Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
A-Quin is a growing inspection and consulting company in the disciplines of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering and asset management. The company profiles itself as a consultant and inspector for virtually all infrastructure issues and is moving further and further up the chain toward asset management to keep the Netherlands safe. An interview with managing director Mans Damen.
The broad product range encompasses a whole number of investigations for which customers approach A-Quin. These include the NEN 3140 or NEN 2767 condition inspection, a NEN 1010 completion inspection or a SCIOS Scope 8 or 10 inspection. "An NTA 8220 inspection according to SCIOS Scope 10, for example, identifies fire risks of electrical installations. Companies often need this proof for their insurance," Damen explains.
In addition to separate surveys, A-Quin is increasingly receiving requests from customers to act as installation managers within their companies. "Here we provide final responsibility for the electrical installation," Damen states. "Our knowledge is hereby requested to identify the risks of an installation and to direct teams within the organization in question. Specifically, risk-based maintenance involves identifying the risks and linking them to an expected service life. Linking this data back to a cost analysis provides relevant business information for organizations in the context of replacement, repair or by investing anyway." In fact, with this, A-Quin's role has grown from performing separate NEN 3140 inspections to asset management. "We regularly take over a client's final responsibility to keep a company's technical installations in good and safe condition."
Damen also sees the trend toward asset management in the other disciplines. "From separate studies, we regularly get a follow-up or go-ahead to a complex desk study that is often part of a programming inspection. Research results are interpreted and turned into advice. Here the complete decomposition is mapped and classified by risk, after which the residual life is determined. Here we also make the cost analysis transparent in the form of a final object risk analysis, which in turn results in independent advice to the client. With the results, we advise the client at board level, after which they can make decisions about making investments or taking management measures."
We deliver quality and are independent, Damen emphasizes. "Our customers can expect a total solution to their question from us. We always do this WITH the customer. With an eye for each other and always with an eye for safety. This completes the circle: we are committed to keeping the Netherlands safe!" Want to know more? Visit A-Quin during InfraTech at booth 1.017.
