'The best of both worlds'

TBS (Technisch Bureau Soest) and SVA (Struyk Verwo Aqua) are specialists in products for drainage and sewer access systems. Willy Bruckers, commercial director, announced in an earlier edition that both companies would strengthen each other under one roof. Meanwhile, the fruits of the resulting synergy can be reaped. "Think of it as the best of both worlds," Bruckers opens the conversation. "By complementing and strengthening each other, our innovative power has also grown. We can report new product launches, which are just a harbinger of what the market can expect from us."

Corporate Social Responsibility

TBS-SVA also takes responsibility when it comes to CSR. "Our goal is to help reduce CO2 emissions and use more recycled materials," says Bruckers. "We therefore now have gullies that we believe have the lowest MKI value in the market. We apply crushed concrete fractions - derived from returned gullies - in the concrete mix from which the gullies are made. The cast iron we use is already naturally durable, but by using ductile cast iron, there is less material use and a longer life. Stank fittings and connections are cast from recycled plastic. Taking old gullies to break them up and process them into new concrete is part of our "green deal. In short: we are doing everything we can to contribute to a piece of circularity."

Three resounding innovations

TBS-SVA is proud to report three recently launched innovations. "The first to mention are the cross-grip pit covers," Bruckers lists. "These pit covers were developed specifically with two-wheelers in mind. By that we mean all two-wheelers, from bicycles to motorcycles. The cross profile present in the pit cover provides better slip resistance and accelerated water drainage results in less slippery covers. With this, the grip of the tire on the manhole cover increases tremendously. Two-wheeled traffic has increased enormously; we are happy to contribute to a piece of safety for this relatively vulnerable group."

The second innovation concerns the "Cool City Drain. Bruckers continues: "We developed a special drainage channel to combat heat stress in inner-city areas. The water is slowed down, buffered and infiltrated where possible. Also, the top layer is made of sediment plants. This provides a piece of cooling, much needed with the hot summers of recent years."

The third innovation on the list is a rubber seal that makes a manhole edge rattle-free. "The Vepro Max is an improved rubber profile on which the cover lies, with a guaranteed period of being rattle-free of 40 years. Even on heavily traveled roads. The manhole cover stays better still, which prevents street cracking. In addition to being more wear-resistant, this solution also achieves significant noise reduction."

Bruckers assures us that many more smart solutions are coming in the coming years that will contribute substantially to sustainability.