Strong Partnership Behind GvD Palen’s New Junttan DR5

Belgian foundation contractor GvD Palen expanded its drilling capabilities with the new Junttan DR5 drilling rig. Specializing in soil-displacing screw piles, the company had been looking for a more powerful machine that could drill deeper while maintaining a relatively low operating weight. The search coincided with Junttan’s development of the new Evolution Series DR5, creating an opportunity to develop a solution together.

Close cooperation between GvD Palen, Junttan and Olivier NV played an important role in finding the right setup for the company’s requirements. The new DR5 started its first job in Diepenbeek, Belgium, where its power and capabilities proved valuable in demanding ground conditions.

Project overview

GvD Palen is a Belgian foundation contractor specializing in the installation of soil-displacing screw piles. As the company looked to expand its operations, owner Joeri Ameloot wanted to add a drilling rig with greater power and drilling depth than the company’s existing equipment.

“We were looking for a machine that was stronger than our current machines. We also wanted to be able to drill deeper, while keeping the weight of the machine limited,” Ameloot explained.

At the same time, Junttan was developing the new DR5, the first drilling rig in its new Evolution Series. The timing and requirements aligned well. “Junttan was just developing its new generation drilling rig, the DR5, and we found each other,” said Ameloot.

The new DR5 was put to work on a project in Diepenbeek, Belgium, where the foundations were constructed for a new parking building. GvD Palen installed approximately 450 full-displacement screw piles using the Olivier drill. The project included both vertical and inclined piles, with pile lengths ranging from approximately 5 to 13.5 meters.

Power for challenging ground conditions

One of the main challenges at the Diepenbeek site was the particularly hard ground. The conditions required a machine with sufficient power to carry out the drilling work efficiently, making the new DR5 well suited to the project. “The ground here was very hard, so we needed the Junttan DR5 for this project,” Ameloot explained.

Although the DR5 was still new to GvD Palen at the time of the project, the first experiences were already positive. In addition to its drilling capabilities, the machine made a good impression on the operators through its overall design and versatility. “The Junttan DR5 was still very new to us, but we were already impressed with the machine. Our crew was impressed by its design and the possibilities it offered.”

Partnership from development to commissioning

The cooperation behind the new machine began well before it arrived on site. GvD Palen and Junttan worked closely together to find solutions that matched the contractor’s requirements, while Dimitry Vankeirsbilck from Olivier NV contributed his specialist expertise to the project.

“The collaboration with Junttan was an immediate success, and we looked for solutions together. I also asked Dimitry Vankeirsbilck from Olivier for his expertise, and he supported us throughout the process,” Ameloot said. Dimitry Vankeirsbilck’s deep knowledge of drilling methods, especially full displacement screw pile technology, greatly influenced the rig’s design and functionality.

For GvD Palen, the cooperation continued beyond developing and delivering the machine, with support provided during and after commissioning. “We are very grateful to Junttan for the cooperation, both before and after the commissioning.”

For Ameloot, one of the DR5’s key strengths was the combination that originally led GvD Palen to the machine: high drilling performance and depth in a relatively compact package. “I think the DR5 will excel because of its relatively low weight combined with enormous power and the ability to drill to a depth of 25 meters.”

With the Diepenbeek project completed, GvD Palen has successfully put its new DR5 to work on numerous other demanding projects, demonstrating the additional power, drilling depth and versatility the company had been looking for. The project also highlighted the value of close cooperation between GvD Palen, Junttan and Olivier NV in developing a solution tailored to the contractor’s needs.

Watch Junttan DR5: Trusted Partners – Road to Success video to hear more about the cooperation and the journey behind the new DR5 Drilling Rig.