Contents
- Foreword
- Summer vacation
- Eddy Kuiper reinforces Sales Team
- A.P. van den Berg welcomes Chinese client for a training
- ROSON on its way to AMIGE in Murmansk (Russia)
- Partners in geotechnical services: Van der Straaten Ltd., Hansweert (NL)
- Sponsorship Ús Boat, Participant Solar Challenge
Foreword
With pride we look back on an exciting semester. The development of the new Deepwater WISON-APB is almost completed. The equipment will be tested for the first time soon on board of a geotechnical ship belonging to one of our customers. After a somewhat disappointing year, we now have the impression that the activity in soil investigation is on the increase. This goes especially for onshore CPT.
Coming period we want to focus on refining our service. To ensure a smooth functioning of CPT systems, periodic maintenance is essential. In the next newsletter we go deeper into the possibilities offered for less loss of production time. This are opportunities we offer in addition to the necessary annual maintenance.
The past few months were dominated by the football World Championship in South Africa. After an exciting final on July 11th the Dutch team was defeated by the Spaniards, who win this title for the first time. The A.P. van den Berg team hereby congratulates the Spanish national football team.
I wish everyone a well-deserved and nice holiday.
Wim Hassing
Director Marketing & Sales
Summer vacation
During the summer vacation A.P. van den Berg is closed in weeks 31 and 32. This is from the 2nd to the 15th of August. Before and after our summer recess we are present at full strength to be at your service. For very urgent matters in weeks 31 and 32 please call: +31 6 22 22 87 19.
Eddy Kuiper reinforces Sales Team
A new sales engineer was appointed to the A.P. van den Berg Sales Team. From now on you can also contact Eddy Kuiper besides Johan de Lange to place your orders. To reach them, just call +31 513 631 355.
A.P. van den Berg welcomes Chinese client for a training
From the 27th of March to the 7th of April 2010 we received five engineers from Guangzhou Marine Geotechnical Survey (GMGS) at A.P. van den Berg. Accompanying them was A.P. van den Berg agent Brilliant Sun Technology (BST) from Beijing.The occasion of the visit was the purchase of a ROSON for geotechnical survey of the seabed. For the first time the entire system will be used for research required to build a new bridge in China. The equipment allows CPT of about thirty meters in soft soil. The research vessel of GMGS will be especially accommodated for the use of the long CPT rods that are necessary to do the job.
During the training, the A.P. van den Berg engineers extensively discussed the application and the operation of the equipment, as the visitors had no experience yet with these particular CPT systems. They also discussed the software that is part of the delivery and the maintenance issues. For the training we had devised a test stand especially for the ROSON CPT unit.
ROSON on its way to AMIGE in Murmansk (Russia)
On Monday May 31st a complete CPT ROSON system started off on a trip to Murmansk in Russia. The ROSON was built for Arctic Marine Engineering Geological Expeditions, also known as AMIGE.
AMIGE is specialized in conducting geotechnical surveys of the seabed such as taking soil samples, geotechnical drillings, CPT's, and laboratory tests. A.P. van den Berg and AMIGE regularly do business. Therefore AMIGE approached A.P. van den Berg when they wanted to expand their existing ships with a new CPT system.
Late February 2010, the technicians of A.P. van den Berg started building the ROSON. Three months later the ROSON was ready to be shipped in a container that was specially made for the occasion.
At the time this newsletter is released the container with the ROSON will just have left St. Petersburg. Here everything concerning the introduction in Russia has been organized. The container with the ROSON will continue on its way to Murmansk for her final destination. AMIGE is going to use the ROSON for exploring the seabed for the construction of pipelines and cables.
Partners in geotechnical services: Van der Straaten Ltd., Hansweert (NL)
What are the concerns of our clients who work in the geotechnical field? In this second edition of our new feature "Partners in geotechnical services", Lars Kloet talks about Van der Straaten Contracting Company Ltd. in Hansweert, the Netherlands.
Who is Lars Kloet
Lars Kloet lives with his partner and his fifteen year old son in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. Although he lives in Zealand, he does not love beach and mussels. He is even allergic to mussels. In his spare time he is often found in the clay pigeon shooting association, where he is chair. Here he is just as busy as at Van der Straaten Ltd.
Lars Kloet at Van der Straaten Ltd.
About thirteen years ago Lars started as calculator at Van der Straaten Ltd. "Employees here are free pulling interesting activities to themselves." So eventually he got more tasks. He is currently responsible for everything related to soil testing, from winning new orders to controlling the CPT Trucks. "No day is the same. Experiencing the process from A to Z, the variety and the many contacts with customers and suppliers make the work unique. "
Van der Straaten Ltd. Specialties
Van der Straaten Ltd. is specialized in earthworks, road and pipeline construction, foundation work, CPT and drilling. Besides that, Van der Straaten Ltd. designs, builds, maintains and renovates various engineering and civil structures. Customers are varying businesses in construction, primarily in the South-West of the Netherlands and Belgium. "Our success is due to our high quality products and services. Many customers appreciate we are an informal and traditional company, where short lines are highly valued. Furthermore, we know our customers and the surroundings. We speak the language."
Special events
A highlight for Lars at Van der Straaten Ltd. was the moment that the company celebrated her centennial anniversary. "Her Majesty the Queen entitled us to use the predicate "Purveyor to the Royal Household." This is a royal honour for small and medium businesses that exist at least one hundred years and have a very good reputation in the region. Such companies are characterized by quality, reliability and continuity.
Van der Straaten Ltd. certainly has a good reputation in the region. "The financial crisis had no significant impact on us. We know all branches of sports. We can use these branches separately, but also together. This is a big advantage."
Cooperation with A.P. van den Berg
Van der Straaten Ltd. has been using A.P. van den Berg equipment for many years. She uses CPT Trucks and various everyday consumables. When asked how the cooperation was established, he replied: "I was looking for an innovative partner and this is A.P. van den Berg. They always deliver high quality products. Through the years we have built a good relationship."
Expansion
Currently, Van der Straaten Contracting Company Ltd. is expanding and renovating her steel construction in Hansweert. We wish the company good luck and we'd like to take a look when it is finished!
Sponsorship Ús Boat, Participant Solar Challenge
The annual Frisian Solar Challenge took place from July 4-10. This is a sunny version of the famous Frisian Eleven City Tour. Over a distance of 220 km, participants from the Netherlands and abroad are sailing in a self built solar boat through the eleven Frisian cities. Prizes were awarded for innovation and speed.
The Techno Lyceum of the Frisian College was one of the participants. Students who follow the training Engineering have designed and built "Ús Boat" (our boat). A.P. van den Berg was one of the sponsors of this boat.
A.P. van den Berg believes it is important to invest in knowledge and technical innovative projects. A.P. van den Berg works together with research institutes and universities around the world to keep informed of the latest developments and trends.
Just like A.P. van den Berg, the team of Ús Boat is ambitious when it comes to technology. For example, the boat had a touch screen to change the settings. Unfortunately the speed of the boat was a bit disappointing. The team finished 20th out of in total 26 participating boats. But this did not spoil the fun. The team sailed the complete race and finished each leg. "Last year the team thought, worked, stressed and learned a lot. Now comes the moment of looking back and looking ahead. The students are already looking forward to next year's event with enthusiasm", said the coach of the team of Ús Boat.