Overlasko Konstruktie specialises in heavy and special steel structures. In their warehouses in the port of Vlissingen, large machines and parts are designed, built or completely refurbished, such as winches, spreader beams or cable discs for drilling platforms. Overlasko focuses mainly on the onshore, offshore, building and machinery construction sectors. Cutting, deforming, welding, machining and testing: they can do it all and short-notice delivery is also possible where necessary.
Heavy crane lift barge 1,400mt. Lifting capacity 26,000t.
It’s a real family business. Samuel van Gurp is one of the third generation active in the company. He is responsible for the sale of products and the purchase of materials. Together with his cousin Henri van Gurp, he ensures that the planning runs smoothly and that there is effective cooperation between the various departments within the company.
One-stop shopping
He is enthusiastic about his work: “We do not make standard products. We have every opportunity in-house to design, construct, blast, conserve and eventually assemble. In the design section, 3D draughting programs are used to draw up construction designs according to customer specifications. Once that has been done, construction can start. Large format rolling, cutting, shearing and welding is no problem. In Vlissingen, we have an area of 16,500m2 of which 5,500 is workshop and offices. There is enough space for big projects, and, if not, we create the space”, he smiles. He recounts the story of a visitor who noticed that there was a big hole in the wall of the workshop. “I explained that we hadn’t had enough room for a particular assignment and that we only had a small amount of extra space. It’s good to look for creative solutions,” says Mr Van Gurp. “If you can’t do what you should, then you must do what you can.”
Considerable investment
“We have invested considerably in large machines over the past few years – in a three-metre roller, for example. This allows us to deform sheet material up to 80mm thick. We also have a CNC carousel, which allows us to process up to a good 3m, and there is a lathe suitable for pieces of 6m in length and 2.5m in width. We also mill grooves for cable drums, both spiral and also the so-called Lebus groove. We can, and may, carry out welding ourselves. There are many welding procedures possible in-house. Henri van Gurp has the attractively-named International Welding Technologist (IWT) diploma. This means that we comply with certain ISO standards (Overlasko is ISO 3834-2 & EN 1090-1 Excl. 4-certified and ISO 9001-certified). Certification is very important not only for our customers, but also for us. Deliver quality, do what you promise. That’s our motto,” Mr Van Gurp states. Overlasko is furthermore allowed to quality-stamp the cut and sawn materials themselves. The company has a declaration of verification from Lloyds. “It’s important for the traceability of materials; we can always show which material has been cut from which plate.”
In-house testing
Before a construction leaves the production hall, it is extensively tested. Mr Van Gurp: “We can carry out a lot of tests ourselves. For example, we have designed and built a test bench for upgrading pipes. Using this, we can produce 1,800bar pressure and give hydraulic backpressure of 400t. To test hoist and winch cables, we have a winch frame that we have also designed and made ourselves. Our customers can be present at the tests or they can employ a verification officer from a verification company.” A construction is only transported once all the requirements have been met. Whether a product is wide, long or heavy, Overlasko’s own fleet can transport cargo up to 300t by road. This way, their service extends right up to the customer’s door.
Continuing growth
The company is ambitious. Having started out in a barn in a nearby village, it relocated to the port of Vlissingen in 1981. In 1993, the second generation took over the family business. Since then, the company has grown extensively. Samuel and Henri van Gurp have been part of the management since 2008. Prior to that, they worked on the shop floor. When he was ten, Samuel van Gurp swept the workshop floors on Saturday morning for his Grandfather; when he was sixteen, he was given a permanent job as a turner and grinder. A few years later he became a foreman. It gave him a lot of practical knowledge and experience, attributes which are useful in his current position. He made the transition in 2008 gradually. “Turning and milling still appeal, but this work, the contact with customers, making plans and ensuring that they are carried out, is really fun.”
Offshore wind
“Our customers are mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany,” he continues. “Through them, our products find their way everywhere. During the salvage of the Costa Concordia (the large cruise ship that capsized off the Italian coast) one of our large floating cranes was deployed. That crane has a capacity of 1,400t and the boom can be built up to a range of 100m. That we built that crane – that gives us a certain sense of pride. It is mounted on a special pontoon that can pump out ballast water very quickly. A loaded crane needs that to allow it to rotate 360° fairly quickly.” For the future, Mr Van Gurp sees opportunity in the growing offshore wind industry. That is why Overlasko is, for example, one of the participants in Energy Port Zeeland, a partnership that currently includes about 70 different companies and organisations. Together, businesses, educational and knowledge institutions and public authorities seek opportunities for profiling Zeeland in this growth market. Mr Van Gurp gives a nice example of the work that this sector entails. “We have recently supplied two spreader beams for Van Oord’s Svanen, which are used for lifting work in the construction of windfarms at sea. They were 14m tall and weighed 100t each. Within fourteen weeks, they were ready for use. Those were a few heavy months. But it’s fantastic when everything is finished on time. If necessary, we work 24 hours a day, six days a week. On Sundays, it is quiet here, not only in respect of people’s principles, but also because we think it is important that our people have a real rest at least one day a week.”
For Van Oord's Svanen, Overlasko constructed two spreader beams.
Committed
“We work with an enthusiastic team, thinking together, developing ideas and looking for ways to perform our work better and more efficiently. Recently, an external quality manager remarked that this is something special. When you work there yourself, you are not aware of it, so it is good when someone else comments on it.” The team also shows its commitment outside the company. “For example, our drivers always take part in a special day for disabled children. The children join the drivers in the two lorries and do a tour of the province; they love it and so do the drivers. It is important for us as a company to participate in this type of initiative. It keeps us involved.” Mr Van Gurps ends.
