Lebotec makes work of emission control and automation

Lebotec BV from Wijchen specializes in building foundation machines for any application. The company is market leader in the Netherlands in the field of mini-heim machines or drilling rigs, but also builds drilling rigs with a leader of over 30 meters. All components are produced and assembled in-house. Furthermore, Lebotec supplies accessories such as drill motors, drill cleaners, concrete pumps or wedge clamps and is a supplier of Obermann grout units.

The customer is the main focus at Lebotec. In addition to a wide range of models sold in several European countries, the manufacturer also offers specific customization. Indeed, almost every machine is built to the user's exact specifications. This flexibility, combined with decades of expertise in both production and maintenance of foundation machines, makes Lebotec a strong and reliable partner. 

As a specialist in (ultra)compact foundation equipment, the company knows better than anyone what is involved in piling or drilling in tight locations. Due to the need to efficiently use the available space in urban areas, Lebotec machines are gaining more and more ground. Besides models for (soil displacement) drilling or for driving steel tubes into the ground, there are also machines that master both disciplines after a short conversion.

Not sitting still

On its way to a sustainable future, Lebotec is at the forefront of the transition to emission-free operation, with models powered by electricity or hydrogen. Meanwhile, the Dutch manufacturer is not sitting still and new concepts are being developed behind the drawing board. Like an electric generator, which runs on a battery pack. "That one is still in the design phase, but the prospect is promising," co-owner Rick van Oostwaard knows.

The aim is to develop machines with the highest efficiency each time. Thus, a number of the LBT-45-CD have already been sold and the first will be delivered in September. "What is special about this compact machine to manufacture casing-turn piles is that in addition to a hydraulically extendable undercarriage, it also has a truck-mounted crane to position steel tubes and then screw them away with a drill motor with wedge clamp of 4.5 ton meters."

Setting up process

All Lebotec (mini) pile drivers are equipped with a pile driver to select different drop heights, after which the machine automatically controls the raising and lowering of the drop block. Rick: "We prefer not to just sell state-of-the-art foundation machines, but set up a streamlined process, complete with concrete or grout pump. For optimal results, it is still best to have one party take care of the whole chain."

In addition to Lebotec's foundation machines, the grout units and concrete pumps also operate fully automatically. When installing mini-vibro piles, the machine independently brings the steel pipe into the ground and pulls it back up. "In between, the concrete pump automatically strikes and delivers the right amount of concrete. Like the drilling rig, the pump can be read remotely in real time. The operator only has to drive to the next picket."