This overhaul presented a real challenge for all stakeholders, as the barrier itself is a huge structure. To dismantle it involved floating cranes, large transport trucks and significant amounts of scaffolding, and everything had to be done in a relatively short amount of time which added to the logistical challenges.
The Dutch government and Rijkswaterstaat, the government’s water board, are responsible for ensuring that Hartelkering is fully operational when it needs to be. We carry out regular maintenance on the barrier, but in 2016 it was due for a full overhaul. This meant that we had to remove the drive and control systems, refurbish and replace certain technology, and reinstall everything in the space of around twelve weeks. The time frame is critical as everything had to be back in place before storm season.
Preparation is Key
The tight time frame for this extensive service operation meant that efficient preparation was absolutely essential, as was the coordination with the other stakeholders involved in the project. Van Halteren Technologies took several essential steps before taking the cylinders and systems back to its headquarters in Boxtel to ensure there were no delays.
One of the first steps we took was to pre-order new piston rods. If we had got to inspect them, and discovered that they couldn’t be used for much longer, ordering at that point would take another nine months. So we spoke to Rijkswaterstaat and explained the potential issue, and agreed to order them in advance so they we could replace the existing piston rods quickly and efficiently.
Van Halteren Technologies was aware that this may be the case, as the piston rods were based on older technology and they had been exposed to the elements for 20 years. The rods still worked as intended, but with the replacements Rijkswaterstaat benefit from newer, more durable technology. With the overhaul of the cylinders, we replaced the old ceramic coating with Enduroq 2200, This was pre-approved and already complied with the necessary regulations, so there were no delays there, and it’s the ideal coating technology for this application. It’s designed to maintain its efficiency in these harsh environments.
Long-lasting reliability
In addition to the new piston rods and the overhaul of the cylinders, Van Halteren Technologies also replaced the hydraulic oil, resealed piping and renovated the power units. Together, all of this work ensures another 20 years of the Hartelkering operating exactly as it should, and protecting the hinterlands in the area.
The key success factors were excellent preparation and project management, but also a really good cooperation with Rijkswaterstaat and the other subcontractors on site, We all had to work in parallel with the same time constraints, and accessibility to the site itself was a challenge, but overall it was the perfect example of a very well-organized, successful project.
Positive Experience
A project of this scale always has its own unique challenges, but at the same time provides excellent learning opportunities for all involved. The strict time frame, logistics and scale of the project were all handled in the best possible way, and gave the results that the customer needed. This really is a signature project and it really showed Rijkswaterstaat what we can do,. We hope that it will lead to many more projects like this, as we were able to offer all the solutions required to ensure the best results for the drive and control technology. We delivered a system that will keep Hartelkering operating smoothly and reliably for a long time to come, and we’re really proud of what we were able to achieve.
