HARTMAN
ENGINEERING 1.716.759.2800 | www.hartmanengineering.com
4910 Ransom Road, Clarence, NY 14031-2141
Our firm has many years experience taking on the challenges of difficult design problems in the
specialized area of cofferdams, retaining walls, foundation support, and damaged structures
Project, or C-43 as it’s more commonly
known. The project, which is part of the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan for restoring, protecting and preserving
the water resources of central and
southern Florida, involves the construction
of a massive reservoir east of Fort
Myers, Fla.
The purpose of the reservoir is to capture,
store and manage stormwater runoff
as well as water coming down the
Caloosahatchee River and surrounding
waterways, reducing excess flow into Gulf
Coast estuaries.
The C-43 project is expected to improve
the salinity balance and ecological health
of the Caloosahatchee Estuary by controlling
peak flows during the wet season and
providing essential flows during the dry
season. It will also supply much-needed
irrigation water for farmers.
Construction has just started on the
project and it is expected to wrap up in
2022. Once completed, the C-43 reservoir
will encompass more than 10,000 acres and
will hold in excess of 55 billion gallons of
water. Its maximum depth will range from
15 to 25 feet.
The reservoir will be connected to a
system of perimeter canals, and two large
pump stations and more than a dozen
water control structures will be constructed
to enable the movement of water into
and out of the reservoir.
The C-43 is largest project ever undertaken
by the South Florida Water Management
District. It’s also the biggest one to date for
the ASAP Group, which has been contracted
to perform the piling, tieback and tie rod
systems work on the project.
Based in Miramar, Florida, the ASAP
Group is comprised of three sister companies
that are collaborating on the project –
ASAP Engineering, ASAP Installations and
ASAP Specialty Foundations.
Simon Den Tuinder, president of the
ASAP Group, says landing a project this
large is a real feather in his company’s cap.
It’s also special because it’s the first time
all three ASAP firms have worked together
on a single project this size since two of
the separate companies, ASAP Engineering
and ASAP Specialty Foundations, were
formed last year.
“The fact that we have our three companies
combining forces is the reason why
we can be very competitive in projects like
this,” said Den Tuinder. “We’re very much in
control of our own performance. We’re not
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
ASAP SHEETPILERS
Simon Den Tuinder, president of the ASAP Group, says that for the C-43 project,
his company will be relying heavily on a piece of equipment called the Sheetpiler.
The Sheetpiler is a 75-ton machine designed and built specifically for the
installation of steel sheet pile, H-pile and casings. Because of its innovative
design that incorporates both vibration and pressing, the Sheetpiler is able
to boost production by up to three times compared to conventional methods,
according to Den Tuinder.
“The unique part of this machine is that it uses vibratory installation with hydraulic
downforce,” said Den Tuinder. “Because everything’s hydraulically connected and
it has a telescopic boom, the Sheetpiler can put 15 metric tons of downforce on
the sheet.”
Den Tuinder says that also means it’s easier for the Sheetpiler to penetrate harder
soil layers, as well as to keep sheet piles plumb while they’re being driven.
“Typically, if you’re using conventional methods, when a sheet goes out of plumb,
you have to pull it back up a little bit and then drive it back to make sure that it
stays plumb. We don’t have to do that,” he said.
According to ASAP, the Sheetpiler is also economical to operate, since it only
requires a three-man crew, and there isn’t any support equipment needed to set
up or break down the machine when it’s on a job site.
Den Tuinder notes the Sheetpiler was invented by a Dutch company that had
been driving pile since the 1870s. ASAP now holds a patent on the Sheetpiler in
the United States.
Den Tuinder says ASAP plans to utilize one or two of its custom-made Sheetpilers
for the C-43 project but it has other machines available if needed.
“We have five of them right now and we’re building a sixth one. We have enough
resources,” he said.
72 | ISSUE 2 2020 www.piledrivers.org
/www.hartmanengineering.com
/www.piledrivers.org
