Supplier for the Netherlands

Speaking is Sr. Account Manager Funderingstechnieken Marcel Baas. He talks about the wide range of 'people and equipment' Van Schie has: "We always come up with an appropriate solution and can switch very quickly. Calling today sometimes means starting work tomorrow."

Most of the projects Van Schie undertakes are subcontracted. "We are active in very many areas," says Baas. "For example, we specialize in pre-drilling and crushing, we help our clients install sheet piling, we can install prefabricated piles or screw injection piles, and we master the technique of soil mixing. We can also perform all these facets under remediation conditions, in accordance with BRL 7000. We also have a huge fleet of pontoons and driving plates that we use for rental, as well as telescopic cranes and mobile noise barriers (for the purpose of piling work)." 

Pontoon bridges

"We handle all activities from A to Z with our own transportation and our own machinists," continues Baas. "Our engineering department provides drawing and calculation support if required. Especially with the pontoon bridges a requirement. A concept with many applications by the way." The latest innovation in this field was recently in the heart of Zaandam, across the river Zaan. "The 110-meter long pontoon bridge was specially designed and calculated for this location and serves as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge during the renovation of the Wilhelmina Bridge. A unique feature is the no less than 24-meter long rotating middle section. This section had to be able to open and close within minutes, hinged 180 degrees, even in wind force 8. And that many times a day. In addition, the bridge had to be suitable for police, fire and ambulance vehicles of up to 5 tons."

Mock airfield 

Van Schie is involved in a wide variety of projects as a supplier to the Netherlands' foundations. During World War II, Schiphol Airport was used by the Germans as a military airfield. A little further away at Rijsenhout, they had built a fake airfield to mislead the Allies. In addition to Schiphol, bombs were dropped around the mock airfield. Because there was a possibility that there were still so-called "duds" in the ground, Bodac meticulously combed the entire area. They punctured as many as 15,000 holes right through the watertight soil layers. Van Schie was on hand to re-inject all those holes immediately afterwards with bentonite to ensure that the soil layers would not get mixed up. Bentonite injections are a specialty of Van Schie and are widely used. Also, for example, for filling holes or trenches in dikes.

Neeltje Jans

A little further south, at Neeltje Jans, Van Schie contributed to the foundations of a wind farm. Because of the navigation of ships and all kinds of breeding birds, the windmills are not allowed to stand in one line. As a result, they have to be founded in awkward places, such as on a breakwater or in the water. This requires a very specific foundation, which requires specialized machinery. The concrete wind turbine foundations on Neeltje Jans have a diameter of no less than 20 meters. This requires 32 holes to be drilled: 16 holes straight into the ground and 16 at an angle. And that to an average depth of 8 meters. For this particular job, a drilling crane had to be used that could pre-drill under a brace position of 14 degrees. Forwards and backwards. And that is what Van Schie has in its arsenal.

More special projects, and of course information about all of Van Schie's areas of expertise, can be found at vanschie.com.