In Frankfurt, the European leader in construction solutions, Mercury Engineering is delivering multiple new data centers simultaneously. Boels Rental has been a partner of this construction company, specialized in building these types of facilities, for more than 10 years. Boels is delivering workspaces for three of Mercury’s Frankfurt projects and the most recent project involves the construction of a data center near the airport. Read on to discover how Boels Rental is supporting this specific project and keeping it on schedule.
Boels international key account manager Roger Konings has been involved in the collaboration with Mercury from the very beginning. “Yes, that goes back about 12 years now. Mercury is a major player in the construction of data centers. They are a client with high standards that deliberately chooses a partner capable of delivering top quality across Europe. In my role as international key account manager, I can provide solutions across different European countries. That makes things easier for the client, who wants to move quickly without too many intermediaries or delays.”
Through Roger Konings, this latest assignment landed on the desk of Boels account manager for Frankfurt, Fabian Bittel. “I’ve only been with Boels for a year. This is my first major project that I can manage independently. It’s a great honor and a big responsibility to be the point of contact for the client on behalf of all Boels departments. I know Mercury sets very high standards. Fortunately, I’m a perfectionist and I deliver everything Mercury needs quickly.”
106 units
For Mercury’s new project, no fewer than 106 units were installed between the end of February and the second week of March. These units will serve as offices for site management, subcontractors, and as break rooms for the 300 employees who will be working on the site over the next three years. The units were delivered directly from the factory for this and other Mercury projects in Frankfurt.
“As you can see, these are brand-new units. Mercury had very specific requirements. For example, they wanted a canopy over the walkway, more windows with views of the construction site, windows between the units, and even a large aluminum entrance door leading to the main reception area. This was truly customized work, much to the client’s satisfaction.”
“Yes, that entire row of stacked units looks excellent. In all our projects, we aim to create optimal conditions for our people. That includes units with requirements that other construction companies might not request. It’s great that Boels Rental understands what we want and can build quickly and efficiently. It hasn’t impacted the rest of our planning at all,” says Mercury site manager Harrison Web.
In addition to the units, various Boels machines will be used in the coming years, including telehandlers and aerial work platforms. Boels also plays an important role in providing sanitation and power supply for the construction site. This includes power distribution boxes, panels, and cables to supply electricity to all units and equipment.
Challenge
Every project has its challenges. For this specific project, the main challenge was logistics. “There is very limited space on site to maneuver large trailers. During the installation of the units, six trailers arrived daily, each carrying two units. That requires careful planning alongside all other incoming deliveries, and you need skilled drivers. Fortunately, we have the best drivers at Boels. As for planning, I manage that through open and honest communication with site manager Harrison.”
“We now have more than 450 units across nine Mercury projects in and around Frankfurt. It’s great to see all those white-and-orange blocks being used by so many people involved in these unique projects.”
Communication is also key to the success of this project. “Absolutely. Not just for planning, but also in the preparation phase and during execution. Mercury maintains best-in-class safety standards. I had to provide several well-calculated and thoroughly prepared lifting plans and risk analyses. That required a lot of work, but it reaffirmed the trust Mercury has placed in our company for over 10 years. Delivering on time, asking the right questions, listening, and clearly stating what is and isn’t possible are all crucial in an open and honest working relationship. We go to great lengths to keep the client on schedule.”
Setting the bar high
This view is confirmed by Harrison Web. “Yes, we are very satisfied with the quality of service that Boels provides. The quality of the materials delivered and the way we collaborate—with short communication lines and honest interaction—are most important to me. We set the bar high and expect the same from our partners. Boels has never let us down in that regard.”
