Expert in foundation work can process sheet piles vibration-free at all possible locations

One company that has extensive knowledge and experience in the installation and removal of steel sheet piles in a wide variety of locations and conditions is Kandt. Marco Kandt, director of the contracting and foundation company, explains that sheet piles are normally processed (high-frequency) vibrationally. "But there are projects where the traditional method is not possible or desirable. Even then we offer the solution."

Sheet piling installation in historic center

As an example, Kandt cites a project in the middle of Oudewater's historic center. "There is the Oranje Bolwerck there; a remnant of the former fortifications that surrounded the entire city. This site is being transformed into a residential location. By design of Jillis Kinkel architect, 53 apartments and an underground parking basement will be realized."

Temporary construction pit

At this historic and striking location, which contains very high spatial and cultural-historical qualities for the inner city of Oudewater, Kandt, in cooperation with Van Baaren Aannemers, has realized a large temporary building pit for the construction of the basement. "The construction site is adjacent to the municipal monument the Grote Gracht and the Sint Janstraat and is in close proximity to the St. Francis Church, the former public school and the historic music house. To avoid inconvenience and damage to the surrounding area, we chose to statically press the steel sheet piles, making them vibration-free."

Quadruple machine

"We worked with the quadruple machine here," says Kandt, explaining, "This is a broker-guided machine that allows four single sheet piles to be installed vibration-free in one pass. Especially in projects where a large amount of sheet piles have to be pressed in, this works very quickly and efficiently." It shows that Kandt likes to think along with the customer. This is also demonstrated by the fact that Kandt anchored the building pit entirely with grout anchors. "As a result, the contractor does not suffer from the outrigger frame during the construction of the basement and it can be excavated freely." That it was quite a challenge to get to the site with the machines in this idyllic village with all kinds of quay walls, Kandt doesn't even mention. "We don't shy away from any challenge."

Silent Piler

Another project where Kandt shows what it has to offer is in Spijkenisse. "Commissioned by GKB from Barendrecht, we worked here on the redevelopment of Noordkade Spijkenisse Centrum. The project is adjacent to a shopping center and homes, so here too it was very important to work carefully and prevent inconvenience and damage. We deployed our Silent Piler, which can pressurize sheet piles in both limited and free working heights. This technique is also completely vibration-free." 

Kandt's Silent Piler is more compact and therefore can get to places where large equipment cannot reach. "We use this machine for hard-to-reach locations or inner-city projects," says Kandt. "The machine pushes one board per pass. Ideal for this project. Not only because of the space requirement on site, but also because the sheet piles were installed in a curve radius: namely, the line of an existing retaining wall had to be followed. Not an everyday occurrence, but thanks to the knowledge and skill of our people on the shop floor, this project was again excellently executed." 

Kandt concludes, "We don't say for nothing: beautiful work is made together. But also the right equipment ensures that we can process sheet piles vibration-free at all possible locations."