovation in the construction industry?

 

Sandro Katerberg, who is a sales engineer at A.P. van den Berg, is responsible for the sales of this piling machine in Europe. “After adding a data acquisition system, we renamed the machine the Pile Pusher Pro. This machine is used in construction projects to install construction foundations. And it does so silently and without producing any vibrations,” says Sandro.

 

New press-in piling method

“The biggest challenge is actually the innovative character of the machine,” says Sandro. “It is a new pile pushing method, a method that is basically unknown in the Netherlands. But also outside the Netherlands. I can safely say that it is virtually unknown all over Europe. Raising awareness of the machine among companies and potential clients in a market that is mainly familiar with traditional methods really is a great task. We have put tremendous effort into that over the past period.”

 

Alternative to pile driving and boring

Sandro: “What triggers me to get out into the market with the Pile Pusher Pro day after day is to inform people, get them excited about this method. Being able to tell them why the machine offers an alternative in cases where people think they have no other option than pile driving and bored piles, while there is this third press-in piling method available.” A pushing method that comes with major benefits for the local area, but where does it come from? “A few years ago, we as A.P. van den Berg went to China together with a customer of ours to see this machine in action. We learnt that the pushing method had actually been in use there for over 15 years, with great success. And that’s when it occurred to us: “This method will be the future for the European market, and definitely for the Dutch market as well.” And this is purely down to the fact that it is vibration-free and silent.”

 

Complying with laws and regulations
Like all other industries, the construction industry is subject to regulations. Is it easy to fit this new technique into that? This is, in fact, a key focus point, according to Sandro: “Environmental aspects are increasingly important in regulations and contacts with local residents. These aspects naturally also result in pile driving restrictions for current companies. We have tapped into that. We have modified the machine to bring it into line with European regulations and fitted it with a measuring system, drawing on our expertise in penetration cone testing technology. With all these features on board, we believe that this machine really fills a gap in the market.”

 

Data increases reliability

Every single Pile Pusher Pro is equipped with a data acquisition system. “As the machine pushes each pile into the soil, the on-board measuring system collects data on the condition of the soil. This is how the pushing piling method optimises the design of pile foundation by delivering additional calculations,” Sandro explains. Reliability increases and unnecessary buildings costs are prevented. “With all these features on board, we believe that this machine really fills a gap in the market.”