Van Ginkel Groep applies coating systems to offshore foundations on the Maasvlakte

On the Maasvlakte, Van Ginkel Groep is responsible for applying coating systems on foundations known as Mono Piles, which are used for offshore wind farms all over the world. And that is super impressive work. Lesley Ann Broersen, project manager at Van Ginkel Groep, knows all about this: “When I drive to the Maasvlakte and I pass the Mono Piles (MP) that are lying there in the field, when I drive to the Maasvlakte and I pass the Mono Piles (MP) that are lying there in the field, I am always impressed that we humans can produce such large objects. And of course it also feels good that we are contributing to the energy transition.”

Van Ginkel Groep is an employer with room for growth

Lesley Ann Broersen has been working for Van Ginkel Groep for over three years. “For me, what makes Van Ginkel Groep a great place to work, is that I get the opportunity to keep developing myself. Especially in the areas that suit me best. I like organizing, structuring and restructuring and with regards to these subjects I saw great opportunities within the organization. Van Ginkel Groep gave me the space to take advantage of those opportunities.” Her talents have come into full play since she became project manager 1.5 years ago. “I have the feeling that I really feel at home here.”

Van Ginkel Groep and Sif: together for quality

Van Ginkel Groep works on the Maasvlakte mainly for client Sif. Lesley Ann: ‘Sif supplies Mono Piles for offshore wind farms and we are responsible for the corrosion-resistant surface treatments on the foundations that Sif supplies. This collaboration is so close that we have been involved from the tender phase of Sif and provide our input on the process. As soon as the execution phase comes into view, I get involved and we get to work with the work preparation: how are we going to apply the coating and what needs to be arranged for that? The budgets, the progress list, the planning: everything is then put on paper. Executing a project involves a lot of administration. Our quality registration is extensive and detailed, as you would expect with such mega projects. And in the background I look for improvements, because things can always be done better, faster and smarter. That makes my work very diverse and fun.”

Mega projects

And mega projects they are. Also literally. “For your imagination: the foundations we are now talking about are Mono Piles (MP) with a length of about 60 meters and a diameter of 8 meters. Such a pile weighs an average of 1,000 tons. And then a transition piece is added on top of it; that’s the yellow part that you can just see sticking out of the water. And then you have the windmill itself, which is supplied by another company.”

Experience the Maasvlakte with Futureland

You can also experience for yourself how things work on the Maasvlakte. “If you want to get an idea, I can recommend Futureland. It’s located on the Maasvlakte and offers guided tours by land or water through the port area. You learn a lot and it’s also much fun.”

Coating halls specially designed for precision work

Van Ginkel Groep is located directly on the site at Sif, which receives the parts for the MP by water. In Sif’s large production hall, the parts are welded together to form a whole. “From there, the MP is transported and placed in the field. That is a very impressive image, seeing those large Mono Piles on the dikes. Then they arrive at our place. We currently have six permanent and one temporary coating hall at our disposal.” The MP is wheeled into a coating hall, where it’s placed on roller positions, which slowly rotate the MP, so that we can work very precisely. First, we wash the MP, then we blast it and then we apply the coating system. That process takes about 1.5 weeks and is closely monitored by inspectors who guarantee the quality. Finally, we apply the markings. These markings are used for proper installation by an installation vessel. This is also a very delicate work.

Coating system according to NORSOK standard

The largest part of the MP for a wind turbine at seas goes into the ground. “Then you have a part that’s under water and a small part that’s above water. The coating system is, of course, completely adapted to this. The specifications of the coating system are determined by the end customer and usually follow the NORSOK M-501 standard.

Delivering quality according to schedule

The foundations are mainly used for offshore wind farms off the coast of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and even Japan. “About three MPs can be transported per installation vessel. For a wind farm in Japan, 33 Mono Piles had to be delivered. So, these are large projects that require a lot of time, and planning is therefore essential. Van Ginkel Groep is known for its quality and reliability. We do what we say. And we now have so much knowledge and expertise in-house, while our entire working method is tailored to the location, dimensions, format and shape of the MP. We unburden Sif as much as possible throughout the entire coating process, so that Sif doesn’t have to worry about this.”

Working in a close team makes working on the Maasvlakte even more fun

Lesley Ann is incredibly proud of the team she works for. “That sounds very cliché, but we are close together. We know where everyone stands, we are well attuned to each other and everyone is helpful. It’s a team you can fall back on if you run into something. I think we can work well together and I hope everyone else thinks I do too. That makes the working days – in addition to being diverse – just a lot of fun.”

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