Foundation specialist blows out 70 candles and continues to look ahead

Foundation specialist Fundexgroup exists this year 70 years and grew in recent decades into an international expert in foundation engineering. Within the group, Funderingstechnieken Verstraeten profiles itself as the specialist in soil displacement, vibration-free techniques. "We offer a total package of foundation techniques and are also 100% owners of the FUNDEX® and TUBEX® brands, for making the piles of the same name," says Davy Maes, general manager at Funderingstechnieken Verstraeten.

"This year we are celebrating our 70th anniversary as a foundation contractor, and as a firm we are even celebrating 120 years," continues Davy Maes. "As a total provider of foundation techniques, we give advice, provide the design and realize pile foundations, whether vibration-free, soil displacement or driven. And we focus here on different sectors: industry, infrastructure, petrochemicals, civil projects, wind energy projects, energy high-voltage pylons. We are still that one free market party, the family business that can set its own priorities and move quickly in the process." 

The ability to mobilize zero-emission foundation machines will become a decisive factor in whether or not construction projects can be realized. Davy Maes realizes this too: "And we certainly don't want to wait until everyone in the construction industry realizes this, because then, due to the limited availability, waiting times can increase. We like to be ahead of that. And as a large party, we also have the clout for that." Funderingstechnieken Verstraeten also leads the way in other areas. "For example, we are VCA-certified and we are going for level 3 on the Safety Culture Ladder in 2024. And of course, high quality is always paramount with us."

Specialist in (deep) foundations

Fundex group is 100% owner of the FUNDEX® and TUBEX® brands. Davy Maes: "A number of foundation companies in the world are allowed to make Fundex and Tubex piles, as long as the right drilling points are used and purchased through us. This results in a certain minimum quality level, necessary to give these pile types the name Fundex or Tubex. Over the years we continue to improve our products and we are seen in the market as the specialist in the field of vibration-free (deep) foundations for many structures, but certainly in high-rise buildings. Our products give a very high load-bearing capacity, result in excellent load-setting behavior and, combined with a financially attractive picture, are therefore extremely suitable for this type of construction."

From vibration-free, soil displacement concrete piles to combi piles with grout injection, Verstraeten Funderingstechnieken has mastered all techniques. And that results in many beautiful projects. Such as Eurostaete in Veldhoven, a total concept of living, working and life in the heart of Eindhoven and next to the PSV stadium, a top location. Davy Maes: "It is a unique and multifunctional building for which we installed both Tubex piles and Fundex Combi piles by order of Stam and de Koning. A beautiful, large but difficult drilling job that we brought to a successful conclusion together with the main contractor."

Continue to invest and innovate

According to Davy Maes, Funderingstechnieken Verstraeten has state-of-the-art equipment, operated by enthusiastic, experienced, trained and certified personnel. "For example, we have five new generation Fundex F3500 machines in our possession and in mid-2022 even a new Fundex F4800 was purchased. The latter can make piles in one length of at least 40 meters. We continuously invest and keep testing equipment to arm ourselves for the future. For example, we are working on an interesting project at a new construction in the port of Breskens. The foundation piles here are also being used as energy piles to provide the apartments with cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. A great success! For drilling these Fundex piles up to even 38 meters, we have seen our newest acquisition at work: the Fundex F4800 machine."

So sustainability is also high on the agenda at Funderingstechnieken Verstraeten, and this is reflected in equipment with low emission values or even completely emission-free. "We can welcome a Fundex CD-20 100% electric machine at the beginning of 2024. This relatively small machine will then be suitable to install emission-free Fundex piles and Tubex piles," says Davy Maes and continues: "The problem is, however, that (many) construction sites are not yet fully equipped to run this type of machine, so steps still need to be taken there as well. In addition, together with suppliers we are looking for savings and/or reuse of materials. We will certainly be able to make great strides in this area in the coming years. Continuous improvement and innovations of existing and new techniques have brought us a leading position in the market that we will of course continue to defend. Over the years we will continue to improve our products and will be seen in the market as the specialist in the field of vibration-free (deep) foundations."