Versatile equipment pieces for innovative family business

Since its founding in 1959, Van Tunen has had innovation in its DNA. The family business engages in rental and project support in coastal development and protection, earthmoving, stone works and mining activities worldwide. And in doing so, they tend to think outside the box and construct equipment in-house. Combined with the versatile equipment pieces of SAES International BV they therefore make the difference on many a project. 

Meanwhile, the third generation is at the helm at Van Tunen. "We rent out large earthmoving equipment and provide full technical support to our clients in the dredging, maritime infrastructure, earthmoving and mining industries," says Yvonne van Tunen, director of business support. "Our machinery fleet includes hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and dump trucks that we travel to national and international projects. This is always accompanied by a fully equipped mobile workshop and technical project support, or experienced mechanics and machinists to ensure continuity." 

Man and machine

Innovative has been the family business since its founding in 1959. "It's in our DNA," stresses Yvonne. "We are therefore known, among other things, for our 'triple boom configuration' on our crawler cranes, ranging from 30 tons to about 350 tons of dead weight, with large outreach. Thanks to the specific modifications, we can reach further, dig deeper and place larger stones or concrete elements. Combined with all kinds of special equipment, we can handle the most challenging jobs. Thanks also to our well-trained operators and mechanics with experience, because they absolutely make the difference on a project. By the way, we are always looking for new talent, so if you are interested, we would be happy to talk to you," says Yvonne.

Long relationships

Anyway, Van Tunen values the human aspect and long (customer) relationships. The cooperation with SAES also goes back a long way. Yvonne: "When our machines were still colored blue, our father Jan van Tunen was still at the helm and we as Van Tunen performed many activities on the Tata Steel site. Sometime during those years a challenging job came along for which we needed a demolition hammer, of course one that we did not have in our own product range. As a service provider, we don't like to sell 'no' so we started making a lot of calls. We ended up with Henk Saes, and he came in person to assemble the hammer. This allowed us to sell 'yes' to our client and a partnership was born."

Pulverizers

More jobs followed, including one of the first large pulverizers Saes managed, Yvonne recalls. "At the time, we mounted that to one of our CAT385s to crush blast furnace slag. Henk Saes has seen our company grow and also change from the second generation to the third generation. When we existed 60 years in 2019, we threw a big party at the Apollo Hotel in IJmuiden, by now the third generation knew who Henk Saes was. But from that day on, we also found out that apart from technology, we had many more similarities: sociability, because in addition to hard work, living is also allowed and a love of good food."

Reliable supplier

Van Tunen relies on SAES' flexibility and wide range of equipment pieces, from demolition hammers to eccentric rippers and routers. "All designed to carefully tackle our challenging jobs that make us happy," Yvonne points out. "SAES is a reliable supplier, serviceable, easily accessible and the quality of the products is beyond question. They think along, have expertise in building and in optimal use of hydraulic attachments, etc. Because demolition equipment, especially for underwater jobs, has to endure a lot. You have to handle these pieces of equipment with passion, expertise and the right know-how, otherwise it won't work out."

Love for the industry

Yvonne is extremely satisfied with working with SAES International BV. "We believe in transparency and honesty. Working together is so important. Using each other's expertise results in happy customers. The lines of communication are short, both with us and with SAES. Should we experience a problem, they are on our doorstep in no time to look and think along in a solution. Even though we both have different expertise, we complement each other well. And in terms of corporate culture, we also fit together very well. Working with parties who are as passionate as we are, makes us grow and makes us love the industry even more."