Fundex Specialist in (deep) foundations
History
Mr. Lex Verstraeten
The history of Fundex reads like an exciting adventure story. The company started out as a general contracting firm in Oostburg, but thanks to the passion of its director, Alex (Lex to his friends and Alexander on official occasions) Verstraeten, it gradually began to specialize in foundation engineering. Verstraeten enjoyed the challenge of solving problems.
He designed his own pile-driving machines so he could carry out contracted work exactly as he had envisioned. In the early years—the 1950s and 1960s—not all of the solutions Verstraeten devised were successful.
In that regard, this native of East Zeeland-Flanders has learned the hard way. However, Verstraeten never made the same mistake twice. He gradually gained more and more knowledge, and his tenacity ultimately led to Fundex becoming an indispensable global leader in the field of foundation engineering.
Fundex made a name for itself with its technique for “piling without piling.” The piles , as it were, screwed into the ground. This means the surrounding area is not affected by vibrations, and work can be carried out on relatively small areas. Verstraeten named his invention the “Fundex pile,” a registered trademark. Today, the Fundex pile is just as well-known a product as Luxaflex is for window coverings.
“In the early years, we held patents on our inventions,” says Ed Revoort, one of the three directors of the Fundex Group. “However, patents are so expensive and relatively easy to circumvent, which is why we registered our brand name.”
It is not only its vibration-free technology that has earned Fundex a reputation; its foundations are also renowned for their high load-bearing capacity. Development never stops; in keeping with the inventive spirit of former director Verstraeten, new techniques are still being devised. The machines for these are designed in Oostburg and manufactured in Goes. Revoort: “When we’re asked to take on a project or give a demonstration, Mr. Verstraeten’s motto still applies: ‘Can’t’ doesn’t exist.”
