At project Nieuwe Sluis Terneuzen enormous amounts of concrete are being pumped. That it is not always a sinecure to get concrete from A to B over long distances is evident from the specialization Belgian Lifting & Equipment company has in this.
Speaking is Bert Pauwels, sales manager at BLE. The company sells and rents major brands within the field.
"We have been working with Grove's large mobile telescopic cranes since 1996. We sell these both new and used, in Belgium. In 2008, we added Potain's quick-mount cranes, also selling new and used, in Belgium," Pauwels opens the conversation. "In 2018, we became a distributor for the Netherlands and Belgium of Betonstar, a Turkish brand that supplies concrete pumps mounted on a truck. A high-quality and very modern product."
In addition to mobile concrete pumps, BLE also provides stationary concrete pumps. "Those come from Mecbo," Pauwels explains. "We supply those new, used and for hire, in both Belgium and the Netherlands." To get the concrete exactly where it is needed, BLE provides distribution towers from Boom Makina. "We supply these new and used and in rental. Right now they can be seen in action on the Galaxy Tower site in Utrecht. For Ballast Nedam there are now three projects running with our distribution masts and stationary pumps, both sales and rental."
BLE rents its equipment without an operator. However, the start-up on the site is surrounded with every care: "Andy Troch, our manager of the concrete pump department supervises each project from A to Z," Pauwels explains. "We also lay the pipes needed for pumping, so we can be sure this is done properly. We understand better than anyone that downtime on a job site should be avoided at all times and especially when working under time pressure, which is always the case with concrete."