An answer for every driving range

100% Belgian, innovative and now plug-and-play

There are two ways to develop a new product: you spend years on research, have expensive engineering firms run simulations and outsource production. Or you do it like Yves van den Bosch of VDB Technics with a good idea, a strong team and a firm hands-on mentality. This is how the Drop-Pit Small was born, which went from sketch to functional prototype in one year. Made in Belgium, but ready for the world.

The Drop-Pit Small is the youngest member of the Drop-Pit family, relieving driving ranges of manual ball picking. Like the other systems, it works seamlessly with Belrobotics“ ballpickers. ”I am not a golfer myself,“ admits the business manager. ”But I have been walking around golf courses for years. And that's where the idea for the Drop-Pit originated. I saw Belrobotics‘ ballpicker at work, but I noticed that a link was missing. The balls were being collected, but had nowhere to go and so still had to be picked up manually at their collection point.’ Thus was born Drop-Pit, a system as ingenious as it is simple. It forms a collection point where the ball picker 'drops' the golf balls and where - depending on the system chosen - they are washed, transported and redistributed.

Drop-Pit Small: small in size, big in vision

Previously, there were the Drop-Pit Standard, Drop-Pit Light and Drop-Pit XL. Chances are you have already seen them, as VDB Technics“ systems can be found on almost every driving range in the Benelux. ”The Drop-Pit Small is designed for the more compact driving ranges,“ explains van den Bosch. ”The system consists of a collection tray, washing system and vertical conveyor."

What is new is the ‘plug-and-play principle’. “The installation is foolproof and easy to commission. Connect electricity and rainwater, bury the collector and the Drop-Pit Small is operational.” 

Locally developed, internationally scalable

The simplicity of the Drop-Pit Small is no accident. Whereas the larger models are installed by VDB Technics itself, this model is intended as a turnkey package for export. “With the Small, we want to go to markets like Germany, Austria, America and Australia. Then you have to offer a foolproof system that customers can install themselves,” says van den Bosch.

Development was done entirely in-house. No long preliminary studies, but trial-and-error and a good dose of hands-on mentality. “We are a small company, but with great people. Almost everyone worked on the prototype over the past year,” the business manager says proudly. “This is how we work quickly, efficiently and keep everything local. Values that we also find with our partner Belrobotics.” That cooperation with Belrobotics is remarkably close. “Thanks to fortnightly R&D meetings, we ensure optimal integration. There are short lines of communication and that feels good. Soon we will also link our system to their app, so users will see error messages or blockages immediately on their smartphone,” says van den Bosch.

Drop-Pit for the whole market

Above ground, underground, with vacuum technology or a conveyor belt: there is a Drop-Pit solution for every driving range, ball rotation and budget. Drop-Pit Standard: with buried collection tray, underground vacuum conveyor system up to 100 metres, washing line and distributor. Drop-Pit XL: for areas with ball rotation of more than 50,000 balls. Combine with a manual raper for optimum efficiency. Drop-Pit Light: practical solution without underground transport system or washing function, but with simple conveyor belt. Drop-Pit Small: the latest variant, with its greatest advantage being the plug-and-play principle that allows more compact driving ranges to get started quickly and efficiently by themselves. 

“With these four variants, we cover all needs in the market. The fact that we are unique in our technology and fully in control of our production is a nice bonus for everyone,” van den Bosch concludes.