Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
From 800 kilograms to 120 tons
Crawler excavators, pontoons, transfer cranes, trucks, articulated dump trucks, widening machines and more. For the renewal of the Afsluitdijk, Gebroeders Kok's smallest 800-kg machine up to the largest 120,000-kg machine was used. This reflects the versatility of the Bakkeveen company.
The renewal of the Afsluitdijk is characterized by very different disciplines. From dyke reinforcement, new road profile for the A7, the construction of retaining sluices, pump pumping stations, the fish migration barrier to verge mowing. Now let this fit in nicely with the specialties and activities of Gebroeders Kok. Originally an agricultural contracting company founded in 1949 in Bakkeveen. Over the past 70 years, its activities have expanded to include earth moving and infra. Jorrit van der Galiën: "Specialties include a large number of excavators with semi- and longreach booms, transfer cranes, bulldozers and shovels in various types and sizes and a very extensive range of attachments for all kinds of work. The renewal of the Afsluitdijk is right up our alley, precisely because of the need for many different machines and materials. But we also used our people, such as the truck drivers and our technical service. With all the teams active within this project, we worked together."
Already in the preliminary stage, Gebroeders Kok supplied equipment for setting up the temporary plant of Levvel blocks and bermblocks in Harlingen. "For team Dike, Dams and Harbors we supplied both on the Wadden Sea side and on the IJsselmeer side crawler excavators with longreach execution. The many special attachments that were required were partly designed and assembled by our construction department. For the soil flow team, among other things, we processed material in depot or loaded it afterwards on dumpers or trucks."
Gebroeders Kok equipment has also been and is being used for the expansion of the new spuds. From pontoons to transfer cranes and shovels to articulated dump trucks. "In the A7 road widening project, we used a widening machine attached to the shovel to lay foundations for road widening. Slope buckets were used to profile the drainage ditch and a vibrating plate attached to an excavator was used to compact the verges." In addition to the regular equipment and resources, the Bakkeveen-based company regularly received requests for customized equipment. "For example, we built a long boom crane with a height-adjustable cab. Later this was supplemented by a second long boom machine."
Much of the reinforcement was on the Wadden Sea side. The salty water and working with bulk rock requires a lot from the equipment and fittings. The technical department checked weekly for any wear and/or damage to hydraulic lines or other parts of the equipment. "Our internal construction department manufactured attachments several times in consultation with the parties involved to speed up and improve processes. We also switch quickly in case of any breakdowns or maintenance to ensure continuity. All in all, our people and machines were able to prove themselves to their full potential within this project."
