Four air-handling units. A load up to 4.61 meters high and 3.50 meters wide. And the final destination: a vacation park full of trees, speed bumps, cyclists, and vacationers.
For Gebr. Vermeer Industrial Movements, transporting four large air-handling units from Waalwijk to Center Parcs Het Heijderbos meant one thing above all else: preparing thoroughly and then executing every meter with precision.
The challenge isn't always about weight
With the heaviest air-handling unit weighing approximately 3,500 kilograms, weight was not the biggest challenge of this project. The dimensions were.
The largest combination measured 4.61 meters in height and 3.50 meters in width. That means you can't simply drive to your final destination via just any route.
Prior to the move, we visited Het Heijderbos several times, conducted route surveys, and inspected the air handling units while they were still in production. In doing so, we not only examined the transport itself but also directly assessed the options for subsequent unloading, hoisting, and installation.
Because for us, a well-prepared project begins well before the truck hits the road.
Heading to Het Heijderbos with three Volvo FHs
We used our three Volvo FH 540 6×2 tractor-trailers for the transport. Due to the dimensions of the load, the transport was carried out under a special permit and via a predetermined route.
Even right before departure, a route like that can still change. For example, due to work on traffic lights, the original route had to be adjusted.
Before departure, the entire plan was therefore reviewed with the drivers and chaperones. The route, key points, obstacles, and procedure: everyone knew in advance what was expected of them.
A vacation resort as a course
Once we arrived at Het Heijderbos, perhaps the most challenging part began.
After all, a vacation park isn’t designed for exceptional transport of this size. Trees, greenery, speed bumps, decorative stones, cyclists, children, and vacationers turned the final few meters into quite an adventure.
In various locations, decorative stones were temporarily moved, and space was cleared in the green areas where necessary.
Step by step, our drivers maneuvered the truck-trailer combinations through the park.
In addition, the steering on one of the trailers could be operated manually. This allowed the trailer to actively follow the steering and be steered very sharply when the available space required it.
Exactly the kind of work where experience makes all the difference.
Experience behind the wheel
Gebr. Vermeer has that experience in abundance.
Drivers Gerrie and Jan have been working together in special transport for decades. They know that when handling these types of shipments, they must be mindful not only of overpasses and other fixed obstacles, but also of low-hanging branches, cyclists, pedestrians, and unexpected situations along the way.
With a load of this size, you drive differently.
More peaceful. More forward-looking. More mindful.
The new Volvo FHs assist drivers in this regard through features such as the Camera Monitoring System, which provides additional visibility around the truck-trailer combination. This is a particularly important addition when hauling wide and tall loads and in areas with many cyclists and pedestrians.
From unloading to final installation
Our mission wasn't over just because we had reached Het Heijderbos.
Vermeer Brothers handles the entire process: from loading and transporting to unloading, hoisting, and finally positioning the air-handling units in the correct locations.
In this process, drivers, planners, transport supervisors, crane operators, and mechanics work closely together.
Because special transport is never the work of just one person.
It's all about teamwork.
And only when everything is safely in place and going according to plan do we consider the project a success.
A special project that brought together preparation, experience, the right equipment, and, above all, good teamwork.
Do you need to move a complex machine, piece of equipment, or oversized load?
Gebr. Vermeer Industrial Movements handles complete industrial relocations, from preparation and transport to hoisting and on-site installation.
Please contact us to discuss the options for your project.