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No additional preservation is necessary
In the dike reinforcement project in Arcen, a great deal of attention is being paid to the construction of the self-closing flood barrier. Behind the scenes, however, an entire chain of suppliers is needed to carry out such a project on schedule. Den Oudsten Staalservice is a good example of this. The company manufactured steel plate components that play a modest but indispensable role in the flood barrier.
For the Arcen Dike Zone Alliance, Den Oudsten handled the procurement of weather-resistant steel and the production of 172 steel plates measuring nearly 3 meters long, 60 centimeters wide, and 6 millimeters thick. The plates are used in the hinge beam and the seal of the self-closing floodgate. “At first glance, these may seem like simple components,” says Pieter den Oudsten, owner and director of Den Oudsten Staalservice. “But without these plates, assembly cannot proceed. In a large infrastructure project, a single missing part can put an entire schedule under pressure.”
The company manufactures semi-finished steel products. Among other things, it processes sheet metal, tubes, and structural profiles using laser cutting, bending, and rolling. The steel plates for the retaining wall are made of weather-resistant steel, a material that forms a protective patina layer when exposed to wind and weather. As a result, no additional preservation is needed, and the steel remains resistant to external influences for many years. All sheets were custom-manufactured by Den Oudsten, including mounting holes, lifting eyes, and rounded corners, so they could be processed directly on the construction site.
The production itself was not an exceptional challenge for the steel construction specialist. The biggest challenge lay in the planning. The Arcen Dike Zone Alliance needed the components on short notice, because subsequent work depended on them. “Thanks to our large cutting capacity and the short lines of communication within our company, we were able to respond quickly,” says Pieter. “That’s ultimately where our added value lies: ensuring that the project can continue without interruption.”
The dike reinforcement project in Arcen clearly illustrates how important supply reliability is within the infrastructure chain. “We don’t build the flood barrier ourselves, but we do ensure that the contractors have the components they need at exactly the right time. If that’s handled properly, construction can proceed without unnecessary delays.”
Although the company’s contribution is limited to a small part of the overall project, Pieter is proud to be working on a flood barrier that better protects the surrounding area against high water. “Infrastructure projects like this one have great social value. It’s wonderful to be able to contribute to them as a supplier, even if that contribution usually remains invisible to the general public.”
