Jan De Nul invests in two Starfish generation 3 machines

In January 2024, Jan De Nul purchased two new Hitachi ZX890LCH-7 excavators, of the Starfish-3 type.

The technical teams at Jan De Nul and Luyckx Special Applications combined 12 years of practical experience to develop and build a completely revamped third generation of Starfish machines.

The development of this Starfish Generation 3 presented complex challenges. The focus was on rapid mobilisation and demobilisation, the lowest possible weight and six additional hydraulic functions. These requirements were at the heart of the engineering process.

After 15 months of intensive engineering and construction, both machines were ready for transport in April 2025.

In an impressive logistical operation involving 18 trucks, the machines were delivered to their first project: the THOR wind farm project in Denmark, where they will be used to bury three 275 kV HVAC cables and associated data transmission infrastructure.

A piece of customisation in which mobility, efficiency and innovation are key.