Electric mini works on repairing quay wall

Emission-free in the capital 

In Amsterdam, about 200 kilometers of quay wall need to be replaced, some parts of which are hundreds of years old. This involves a lot of work. For example, the roots of trees are often widely spread across the work site. Furthermore, the available working space is limited and in many places there are houseboats along the quay. H. van Steenwijk B.V. has developed a method that minimizes these challenges. This involves using the electric Hitachi ZX55U-6EB to carry out the work emission-free.

The mini excavator has recently become available in the Netherlands, and this first machine is being rented for this project through the Hitachi Premium Rental program. The project currently being worked on is a section of the Waalseilandsgracht. Here, a 50-meter stretch of quay wall was in such poor condition that the City of Amsterdam has removed traffic from the quay to minimize its impact. Work had to be carried out to restore the quay to normal load-bearing capacity. Since space is limited, there are houseboats in the canal and trees on the quay, taking measures is not easy./a

Major advantages

Contractor H. van Steenwijk has been in business for 193 years and the company has replaced or reinforced many kilometers of quay wall over the years. In total, the City of Amsterdam has 600 kilometers of quays and in the coming years it will be necessary to tackle a significant portion of these. A significant portion is located in the historic city center, which makes the task complex and can involve high costs. That is why in 2021 the contractor devised the Steenwijk method, which was the first successfully applied to the Prinsengracht that year.

The Steenwijk method offers a solution to multiple problems surrounding quay walls, with a strong focus on limiting disturbance to the environment and on cost efficiency. By replacing part of the existing quay and retaining another part, the life of the quay wall is extended. The new section forms the new foundation of the quay wall. This foundation is calculated with a life span of 100 years.

This approach combines new grout injection piles with a concrete gap, strengthening the existing quay wall. In addition, the risk of soil erosion and leaching behind the quay is eliminated through the use of an undercutting screen in front of the quay. A wooden screen was specifically designed for the Waalseilandsgracht with a lifespan of 30 years. Thanks to the use of small equipment, houseboats can largely remain in place, pedestrian and bicycle traffic continues, and at the same time trees on the quay are saved.

Emission-free execution

Another major advantage of this method is the use of small, electric equipment. In addition to the drilling rig, the Hitachi ZX55U-6EB is being used on this project. The 5-ton mini-excavator is identical in dimensions to the diesel version, making it a compact barge excavator. This makes the machine perfect for use in various jobs on the project. In January, for example, the earthwork was carried out using the Hitachi and in March, the machine spent several weeks demolishing the quay wall. The demolition also used expanding cement instead of a hydraulic demolition hammer. Combined with electric work, this ensured that very little noise was produced and the inconvenience to the surrounding area was limited.

During drilling, a 20-foot battery container was used to charge both the drilling rig and the mini-excavator. After these operations, a power point was always available through the City of Amsterdam. This way, the machine could be recharged each time during the lunch break. This made it possible to carry out the daily work completely electrically.

Made in Japan

Developed and built entirely in Japan, the ZX55U-6EB has recently become available in the Netherlands. For the work on the Waalseilandsgracht, H. van Steenwijk is renting the mini excavator through the Hitachi Premium Rental program. Under this label, Hitachi Nederland supplies a wide range of the brand's excavators and wheel loaders, which can be rented for both short and long periods. A major advantage of the electrically powered machine is that it can operate on either the 39 kWh lithium-ion battery or on a cable.