The data the company collects through measuring, sampling and monitoring is used in various social issues, such as food security, pollution and nature and water development. One of the main topics the company is working on is drought. A major problem both globally and locally, we read in the Gelderlander earlier this month.

"Drought causes subsidence in our region, as well as poor agricultural yields. At our living lab InnoDrought, we are therefore researching factors that determine whether surface water gets into the soil, in order to create a better water balance. Soil life, for example, is very important for this," says Eijkelkamp. Various possibilities are being tested and demonstrated at Innofields. This is a piece of land at Royal Eijkelkamp in Giesbeek where knowledge is exchanged with various parties to come up with solutions for water, soil, climate, and agro-related challenges.

Sri Lanka

Royal Eijkelkamp also carries out these kinds of projects on a large scale worldwide, such as in Sri Lanka. "There, they suffer a lot from humidity, dehydration and pollution. In some provinces fresh water has to be brought in by ship, in other provinces 1,800 millimetres of rain falls per year, where it drains away to the sea too quickly," Eijkelkamp explains.

Across the country, they are drilling to monitor groundwater via several thousand monitoring points. Over three years, data is collected on water quality and elevation that is validated and delivered to the Ministry of Water. "They then use this data in new projects. We leave that to other parties. We deliberately choose to deal only with the data. There are not many companies doing these measurements and there is an increasing need for them. We have our hands full."

From hand drill to complete machine

The company also applies the same philosophy in mining where they do fieldwork from start to finish. "Thanks to our unique sonic drilling technology, we can determine very accurately where what is sitting. This way, miners need to damage much less land and make more profit. Deploying our equipment is quite an investment, but it yields much more. That requires a different way of thinking."

Eijkelkamp makes all the products and machines they use for measurements themselves. From hand-held soil drills to complete ground-drilling machines for mining. "The machines are built so that we can do our work in all kinds of conditions and environments, both in extreme heat and cold. For example, for a customer in eastern Russia, we built a number of sonic drills that have to operate at minus 60 degrees Celsius. We built a tent structure around the drill. When the mast of the drill rises into the air, the tent construction automatically moves with it. This way, the drill and the personnel present can continue to function at these extreme temperatures."

Cooperation with regional education

To be able to do specialist work in more and more places around the world, Eijkelkamp trains its own people, including through the Eijkelkamp Academy and Sonic Academy. They also want to attract new talent. 

"Our role in the region is growing. I want to expand that by collaborating more with regional education. We now work too much side by side, while we have a very interesting environment to offer students of all levels. Just think of InnoFields. That's why this Pearl is so welcome. In particular, it feels like appreciation for what we do in that area. We want to radiate that to the surrounding area. Making a bit of noise always helps," concludes Eijkelkamp.