DEME Group is fully committed to sustainability, but does so realistically.
An electric crawler excavator weighing over 37 tons, two substantial battery packs, and a 14-meter extended boom. On the Sterke Lekdijk project, the DX355LC MLR Electric from DEME Group is fully integrated into production. This is not an electric machine for show, but a powerhouse that does not shy away from heavy work. For DEME wants to become more sustainable, but in a practical and effective way.
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Video: DEME environmental NL: view the crawler excavator in the field
DEME, headquartered in Zwijndrecht, Belgium, is active worldwide in dredging, offshore energy, maritime infrastructure, and environmental works. Originally founded by the Dutch company Ackermans & Van Haaren (AvH), the company can draw on exactly 150 years of experience and is a leader in innovation. By 2025, a turnover of 4.2 billion euros will be realized with approximately 6,000 employees.
The Dutch branch, DEME Environmental NL, originated from De Vries & Van de Wiel. “We still have our own identity and specialisms,” says operations manager Bas Bouwens. That expertise lies primarily in the fields of flood protection, inland waterway dredging, (water) soil remediation, and sand extraction. Consequently, the fleet consists largely of vessels.
When it comes to sustainability, DEME is explicitly charting its own course. The ambition is to switch to zero-emission operation for earthmoving equipment by 2030. “We want to take steps ourselves, especially regarding heavier equipment,” says Bouwens. “We can rent machines up to 30 tons relatively easily, including electric ones. That is why the decision was made to invest in three zero-emission excavators weighing over 35 tons.”
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In doing so, DEME does not opt for crawler excavators that roll straight off the assembly line. The work almost always requires modifications. A wider undercarriage, for example, for use on a pontoon, or a longer boom for dike reinforcement work. This was also the case with the DX355LC MLR Electric, which Staad delivered in 2024. The electric 37-tonner is equipped with two Powerbox 400 battery packs and is ideal for dike projects or dredging work from a pontoon. After the GoWa project (Gorinchem-Waardenburg), it is now operating on Sterke Lekdijk. There, DEME is collaborating with Heijmans and GMB on the reinforcement of a dike section of approximately 11 kilometers. The project is part of the High Water Protection Program.
For this work, the double-head green crawler excavator features a 14-meter semi-longreach boom equipped with a cylinder, allowing the lifting cylinders to be positioned lower. This enables the boom to achieve a greater lifting height, making loading trucks, for example, easier and more efficient. The machine is also equipped with extra counterweight, a tiltable quick coupler, GPS, overpressure preparation, and automatic lubrication. “We always push the limits,” says Bouwens. “We operate with a substantial 1,800-liter bucket and naturally want to maintain production. In practice, it handles that perfectly well.”
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Electric excavation itself turns out not to be all that complicated. The real challenge lies elsewhere. “Power logistics is our main focus. On projects like this, you simply don't automatically have a heavy-duty grid connection available.” So DEME deliberately opted for interchangeable battery packs. With the two Powerboxes in the machine and two additional swap boxes, the DX355LC-7 MLR Electric can run for roughly ten to twelve hours.
Nevertheless, the battery packs are swapped as standard every day of operation. This keeps the schedule predictable and ensures everyone knows what to expect. A total of five electric excavators are operating at Sterke Lekdijk. That requires considerable organization. Where is charging done? How much capacity is available? When are the batteries swapped? And how do you prevent equipment from coming to a standstill?
“A work planner spends a significant portion of his time on that,” says Bouwens. “Moreover, we try to recharge the battery packs as much as possible on-site or in the surrounding area. If you constantly have to drive them long distances back and forth by truck, you create emissions somewhere else.”
It wasn't just the organization that had to get used to electric equipment. There was also initial reluctance among operators. 'I'm not going to sit on a battery, am I?' Bouwens would be told. “We are fortunate that we work a lot with permanent operators. They often committed to this new technology from the outset.”
Once behind the joysticks, that doubt usually vanished quickly. “In terms of comfort and ease of operation, the machine is on par with a diesel machine.” Changing a battery pack has also become routine by now. Whereas in the beginning it involved searching and trial and error, a battery swap now takes five to ten minutes.
DEME was previously one of the initiators of the Emissieloos Netwerk Infra, in which companies share practical knowledge about zero emissions. According to Bouwens, innovation is an integral part of the company. At the same time, DEME does not want to pursue sustainability for the sake of sustainability. “We want to lead the way, but we do so realistically. For each project, we assess what is feasible and whether an investment is justifiable.”
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The market also plays an important role in this. “One project imposes strict requirements for emission-free working, while in other tenders it hardly plays a role. That is a pity, because for companies looking to invest, that continuity is precisely what is important.” The collaboration with Heijmans and GMB on major dike reinforcement projects does provide DEME with that certainty.
According to Bouwens, Staad’s electric crawler excavator has therefore hardly stood still. However, that does not mean that everything always runs flawlessly. “With new technology, things naturally go wrong sometimes. It would be strange if that weren't the case. In that situation, it helps if you can easily find each other and look for a solution together.”
The fact that DEME ended up with Staad has to do not only with the technology but also with collaboration. “We are very pleased with the service. Communication lines are short, and as a customer, you are well informed about what happens during the construction and delivery of a machine.”
In addition to the DX355LC MLR, DEME now also has two 20-ton electric DL285 wheel loaders. These are being deployed at Schiphol to clean 200,000 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated soil. Furthermore, a second DX355LC Electric has been ordered and will be delivered in January.
Bouwens therefore does not foresee a return to diesel-only happening. “Electric earthmoving is becoming increasingly common. The equipment is available and the teething problems are now behind us. The biggest challenge will soon no longer lie in the machine itself, but primarily in the question: how do we get enough power to the right place on time?”
This article was published in Grondwerk Magazine, Autumn 2026 edition. Would you like to receive this beautiful magazine as well? Then click here.
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