Platform on concrete and steel in construction
After the successful introduction of the hollow pile, also known as ECO pile®, the IJB Group is taking another big step toward making the construction industry more sustainable. This time the innovation focuses on the foundation beam, a crucial part of the main load-bearing structure in residential construction. With the launch of the ECO foundation beam®, a product has been developed that not only meets all technical requirements, but at the same time makes a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.
The ECO foundation beam is a precast concrete element with a hollow core in the center of the beam. “This means 20% less concrete is used per element, which directly leads to 20% lower CO2 emissions,” said John Engelsman, general manager of the IJB Group. “This makes the beam not only more durable, but also lighter and therefore easier to transport and process on the construction site.” The beam is primarily intended for use in serial housing construction. “After all, the construction industry faces the challenge of significantly reducing CO2 emissions. The target for 2030 is to achieve 55% less emissions. The ECO foundation beam is a concrete step in that direction.”
By making smarter use of materials and design, not only is a significant reduction achieved, but the structural quality remains fully intact. “The final design of the ECO foundation beam came about after extensive calculation and test work. In cooperation with TNO, we destructively tested the beam. The test beams were literally crushed to guarantee the load-bearing capacity and safety,” Engelsman emphasizes. “The results were positive: the beams turned out to be even stronger than the calculations predicted. Thanks to these guarantees, the product can be used reliably and directly in practice, without making concessions on quality.”
Major contractors responded enthusiastically to the launch, according to Engelsman. “They are looking for concrete, immediately applicable solutions that are scalable and not just stuck at laboratory level. Our ECO foundation beam offers just that: an innovative product that fits within existing construction processes, without limitations in dimensions or application possibilities. In addition, the lighter construction provides practical advantages in transportation and placement. Crane movements become easier, and because the beams are prefabricated and delivered, quality remains constant and processing efficient.”
The ECO foundation beam concept was conceived in the IJB Group's Future Lab, an internal incubator for innovations. “The employees involved in the lab are given one day a week here to experiment, brainstorm and work out new solutions,” Engelsman explains. “This not only produces creative ideas, but also tangible results that quickly find their way into practice.” According to Engelsman, the introduction of the ECO foundation beam is just the beginning. Work is already underway on further development, including looking at using alternative aggregates instead of gravel, greening the reinforcement and the loosenability of the beams, he reveals. “The latter would be a big step toward circular construction.”
With the introduction of the ECO foundation beam and the previously launched ECO pile (hollow pile), the IJB Group shows that sustainability and reliability can go hand in hand extremely well. The combination of less use of materials, lower CO2 emissions, practical advantages and proven bearing capacity makes the ECO foundation beam an important innovation for residential construction. At the same time, it represents a solid step towards the 2030 climate goals and a more sustainable future for the construction industry.
