Big in crane and exceptional transportation services

With 195 employees and an impressive fleet of machinery, M.J. van Riel is strong in performing (combined) crane and exceptional transport services. Under a pre-existing framework agreement with Heijmans, M.J. van Riel supplied and provided the necessary crane and transport services for the widening of the A1 motorway between Apeldoorn - Twello.

Most of our work on the A1 project consisted of installing the VDC piles for the portals of the permanent signage and signage, begins Harold van Oss, company manager at M.J. van Riel. "For this we deployed several mobile telescopic cranes, ranging from 130 to 250 tons. In addition, we performed lifting work when widening various structures." Given the project's sustainable approach, M.J. van Riel used HVO 100 biofuel. "We do already have 25 electric cranes by now, but they were not sufficient to hoist the heavy items along the A1."

HVO100

Harold also notices that large projects are increasingly tendered out emission-free. "From M.J. van Riel we only applaud this, but there are limits. Our mobile tower cranes can all run electrically, with the telescopic cranes in the heavier, exceptional segment it is a different story. There is no electric motor yet that can lift such heavy loads. Not even on hydrogen. Of course we are keeping a close eye on developments in that field, but for now the solution for the heavy segment remains limited to running on HVO 100 biofuel. Doesn't take away from the fact that we can also realize nice savings with that, with a reduction of up to 90% on CO2 emissions."

One point of contact

For M.J. van Riel, the contribution to the A1 project is just about over. "The major lifting work is now behind us," says Harold. "And that took place mainly at night, with Heijmans taking care of the correct phasing and any lane closures for traffic. They really do a top-notch job there at Heijmans." That appreciation will be mutual, because M.J. van Riel also has his business perfectly in order. "We have everything in one hand, from engineering and work preparation to planning and execution. We also have our own technical service and equipment service. It is also appreciated that we work with a 'single point of contact' towards contractors."

M.J. van Riel operates nationwide from branches in Tilburg, Eindhoven, Oss and Moerdijk. "Sometimes we make a trip to Belgium and Germany," Harold says. "We are strongly represented in construction and infrastructure, but also active in energy transition, yacht building and on- and offshore." And they do this with an extensive fleet of more than 55 tractor units, modular axle lines, flatbed trailers, open-, closed- and extendable trailers and more than a hundred cranes with the impressive 700-ton mobile telescopic crane as the showpiece.