Tom van der Horst, Bolsius:
A tank embankment at the Bolsius candle factory in Moerdijk had started to settle. Using the URETEK method, the subsoil was stabilised and the foundation raised.
Tom van der Horst is Plant Manager at Bolsius in Moerdijk. He explains: “At one of our above-ground tanks, the tank mound had started to settle due to a change in the groundwater level. The mound was no longer fully in contact with the base of the tank. In the long term, this could have led to a potentially unsafe situation.
Following extensive preliminary investigations into the integrity of the tank and additional ground investigation, Bolsius asked URETEK whether they could restore the bearing capacity of the tank embankment. They had not previously resolved such a problem, but did have a suitable solution to hand.
Trust
“Naturally, we gave this careful consideration and discussed the details at length with URETEK,” Tom van der Horst continues. “We agreed to have the ground beneath the tank foundation grouted and to lift the foundation. We hoped that the foundation would once again sit flush against the tank. That certainly proved to be the case! The team at URETEK are seasoned professionals, use high-quality materials and work well together. They know exactly what they’re doing, which inspires confidence. And when it turned out they had time to spare, they were willing to carry out some extra work on another tank: that was very much appreciated.”
A good solution
“The subsoil is now stable and there is no longer any play between the mound and the ground. In any case, this is a good long-term solution. We can now make full use of the tank again. To be on the safe side, we’re keeping a close eye on the subsoil with regular tank settlement measurements. For now, at least, things are looking good, which is a relief. For the time being, the mission has been a success!”
