1900
THE BEGINNINGS
The foundation stone for vibration technology is laid when Johann Degen buys the company “Johann Keller” in Germany in the year 1900. At this time still a local well drilling company, the company soon grows to become a local market leader, which is also able to slowly expand into neighbouring countries. After his early death in 1903, Johann Degen’s wife, Mr Keller Senior and Johann Degen’s brother, Willhelm Degen, take over the management of the company.
1920
INNOVATION AND EXPANSION
Wilhelm L Degen, son of Johann Degen, becomes head of the company. From this point on, he is co-owner of the company “Johann Keller”. Until his death in 1970, he also holds the position of Managing Director and Chief Engineer. In cooperation with Sergey Steuermann, many pioneering technologies are developed in the following years, such as the deep vibrator.
1938
VIBROCOMPACTION PROCESS
The first tests are carried out in Germany between 1937 and 1939. In 1938, Sergey Steuermann presents the first description of the vibroflotation process, as it is known in Germany. He leaves the country and founds the “Vibroflotation Foundation Company, Pittsburgh, PA” in the USA, which is regarded as the pioneer of ground improvement in the USA. From 1944 onwards, the method is used on a large scale in the USA.
1958
VIBRATED STONE COLUMN PROCESS
With the description of the vibrated stone column process and the design of the required components, Wilheilm L Degen succeeds in expanding the field of application of deep vibrators. With this method, cohesive soils that are saturated with water can now also be subjected to soil improvement.
1974
RESTRUCTURING
After many years of expansion within the company, the shares of the Keller group which were owned by the Degen family, are sold. Wilhelm F Degen, son of Wilhelm L Degen, purchases the “Vibroflotation Foundation Company, Pittsburgh, PA” from Sergey Steuermann.
1978
FURTHER TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
Remaining true to the principle and the basic shape, revolutionary improvements are made to the internal design of the electric vibroflot. As a result, Wilhelm F Degen and Franz Eichkorn succeed in developing the first high-performance vibroflot with a significantly higher penetration and compaction potential. It is thanks to this further development that future records can be achieved. In addition, “Vibroflotation” expands to Germany and the Far East.
1980
35 METRES – WORLD RECORD
During the preparation works for the construction of the Jebba Dam in Nigeria, a new world record is achieved with a penetration depth of 35 metres. It is remarkable that the vibroflots from “Vibroflotation” can deliver this performance in a natural sand deposit, which is much more difficult to compact than placed sand.
1986
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
The sons of Wilhelm L Degen, Alexander M Degen and Wilhelm S Degen, found an new company “Vibroflotation AG”. The company is based in Switzerland
and specialises in the production of deep vibrators and their accessories. During this time, further systems are added to the portfolio in co-operation with Franz Eichkorn, for example the Gravel Pump.
1990
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
Licence agreements are signed between the French company Soletanche SA and the Swiss company Vibroflotation AG for the realisation of a major project in Hong Kong. The resulting joint venture is the cornerstone for the co-operation with Soletanche Bachy and the subsequent takeover of Vibroflotation AG by the French group.
1994
ONE RECORD CHASES THE OTHER
Vibroflotation AG wins several tenders/competitions in the field of opencast mine slope failure prevention, resulting in dominance of the German market in this sector. In subsequent projects, more than one billion cubic metres of sand is compacted, and optimisation enables the vibroflots to reach ever greater depths. The old depth record (Jebba Dam – 35 metres) is broken in Uhyst (Brandenburg). The depth gauge shows 43 metres at final depth. However, the life of this record is short, because in September 1995 a vibroflot penetrates 56 metres into the ground in Sedlitz (Brandenburg).
2000
FURTHER EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT
In this year, further equipment developments were made. The Vibro Stitcher and full marine double lock unit penetration unit using the marine gravel pump system were developed. The marine double lock and gravel pump system was first used to create 20-meter dry bottom feed stone columns under 32 meters of water in Patras (Greece) for an offshore breakwater. The Vibro Stitcher is an excavator mounted dry bottom feed unit.
2001
MAJOR PROJECT AND TAKEOVER
The Hong Kong government reacquires Penny’s Bay from the current owners in order to reclaim and develop the land mass. Vibroflotation AG’s equipment is best suited for the upcoming compaction of the soil, but the company does not have the liquidity for such a large-scale project. This is why Soletanche Bachy buys 70% of the shares in Vibroflotation AG to realise the project. Along with the sale of the shares, the company is renamed.
2004
SEPERATE WAYS
Soletanche Bachy us taken over by VINCI, which is a publicly traded French concessions and construction group. In the course of this, the remaining shares of Gevib mbH, which were held by the Degen brothers, are purchased by Vinci. Again, the company is renamed as “Vibro Services GmbH”, which remais the company’s name until now. The branch in Guteborn become the headquarters.
2009
GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
After years of expansion and successfully realised projects in many countries around the world, including Costa Rica, Dubai, Canada, New Zealand and Russia, the consequences of the global economic crisis are being felt. Companies on the Arabian Peninsula are affected first and foremost. The order situation in Dubai, up to this point one of the customers with the highest turnover, collapses completely. Thanks to good management and foresighted action, the effects of the crisis are cushioned and Vibro Services GmbH continues to grow in the years that follow.
2011
NEUE KUNDEN UND EINDRUCKSVOLLE PROJEKTE
Die weltweite Nachfrage an Tiefenverdichtungsgeräten steigt. Es werden neue Kunden in weiteren Ländern gewonnen, darunter Singapur, Vietnam und Großbritannien. Um die Nachfrage bedienen zu können, wird personell aufgestockt. Für die Tiefbauarbeiten des weltgrößten Windrads im Binnenland bekommt die Firma BVT DYNIV, ebenfalls eine Tochterfirma der VINCI, den Zuschlag. Es wird am Lausitzring errichtet und stellt mit 198,5m Gesamthöhe alles bis dato errichtete in den Schatten. Bei der Verdichtung des Bodens für den Giganten kommt eine über 70m lange Rüttellanze zum Einsatz, deren Eindringtiefe ca. 69m beträgt.
2016
NEW CUSTOMERS AND IMPRESSIVE PROJECTS
In 2013, Vibro Services GmbH wins a tender for a major project in Israel. The project involves the expansion of the port in Haifa, in which an area of 830,000 square metres of land, equivalent to more than 110 football pitches, is to be reclaimed and compacted. Work with the units of Vibro Services GmbH will start in August 2016.
2019
STABLE GROWTH
Additional employees are hired to meet the order situation. After two years of expansion, a hall with three welding workstations is put into operation on the company premises. More than 60 vibrators are working on 36 construction sites in 25 countries around the world.
2021
PANDEMIC SITUATION
The global COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession are clearly noticeable. Some construction projects are being postponed, others cancelled. This is not only due to the lack of planning certainty, but also to the horrendous rise in transport costs, especially in the air freight segment. During this time, the German contract partners are providing strong support.