History of IHC Hydrohammer

The world built on piles

Pile driving has been around for centuries. It all started with hand or suction pile driving in about the 15th century. The ram used for the town hall on the Dam in Amsterdam (13,569 piles) had to be raised more than 500,000 times. Over the years research and development has led to vast improvements in the technology. The hydraulically operated hammer from IHC Hydrohammer BV has made a significant contribution to this process. A development on which work began way back in 1970 and that has continued ever since, 25 years experience building on experience with the hydroram. The end result of this development process is an efficient hammer that does what is required of it and that is also easy to control electronically. A universal hammer that can be used in a variety of ways. This has produced and continues to produce a host of new opportunities for engineers, foundation constructors and piling companies.

Knowledge and experience

Where else but in a country such as the Netherlands will you find the experience you are seeking. A country that has spent centuries engaging in a struggle with water, which has seen large areas of land being reclaimed from the sea. The Netherlands is really a large delta area with a rich but marshy bottom. Which is why our capital Amsterdam, together with hundreds of other towns and villages in the country, are built on millions of piles. It is therefore understandable that with our experience of hydraulic engineering we have built up such a wealth of knowledge and experience. Knowledge and experience that you will find in the equipment that IHC Merwede supplies all over the world.

Developments

The design of IHC's Hydrohammer® was a revolution in foundation technology. We are of course working flat out on new developments, with the changing approach to the environment being an especially significant factor. The noise-reducing shroud for our hammers is evidence of this. This is a shroud developed for the drastic reduction of the noise of sinking concrete piles. Other examples of innovative developments from IHC Hydrohammer are conductor pile driving , rock breaking and the sinking of very large diameter steel piles.

In June 1999 IHC Hydrohammer B.V. sought to broaden its market, which resulted in its purchase of the activities and rights of Fundex Piling Equipment and a change of name from IHC Foundation Equipment BV to IHC Hydrohammer BV The range was expanded with the likes of universal piling or drilling rigs so that a complete, matching range of products can be offered. The machines are made at the Goes machine factory, which has also been part of IHC Merwede since 1999.

With the growing world population and economy, resulting in further concentration of people and industry, greater mobility is required and the infrastructure requires constant improvement. In the face of growing market demand IHC Hydrohammer B.V. is constantly working on new developments and opportunities.