From pole to partnership

Foundation work in gear

Projects follow each other faster and faster and the preparation time is getting shorter. For foundation specialists like Fundex, that means sharp switching without sacrificing quality. "We get orders today for which we should have started yesterday. And yet some customers just expect us to deliver," says Davy Maes, general manager of Fundex.

The family-owned company has been active in foundation engineering for more than 70 years, including the well-known Fundex® and Tubex® piles. Quality, planning and partnership are the cornerstones of its approach, but these come under pressure in an industry where speed often seems more important than diligence.

International standards demand fundamental quality

However, the focus on quality is not marketing talk. "Our poles are not the cheapest, but we have never had a quality case in court in all these years. That says something," Maes continues. "Above all, we want to deliver solid work. You always win in the long run with that." Still, he notices that price thinking takes over again in some cases. "There are designs that ten years ago you would have thought: nobody approves of this. Now people shout, 'Oh well, it's only 70 meters high.' With foundations, however, there is no margin for levity. The mistake comes much later - and then it comes hard."

People make a difference, if you give them time

"Fundex fortunately manages to attract young talent," Maes says. "Unfortunately, they hardly get time to grow. Everything has to happen right away, while experience is essential in our industry. If someone is at the beginning of a 40-year career, you can easily invest two to three years in a good start-up." The speed of switching today leaves little room for mistakes or for learning quietly from them. "And that is precisely what makes people stronger," Maes says. Still, he remains hopeful: "Give young people time to really get to know the sector. Give them confidence, let them grow with you in complex cases and you will see them blossom. At Fundex we have plenty of examples of young people who have been trained at their own pace and today are at the helm with insight, a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm. There is incredible potential in the new generation. Time and trust are the foundation here. Just like a good foundation."

Innovating with your feet in the clay

Fundex invests heavily in innovation, while maintaining reliability. For example, drilling data is recorded and analyzed in real time, so the quality of each pile is checked immediately. "We also use that data retrospectively to recognize patterns in production time, ground conditions and performance - insights that we then take to subsequent construction sites." In addition, existing pile drivers are being upgraded to electric variants to reduce emissions. "We are working on a hybrid approach where we can flexibly switch between diesel and electric, depending on the yard." Innovation is also in full swing at the system level. "Soon we will launch a technically updated pole variant. That saves material without sacrificing quality. For us, that's the only way innovation is allowed to work."

Working together over blind competition

Finally, Maes advocates collaboration over blind competition. "We believe in partnerships. When you pool expertise, you all win. That's why we regularly collaborate with contractors, engineering firms and even fellow companies. That shows that specialization and reliability are valued again." Because although Fundex is internationally recognized, Maes remains with both feet on Belgian and Dutch soil. "Above all, we want to deliver solid work. You always win with that in the end."