InfraTech 2023 is all about the future

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were only able to keep up with each other digitally. Nonetheless, our professional colleagues’ presentations made it clear we were not idle. Some companies focused on innovations, such as our own underwater drill on display at the Hakkers booth. Other companies were concerned with how their footprint impacted the world. Almost all of us were evaluating some combination of these themes. The main idea that the world is ready for change – including in our field – was embodied in the different presentations during InfraTech. Sustainability in products What stood out in particular was the manufacturing of products in a sustainable manner or taking advantage of standard principles. As a company specialising in installing steel sheet piling, we were interested in the concept of the energy sheet piling as presented by several companies in collaboration with the universities of Eindhoven and Delft. This is an example of ‘two for the price of one’. You install the walls because you need physical barriers and these walls in particular because of their characteristics. For example, conductive steel sheet piling can act as a heat exchanger and sustainably extract heat and energy from the soil. Innovation Sustainable building was one of the key words in InfraTech’s innovation corner. The focus included the sustainable installation of concrete structures that require less reinforcement and up to 50 per cent less concrete. Such reductions really make a difference. Innovations like these are needed to future-proof the industry in a world where resources are scarce and costs are high. Hakkers is keeping an eye on such developments. Infratech certainly provided inspiration in this respect.