Iconic Wave hot-water technology finds a home in Friesland: Weedwinner 3.0 opts for controlled entrepreneurship |
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| GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY |
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Not the machine, but the concept determines practical success and return on investment
After the disappearance of Wave and Heatweed, sensor-controlled hot-water technology for weed control seemed to slowly fade from view. In practice, however, the technology remained alive, thanks to parties that ensured maintenance, parts supply and knowledge retention. In Friesland, the iconic technology is now entering a new phase. Under the name Weedwinner Sensor Series 3.0, DEM Leeuwarden and Wave veteran Henk van de Haar are continuing to develop the machine.
| A photo from the archives: Heatweed Sensor 2.0 in 2017 during a Stad + Groen demo day |
Henk van de Haar was responsible for production at both Wave and Heatweed and, together with his team, was involved at the drawing board for the Wave 1.0 in 2004 and later the Heatweed 2.0 in 2014. After manufacturer Heatweed disappeared, his role mainly focused on maintaining sourcing, or in plain English, the supply of parts. He made sure that the complex, often specific parts remained available. That kept the technical heart of the machines intact, even when new construction was no longer possible. 'I hear so often from contractors that they can make good money with a Heatweed machine,' says Van de Haar.
 | | Willem Hellinga during a podcast about his plans |
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Sourcing
The availability of parts was and remains crucial to keep existing machines operational. Many components are not standard and require specific knowledge of suppliers and assembly. By keeping that sourcing, the parts supply, intact, machines at contractors and municipalities can remain in operation, even when there is no longer a manufacturer. Machines that are already ten years old or more are still used intensively every day thanks to that support line.
Practical experience as a foundation
On the user side, responsibility lay with various mechanisation companies. As managing director of DEM bv, Willem Hellinga was responsible for keeping a large fleet of Wave and Heatweed machines operational, both sales and rental machines. This was done through maintenance, service and refurbishment. DEM was not the only party involved. Other mechanisation companies as well, including Bruntink in Voorst and D.T.H. Mechanisatie in Hendrik Ido Ambacht, kept customers' machines running and in doing so safeguarded their practical deployability.
 | | Henk van de Haar |
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According to Hellinga, it is important that the technology is positioned in the right way. 'You should not sell these machines as just a machine.' There is a concept behind it. If you understand that, both as a dealer and as a contractor, it remains fantastic technology that, in my view, can still guarantee the lowest price per square metre.'
Phased reintroduction with Weedwinner 3.0
With Weedwinner Sensor Series 3.0, that accumulated knowledge is now being used for new construction. The machine is based on the familiar Wave 2.0, but has been technically modified in areas that proved vulnerable in the past. Components have been made more robust, the machine is more accessible for maintenance and built lighter. The basis remains recognisable, but with further development based on years of practical experience. Completely new is that the machines can also optionally handle hot-water intake. Weedwinner is focusing on realistic CO2 reduction with this, which is what the market is asking for.
The reintroduction is deliberately being handled in a controlled way. In 2026, Van de Haar and DEM want to build four completely new machines. In 2027, that number should be doubled. The market appears to be there. In the Netherlands, quotations have already been issued and Scandinavia and the German-speaking countries are also being considered. No rapid scaling up, but controlled entrepreneurship, with service and knowledge of the technology as the starting point.
This article was previously published on 3 March 2026 on the Stad
+ Groen website.
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