Wagenborg Nedlift is switching materials of its jacking beams. Instead of tropical hardwood, the Dutch heavy-lift company will start using bamboo which it calls a better alternative. “Tropical hardwood (Azobé) is a scarce natural product and therefore not a sustainable solution”, Wagenborg Nedlift states.

After extensive research and testing of alternative materials, bamboo jacking beams came out as the clear winner to replace the tropical hardwood. Next to being a sustainable and ecologically responsible product, the material also has better mechanical qualities than Azobé.

The quality of bamboo is predictable as it is grown in a controlled production process that guarantees constant quality as well as dimensional stability. Bamboo jack beams are also not sensitive to weather conditions.

The new bamboo jacking material has already been used in a few projects and showed satisfactory results, Wagenbog Nedlift says. The beams have independently inspected and certified by SGS.