Press-in process in the pilot phase of the quay wall renovation of Amsterdam’s World Heritage canals gets off to good start

Solving construction issues without impacting the surrounding environment: superiority of press-in technology demonstrated

2022.12.27 NEWS RELEASE

G-Kracht B.V., a joint venture company established predominantly by GIKEN Europe B.V. (Head Office: Almere, The Netherlands; Managing Director: Atsushi Ohira; hereafter "GIKEN Europe"), a group company of GIKEN LTD. (Head Office: Kochi-shi, Kochi; President: Shinnosuke Moribe; hereafter "GIKEN") started the press-in process for the pilot phase*1 in the project to develop new technologies for quay wall renovation for the World Heritage-listed Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam on November 22. GIKEN Group company Giken Seko Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kochi City; President: Akihiro Nishigawa) provided consulting from the construction plan to on-site direction. The work is progressing smoothly, and the client has expressed satisfaction.

Sunlight fills the canals, pleasure craft plying over them, and trees and historic buildings line the banks of the World Heritage streetscapes in a scene like a painting. Here, the GRV0611e*2 GYRO PILERTM tubular pile rotary cutting press-in machinery developed for the project is hard at work, powered by electricity in an effort toward carbon neutrality. Local residents stopping by the site are amazed how quiet and vibration-free the machinery is.

Starting around February, the GRB SystemTM will be brought in and work will start on the areas under the roadside trees where space is limited. GIKEN will showcase the superiority of press-in technology such as by providing worksite tours. This will also help spread its use to other projects, such as for the surrounding area or the Delta Programme.*3

*1 See previous news release: https://www.giken.com/en/release/31_oct_2022/
*2 See previous news release: https://www.giken.com/en/release/22_mar_2022/
*3. A program designed to sustainably manage flood risks in the Netherlands.

An annual average of about 1.30 billion euros is planned to be invested in embankment reinforcement and other projects up through 2032.

■Outline of agreements and pilot phase work

Agreement NameSamenwerkingsovereenkomst voor de Onderzoek- en Ontwikkelfase van het Innovatiepartnerschap Kademuren (AI 2018-0423)
(Cooperation Agreement for the Research and Development Phase of the City of Amsterdam Quay Walls Innovation Partnership (AI 2018-0423))
Partner NamesCity of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and G-Kracht B.V.
G-Kracht B.V. composition
-GIKEN Europe B.V.
-Gebr. De Koning B.V.
-Van Gelder B.V.
Project NameAI 2018-0423 Innovatiepartnerschap Kademuren Gemeente Amsterdam
(AI 2018-0423 Amsterdam Quay Walls Innovation Partnership)
LocationSingel 284, 1015BB Amsterdam
Project OwnerCity of Amsterdam
Prime ContractorG-Kracht B.V.
ContractorG-Kracht B.V.
EquipmentGYRO PILERTM (GRV0611e), CLAMP CRANETM
Specifications of Pile Materials271 tubular piles (508 mm in diameter, 13.75-25.73 m in length)
Pilot Phase DurationSeptember 2022 to July 2023 (scheduled))
Press-in Work DurationNovember 2022 to April 2023 (scheduled)

■Profile of GIKEN Group
GIKEN developed the SILENT PILERTM, the world's first reaction-based hydraulic pile jacking machine, installing piles with no noise and vibration. GIKEN Group now actively promotes the Press-in Technology worldwide and contributes to the construction industry by proposing and implementing innovative solutions. The innovative technology of press-in provides a unique solution and the adoption of this technology has grown to more than 40 nations and regions.


Contact Information:
GIKEN LTD.
International Business Department
TEL: +81-3-3528-1633 (weekdays: 8:30 to 17:30)
Tokyo Head Office: 16F Ariake Central Tower, 3-7-18 Ariake, Koto-ku, 135-0063, Japan