When the Ground Needs to Be Smoothed
Interview with Erik van Ham, Deputy Director of Van Eerd Groep B.V.
In both road and rail construction, significant earthmoving is required. Moreover, in many cases, the ground for the new road or new rail track must be stabilized on a large scale. And one company in the Netherlands does it particularly well: Van Eerd Groep B.V., based in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, is the specialist for the construction and maintenance of roads and rail tracks and can execute all works quickly and accurately thanks to innovative technology.
Accuracy is a cornerstone of the company and was a focus from the inception of Van Eerd exactly 25 years ago. "René van Eerd had the idea to smooth the base with a leveling board and prepare it for further construction. Since his former employer was not convinced, he bought the first loader and the first leveling board in 1999," says deputy director Erik van Ham. "With this, René van Eerd was so successful that soon a second and a third loader followed."
Efficiency in Earthmoving
Since then, Van Eerd has become a sought-after company in the Dutch road and rail construction sectors, adapting standard machines for its purposes so that earthmoving becomes more efficient and easier. Through good contacts, the innovative approach in the leveling of subgrades was also extended to the rail sector.
Work is documented in 3D models, starting from planning and continuing through construction work on the site up to project completion. Today, Van Eerd is primarily active in railway construction, but road construction remains a major topic as well. 'In railway construction, all parties come together because we share the same goal: The train must run again. That creates a special atmosphere in track construction,' emphasizes Erik van Ham, who also sees innovation and staff issues high on the agenda for the future: 'We work with machines, but collegiality and good cooperation remain important.'