Introducing a whole new way of installing foundations in the Netherlands is not something you do overnight. Traditionally, in construction projects the precast concrete piles s are driven into the ground. Whenever that is not possible or not allowed, bored piles are a commonly used alternative. This has become the design standard and hardly ever give it a second thought. And yet, Mark Woollard is convinced that the Dutch (and European) market is ready for a new way of installing pile foundations into the ground. One that does not come with vibrations and noise. How? The Pile Pusher Pro is the solution: this foundation machine pushes the same precast concrete piles into the soil using hydraulic force. How does Mark, Managing Director of A.P. van den Berg, see the future for this machine?
Hydraulic pushing method
A.P. van den Berg, specialized in the development and fabrication of equipment and instrumentation for Cone Penetration Testing, has been noticing a shift in the market for a while now. “In the Netherlands, but also across Europe, aspects relating to the environment and inconvenience for the local area have developed into determining requirements in the construction industry,” says Mark. “You want to install pile foundations without vibrations and without noise…but how do you do that? Hydraulic pushing methods are familiar territory for us. For over 50 years, we have been using hydraulic technology for our cone penetration testing equipment, and the technical heart of the Pile Pusher Pro is very similar to that. We know from experience, that this pushing method makes a great alternative to pile driving and boring. We firmly believe that the combination of benefits for the local area and the reliability of precast foundation piles will make this new method a great success.”
Combination of experience and data
“The pushing method for pile foundations is not entirely new. It has been used across Southeast Asia for over 15 years. When we heard about this technology through a customer, we immediately saw opportunities for this machine in the Netherlands and Europe. We also have expertise in the area of data collection for soil investigations. Under the label of A.P. van den Berg GeoTechnology, we import the basic machine from China. By adding our own data acquisition technology and by upgrading the machine in line with European laws and regulations, we developed the Pile Pusher Pro. Since the launch in 2017, over 3,700 piles have been pushed into the ground.”
Innovating foundation installation
The Pile Pusher Pro is ready to take the Dutch market by storm. It’s a sure thing, right? Or are there any challenges? There certainly are, according to Mark: “We have launched a new method to address developments in the market, especially in urban areas. This machine is the perfect answer to the increasing legislation and regulations in the Netherlands, but also across Europe. The remaining challenge for us is to raise awareness of this pushing method among the stakeholders related to foundation projects. This basically means introducing new technology to people who are not yet familiar with it. This method feeds into our company’s continuous drive to innovate. While we know the players in the market, launching a new product in a market is always difficult. Once your product takes root and you can start expanding, then you have reason to be very proud.”