Engineered Ground Improvement

The beginning

Johann Degen bought the Johann Keller Company in Germany in 1900 and managed its rise from a local well drilling company to a regional market leader, largely expanding into the surrounding countries. After his early death in 1903, his wife, old Mr. Keller and Johann Degen’s brother Wilhelm managed the company through hard times until its transition to sons Johannes and Wilhelm in 1920.

Growing Business

Wilhelm L. Degen, son of Johann Degen, co-owner of Johann Keller since 1920 and Managing Director and Chief Engineer of Keller until his death in 1970. He owned numerous patents, including the depth vibrator (Vibroflot) for Vibro Compaction (together with Sergej Steuermann), and various pioneering Stone Column related patents.

Vibroflotation in USA

Mr. Sergey Steuermann, co-inventor of the Vibroflot, left Germany and set up later the Vibroflotation Foundation Company, Pittsburgh, PA, pioneering Vibro Compaction in the USA

Stone Column Invented

Wilhelm L. Degen invented the Stone Column method.

First High Performance Electrical Vibroflots

Wilhelm F. Degen and Franz Elchkorn developed the first range of high performance electrical Vibroflots, utilizing revolutionary internal design, facilitating a unique penetration capacity, which will enable this generation of machines to reach numerous world-depths record in the future. Expansion of the Vibroflotation companies  into Germany and Far East .

World record broken

World record on deep vibro compaction by Vibroflotation at Jebba Dam, Nigeria.

A depth of 35 m was reached in natural sand deposits. Reaching such depth in natural deposits is harder than in reclaimed land.

Set up Vibroflotation AG

Alexander M. Degen and Wilhelm S. Degen set up Vibroflotation AG, an equipment manufacturing company in Switzerland. They also developed the Gravel Pump, the Vibro Stitcher and the Marine Gravel Pump together with designers Franz Eichkorn and Beda Kälin.

Established in Hong Kong

License agreements between Soletanche S.A. of France and Vibroflotation AG were set up. A joint venture between Vibroflotation AG and Bachy-Soletanche was established in Hong Kong.

New world record depth

43 m depth are reached as a new world record on a trial compaction in Uhyst, Germany. Vibroflotation equipment won a competition with other equipment and was selected as the preferred equipment supplier for huge lignite mine slope stabilizations by vibro compaction.

Record Vibro Compaction volume in Germany

Vibroflotation equipment dominated the Vibro Compaction market in Germany for lignite mining slope stability projects of over 70m in depth, with a total volume of over 1 billion cubic meters.

Sale of interest in Vibroflotation Group

Soletanche Bachy took a 70% share in The Vibroflotation Group and in 2006 took over the company entirely. The relationship ended in a three year non competition undertaking by Wilhelm and Alexander Degen during which both brothers were consulting  “The Vibroflotation Group” on numerous international key projects.

Established Betterground

Betterground Ltd. (Switzerland) was  founded in early 2009 and was immediately joined by the most experienced technical experts in the world.

HKBCF Project

Betterground supports China Harbour Engineering Co. with low headroom offshore stone column equipment, site supervision and engineering support on the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facility project, which included over one million linear meters of marine Stone Columns. It is the largest project of its kind in history.

First Project in Dominican Republic

Betterground participates in installing the foundations for the Punta Catalina Power Plant. Bottom Feed stone columns have been installed to 20 m depth using the BC1.

Offshore BF Stone Columns from Jack Up platform

Betterground Marine Gravel Pump equipment installed Offshore Bottom Feed Stone Columns from a Jack-Up Platform in the Port of Ashdod. Three machines worked in parallel on the platform.

Vibro Compaction at Calais, France

Jan De Nul applied a tandem setup of B41 vibroflots to compact a reclamation for the extension of the Port of Calais.

Offshore Vibro Compaction in Monaco

Over 1800 offshore vibro compaction points have been installed with the B41 into an up to 35 m thick rubble fill starting in 20 m water depth.

Amanvari Resort and Hotel, Mexico

During Covid times Betterground mobilized equipment and support personnel from two continents to finish this challenging Vibro Compaction and Stone Column project in time and in budget, in spite of the pandemic.

Work at Kapalama Port, Honolulu, Hawaii

Kiewit used the BD1 Bottom Feed Stone Column equipment with B27 vibroflot on the new Kapalama Port in Honolulu.

First Project in Albania, Porto Vlore

AlbSonda installed up to 30 m deep Bottom Feed stone columns in the Port of Vlore.

Vibro Compaction in Antwerp, Belgium

Jan De Nul used the B41 vibroflot in this fast track project to compact reclaimed sand fill.