De Klerk Werkendam is installing 162 sheet piles, each 23 metres long, using a Liebherr LR 1130.1 unplugged crawler crane. The compacted sandy soil of the embankment calls for a high-performance sheet pile vibrator and robust crane technology. From a barge, the crane positions the piles and also loads building materials from the shore. Once the new piles are in place, the contractors will remove the old ones as part of the lock system upgrade.

The company chose the battery-powered crane to meet growing demand for lower-emission jobsites. Operators and project managers have highlighted its low noise and emission levels. In idling mode, three unplugged crawler cranes produce a sound pressure level at 16 metres equivalent to that of a normal conversation at one metre.

The crane can charge from a standard site electricity supply while continuing to operate. It switches to battery power when unplugged, with performance and application range unchanged from the diesel version.

The work pontoon also has an electric drive, electric spud piles, battery storage and solar panels. With shore power available, the system operates almost entirely emission-free on site; only the sheet pile vibrator’s hydraulic power unit runs on diesel. De Klerk Werkendam plans to use more electric cranes, citing its positive experience with Liebherr’s machine reliability, parts deliveries and on-site technical support.