"Work? For me it's pure entertainment!" - Henk Saes

A statement from the director and owner of Saes International BV from Weert. And he means it, too. "In my student days I was already at home tinkering with excavator buckets and repairing machines," Henk Saes opens the conversation. "That was about 40 years ago now. The work I still do today with my team still brings me the same satisfaction. For me it's pure entertainment, I'm an enthusiast."

You can't deny him passion for the trade. "Back then, I was already visiting all the trade fairs around the world. Gradually the ambition developed to get into the demolition hammers. There were no demolition shears back then."

Henk Saes: "In my college days, I was already at home tinkering with digging buckets and repairing machinery."

Started as a digging buckets manufacturer

Henk began as a manufacturer of excavator buckets and demolition arms. "We first produced in the Netherlands, but in 1989 we set up a production unit in Russia. We rent part of a factory there, from the Russian state. There we have all the excavator buckets made, according to a very meticulous process. By 2002/2003, we were at 12,000 digging buckets that we were delivering per year, for the larger machines." The factory still exists today and is an inseparable part for Saes International BV.

Henk looks back with us, using all the leaflets he has collected and bundled from the beginning. "In 1992, we were the first in the Netherlands to build the largest demolition shears. It had as much as 5 tons of dead weight. It was then purchased by Van der Linden Sloopwerken, today's Nestor. The best part? We still rent out those same scissors!"

Saes Service's truck is specially equipped to provide maximum service on site.

Hydraulic vibrating blocks and demolition shears

Hydraulic vibrating blocks and demolition shears were also started in 1992. Sorting grabs were added in 1993, followed by an in-house built, mobile, compact screening machine in 1994. Henk: "I am behind all the technology myself and work out ideas with the Saes team. Customers from those days are still with us."

In 2012, the Xcentric Ripper came into the picture at Saes. A separate BV was set up for this. "Xcentric Ripper is a Spanish product, for which we do the worldwide supporting distribution. The basis of Xcentric Ripper is like our hydraulic vibrating block, with two eccentrics," said Henk. Starting in 2012, Henk complemented the program with third-party products, which must meet strict selection criteria. Names such as Krupp Atlas Copco and Epiroc passed by. "At the end of 2014 we partnered with Atlas Copco, since two years the brand is called Epiroc. We supply Epiroc from a large stock, new and used, real top quality, supplemented by our own hydraulic vibrating blocks."      

Saes Service has a 3-inch hose press in the truck.

Rental as a specialty

The tendency to rent rather than buy presented itself, especially among large companies. "Renting became our specialty, we have been renting out large equipment since 2 years, also for use on the seabed. People like to supplement large projects with our rental equipment. What I notice here is that renters have difficulty getting machines above 50 tons. We solve that for them by simply renting the machine along. The advantage for the customer is that everything is assembled, set up, adjusted and delivered to its destination working. It couldn't be easier. We rent complete packages that allow you to tackle an entire project. Wherever your project is in the world!"

Largest cutter ever built

In 2018, Epiroc acquired the company Erkat. That brought Saes International the largest cutter ever, the Erkat 5500. "That's what the market was really waiting for," Henk continues. "It gave us enormous prestige worldwide." There is still some speculation in the industry as to who is behind the whole operation in terms of financing. Henk wants to be clear about that: "We do it ourselves. That makes it possible for us to react quickly to opportunities we perceive in the market."

Erwin Broens: "We can repair anything on site. Windows, demolition hammers, cylinders et cetera."

Maximum mobile service

As we talk, Erwin Broens parks the new service truck on the property so we can take a look. Erwin started at Saes International at the beginning of 2019 and set up Saes Service. "So Saes Service and Saes Rental are the two new branches here," Erwin suggests. We are now service partner for Hitachi and provide our services under the Eindhoven line. As an independent service party, we act on all kinds of demolition projects."

The truck is specially equipped to provide maximum service on location. Erwin shows us what is on board: "We can repair anything on location. Windows, demolition hammers, cylinders et cetera. Perform maintenance on site? No problem. That saves the customer time and money, avoids long downtime. We have a 3-inch hose press in the truck and have oil in stock with us. It is the largest mobile workshop in the country." A crane track is not lacking either, with a lifting table. "With that, we hoist everything in with ease. We can top up to 8 tons."

Hydro pumps overhaul as a new line of business

"As of January 1, 2020, we will start hydro pump overhaul at Saes Service. A hall is now being set up for that, including a test bench. Naturally, we work with certification," says Henk. When asked how he is able to keep all these balls high, the answer is: "Thanks to my super advisory team. They are all seasoned, old hands in the business, standing next to me. And, very importantly, we may continuously broaden our horizons, but we don't lose focus."   

SAES INTERNATIONAL B.V.

Lozerweg 10 - 14, 6006 SR Weert

T +31 495 56 19 29

www.demolitiontools.eu