World Heritage-listed Dutch Canal Quay Wall Renovation Project First Construction Contract Signed for Commercial Phase

G-Kracht B.V., a joint venture company established primarily by Giken Europe B.V, a group company of GIKEN LTD. (Head Office: Kochi-shi, Kochi; President: Atsushi Ohira; hereafter “GIKEN”), together with Dutch construction companies Gebr. De Koning B.V. and Van Gelder B.V., signed a construction contract with the City of Amsterdam in December 2024 for the first of the commercial phase^* of a new technology development project aimed at renovating the quay walls of the World Heritage-listed Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam.

The press-in construction  of the first project in the commercial phase will begin in May on a 144-m section at Kloveniersburgwal, and the total amount of quay walls to be renewed by G-Kracht B.V. is scheduled to receive contract orders for a total of 3.3 km by 2032. Orders will continue to be placed for the project, with plans calling for the final upgrade of a section spanning as much as 200 km.

During the pilot work (length 208 m, to be completed in July 2023), which was the first step in the commercial phase, clients and general contractors were invited for multiple on-site visits. Since then, inquiries Inquires related to the solution have increased by several times, not only from within the Netherlands, where projects for aging quay walls and waterways in urban areas are being planned, but also across Europe. Furthermore, the electricity powering the construction machinery and press-in system at the site will be supplied from the power grid and batteries, rather than from conventional generators that emit CO₂ when generating electricity. This is attracting attention as a model case for achieving decarbonisation at construction sites, including for procurement.

In Europe, which leads the world in climate change initiatives, we aim to demonstrate the superiority of our technology with the added value of zero-emission in our press-in construction, accelerating the adoption of the construction method, increasing machinery sales, and contributing to the realisation of a sustainable society.

* Please see this past press release for more details（https://www.giken.com/en/news-cat/release/28_may_2024/）

The electric tubular pile rotary cutting press-in machines, GYRO PILER™ GRV0611e and the GRB System™, will be used to press in 192 tubular piles, each approximately 14 m in length and 508 mm in diameter. This will facilitate the renovation of 144 m of deteriorated quay walls.

The construction site faces a busy public square, requiring high safety standards and careful consideration for the surrounding environment. Our press-in machines pose no risk of toppling, as they firmly grip driven piles that have already been installed in the ground. Additionally, we employ the Gyropress Method™, a tubular pile rotary cutting and press-in method that allows installation through existing quay walls without requiring their removal. The "temporary work-free construction" approach eliminates the need for temporary structures by enabling machinery to operate directly on installed piles. Furthermore, the vibration and noise-free method of construction method ensures that neither pedestrians nor nearby structures are affected. These features allow construction to proceed under the rows of trees cherished by the local community without the need for removal, while also contributing to carbon neutrality.

The construction machinery, press-in system, and their power source, the power unit, have all achieved electrification. The power unit (MU720) uses an electric motor to drive the hydraulic pump instead of a diesel engine, generating hydraulic power for the machinery. Since electricity is supplied from the power grid and batteries without using a generator, zero CO₂ emissions during press-in construction, including power procurement, can be reduced to zero. As environmental regulations tighten across Europe, this innovation is expected to serve as a catalyst for expanding the press-in market in the region.

The Gyropress Method™ and GRB System™ are expected to be adopted as one of the standard construction methods for this project after the commercial phase. Due to their overwhelming superiority compared to other construction methods, we anticipate an increase in their usage by other companies. This expansion of our technology by other companies and their sites is expected to accelerate the adoption of the construction methods, along with increased sales and rentals of our press-in machines and system equipment. With necessarily of renovations totaling 200 km in this project, we anticipate sustained revenue generation over the long term.

■Profile of GIKEN Group
GIKEN developed the SILENT PILER™, the world’s first reaction-based, non-vibratory hydraulic pile driving machine that operates with minimal noise impacts. The GIKEN Group now actively promotes its press-in technology worldwide and contributes to the construction industry by proposing and implementing innovative solutions. The innovative press-in technology provides a unique solution and the adoption of this technology has spread to over 40 nations and regions.