Ground improvement
specialists in Switzerland
Menard offers ground improvement throughout Switzerland, with techniques suitable for a very wide range of ground conditions and project types. Thanks to tailored designs and efficient operations, we can provide innovative turnkey solutions which are faster, more sustainable and more cost-effective than traditional deep foundations.
Ground improvement
specialists in Switzerland
Menard offers ground improvement throughout Switzerland, with techniques suitable for a very wide range of ground conditions and project types. Thanks to tailored designs and efficient operations, we can provide innovative turnkey solutions which are faster, more sustainable and more cost-effective than traditional deep foundations.
About Menard in Switzerland
Menard is a specialist design & build contractor of ground improvement activities, with a reputation for quality, innovation and engineered solutions. We pride ourselves in offering site-specific frugal solutions to contribute to a more sustainable construction industry. Through our local presence in Switzerland and our global experience across the world, we can tackle most geotechnical issues on a project with our wide range of techniques, that can increase the bearing capacity, control or reduce settlements, ensure the stability or mitigate liquefaction.
Menard’s know-how
From design to construction, Menard proposes and implements innovative foundation solutions based on high-performance ground improvement and reinforcement techniques.
Our DNA
Our founder, Louis Ménard, instilled an inspiring entrepreneurial spirit within both the geotechnical community and our company. We strive for technical excellence on every project, maintaining our innovative heritage and prioritizing safety and environment across all our sites. We strongly believe that curiosity, simplicity and a good atmosphere at work are key to the success of all projects.
Sectors
Menard offers a comprehensive range of ground improvement techniques to deliver effective, innovative, and cost-efficient solutions for its clients. Our teams design, build and refurbish all types of highways, railways, buildings, ports, airports, industry, process and energy infrastructure.
Buildings
Ports & Airports
Rail & Road
Process & Energy
Techniques
Menard delivers the full range of ground improvement techniques to provide effective, innovative and economical solutions for its clients. Our teams design, build and refurbish all types of ports, airports, highways, railways, buildings, process and energy infrastructure.
Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC)
Menard developed Controlled Modulus Columns in the 1990s to address the challenges of lateral confinement in highly compressible and organic soils. An extremely versatile technique, CMC rigid inclusion is now used in all types of soil (cohesive or granular) up to 30+ meters deep.
Stone columns
Vibro Stone Columns is a ground improvement technique that reinforces the soil by incorporating stones, to create a composite material made of the VSC & the in-situ ground.
Bi-modulus columns
Bi-Modulus Columns is a ground improvement technique that combines the robustness of a CMC and the flexibility of stone columns.
Soil Mixing
Soil Mixing is a ground improvement technique that reinforces the soil by mixing in situ a network of grout and soil columns.
Jet grouting
Jet Grouting uses fluid jetting with high kinetic energy to break apart and mix the ground with a liquid cement slurry so as to form a column of “soil concrete”. Jet grouting is a flexible technique that can be applied in areas that are difficult to access.
Dynamic compaction
Dynamic Compaction is a very frugal ground improvement technique that densifies the soil by repeatedly dropping from height a high-energy pounder.
Dynamic replacement
Dynamic Replacement is an extension of Dynamic Compaction to cohesive soils, where the crater created by the pounder is filled in with compacted stones to create a network of stone pillars.
Compaction grouting
Compaction Grouting is a combined ground improvement & reinforcement technique that forms inclusions of grout under pressure and densifies the surrounding soil.
Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC)
Rapid Impact Compaction is a shallow ground improvement technique. It densifies the soil using energy waves created from a medium-sized hydraulic hammer dropped at high frequency.
Vibrocompaction
Vibrocompaction is a ground improvement technique that densifies the soil at depth using a vibratory probe. It is mainly used in loose soil or hydraulic fill.
Prefabricated Vertical Drains
Prefabricated Vertical Drains, also know as Wick Drains or Band Drains, consist of a plastic core surrounded by a geotextile that acts as a filter to prevent clogging. They are used to accelerate the consolidation of soft soils, by increasing the in-situ permeability.
Menard Vacuum™
Menard Vacuum™ is a technique invented by Menard and used to accelerate the consolidation of highly compressible soils. The process consists in using the atmospheric pressure to preload the soil, through a network of drains installed under an impervious membrane and connected to a vacuum pumping system.
Some of our projects
Menard delivered a solution of Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) rigid inclusions to support a 5-storey building for the new Cery Psychiatric Hospital in Vaud. CMC were drilled through a 3 to 6 m clay layer from different platform levels following the topography of the existing ground. The CMC installation being non-vibratory, the technique was well suited for this project where the works were being carried out in close proximity to the existing hospital building still in service.
Menard delivered a solution of Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) rigid inclusions to support a 5-storey building for the new Cery Psychiatric Hospital in Vaud. CMC were drilled through a 3 to 6 m clay layer from different platform levels following the topography of the existing ground. The CMC installation being non-vibratory, the technique was well suited for this project where the works were being carried out in close proximity to the existing hospital building still in service.
Menard designed and executed a solution of Vibrocompaction and Vibro Stone Columns (VSC) for the construction of the new Riviera-Chablais Hospital in Rennaz. The combination of these two techniques was used to mitigate the liquefaction risk in the silty and sandy layers down to a depth of 25 m, allowing then to reduce the length of the piles supporting the building from 35 m to approximately 20 m. This resulted in significant cost, programme and carbon savings on the overall project.
CONTACT US
Are you looking for a cost-effective and sustainable solution for the foundations of your project in Switzerland? Please reach out to us through our contact form below. Our team will get back to you swiftly with more information and answer any questions you may have.
CONTACT US
Are you looking for a cost-effective and sustainable solution for the foundations of your project in Switzerland? Please reach out to us through our contact form below. Our team will get back to you swiftly with more information and answer any questions you may have.