An interview with Rob Doorman, Managing Director at Burtec.
What is your background and can you tell us a little more about Burtec?
“I have been in Infra for about 26 years.
Mainly in the development of Infra machines for sale and rental.
I enjoy this every day because of the diversity of people I meet and the challenging projects.
At Burtec, we build and supply a wide range of machines for Infra work.
Our electric core drilling machines and bitumen spraying machines play an important role in our range.
Due to a very fast-growing demand for sustainable machines, this has been the subject of considerable innovation, in close cooperation with Intercel.
In short: our customers want to get rid of diesel as soon as possible, and they have succeeded.
For us, a precondition for innovation is that it must always be a big step forward.
In all cases important advantages: emission-free, safe, low-noise and easy to use.
Can you tell a little more about your clients?
“These are small and large infra companies at home and abroad. An important group are the specialists in soil quality control for infra. They all have their own specific requirements. Hence, in addition to the basic design, our machines can also be custom built. We build the way the customer wants it. For these customers, we always engineer and deliver our machines exactly to size. Especially now that projects within the EU increasingly have to be completely emission-free, our electrified range is extra important.”
What is most important to your customers?
“Preconditions are emission-free, safe, sustainable, CE standardization and TÜV inspection. Sustainability and zero-emission are important for our customers to be able to compete successfully for certain tenders. But also environmentally friendly choice of materials: from propulsion to the paints used and the materials we use for the bodywork.”
Specifically, what are the improvements for your core drill?
“Our core drill can be supplied fully customized.
Think of the content of the water tank, lighting and all possible accessories.
The electrification is realized with the
custom lithium battery from Intercel realized. The lithium battery is equipped with high power and can be charged by the customer anywhere. The battery is fully charged within 2.5 hours. The noise level is drastically reduced which is very nice for the user and the environment. It meets the strict European standards, a very important point for our customers who often acquire their projects based on tenders. Through all these things, we end up contributing to a healthy chain of companies, but also to a better world.”
What role does electrification play in conversations with your customers?
“They really want to know everything. Of course how long the battery lasts, the safety, the power, how they can be repaired if necessary and by which partner they are supplied. Where they can charge and how long the charging takes. It is important for customers that we work with a Dutch party that is approachable and can provide service. That’s why we chose Intercel with conviction. It is the right partner for us with the right products and the right advice. Their Engineer to Order concept goes a long way. They think along with us, ensure the right performance and take special requirements into account. In the case of the core drill, for example, these are the vibrations that are released. Intercel’s custom batteries are designed to withstand this. Intercel and Burtec are a nicely established Dutch team.”
Can you talk more about the value of Intercel for you guys?
“It’s not just the advice and batteries.
It’s really the total solutions from battery to inverter and from charger to cabling.
Intercel is our dream partner, we can really discuss everything with each other.
We look to the future together and figure out how to improve things and innovate further.
Learning together without barriers, that feels very good.”