Aarsleff chooses L5 machine control for pile rigs
We met with Henrik Møller-Clausen while we were on site to install our L5 3DPile navigation system on their Hitachi 180 pile driving rig.
Background
Aarsleff is one of the largest construction companies in Denmark, but its operation in large parts of Europe and nearly 9,000 employees make it a significant player internationally. They carries out projects in ground engineering, building, road construction, and harbor construction.
We met with Henrik Møller-Clausen when we were on site to install our L5 3DPile navigation system on their Hitachi 180 pile driver. Henrik has been with Aarsleff for 10 years and is a chartered surveyor, responsible for GNSS equipment, data and support on our ground engineering pile rigs and “non-standard” machines, i.e. large excavators (80-100 tons; because they run a different machine control system compared to the smaller machines), cranes, drill rigs, sailing equipment, i.e. ships and barges.
What made you choose L5 as your supplier for machine control?
Previously, we had another large international supplier of a total of 5 machines, but we encountered many serious problems with the equipment and finally decided to look for another alternative.
In 2019, we had an urgent need to get a 52-meter high, 330-ton pile driving rig up and running with GPS equipment for a project in Norway, where the piling would be partly carried out from a barge. That’s when we fully realized that the equipment from our previous supplier would not be up to the task.
L5 was invited to the project, and even though the machine was far from standard, they managed to do a fantastic job of getting it ready for production with a positioning solution that suited us perfectly. It worked so well that we decided to rebuild our existing machines in Denmark with L5 installations.
L5 has continued to help Aarsleff with navigation solutions. Today, they have 22 machines with machine control from L5. 10 of the machines are in operation in Denmark, 7 in Germany, and 5 in Sweden.
How was it to get started with L5 3DPile, and how long did it take to get the system up and running?
Getting the first installation up and running in 2019 took a few weeks. As mentioned, the machine was not standard, and to make it even more challenging, the workplace was shut down due to Covid. Only a small critical workforce was allowed to remain on the project. Fortunately, all hardware could be installed on the machine before we were sent home, which was enough for L5 to then have remote access to the machine via the internet, and an Aarsleff employee could run the machine when needed for testing and calibration.
However, the software needed some modifications, which L5 handled in collaboration with their software partner Carlson Software in the US. During an exciting period, the development sprints looked like the following: during the day in Norway/Sweden tests were carried out, and then the software was updated overnight, which was then ready for installation and further testing the next morning. We repeated the process until we achieved the software and performance we wanted, which is pretty cool to think back on now.
The system itself is easy to use and it is easy to get in touch with support if needed. With the experience from the previous systems we had, we already had a general understanding of how the equipment should be handled.
“Customer-driven development is something that has always been important to us at L5. It is the end users who are the real experts and know how the systems should look and work. Even though change can take time, we always listen to our users' opinions and work hard to incorporate them into the functionality.” says Patrik Tallgren, Technical Manager and Partner at L5 Navigation.
Share your experience of the collaboration with L5:
"L5 is highly innovative, deeply focused on problem solving and provides excellent daily support."
Henrik Møller-Clausen, Aarsleff
What makes you use L5 3DPile instead of traditional/manual stake-out?
The machine being independent from a surveyor to stake out the pile positions is a key issue. Also when piling on sites where staking is difficult or impossible, like in muddy areas or over water from a barge, having GPS onboard is very beneficial.
What is the best thing about L5 3DPile?
Robustness, up-time and daily support.
Why would you recommend L5 as a supplier of machine control systems?
Any time.
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