49
june 2014
international
construction
FOUNDATIONS
Piling it on
If youwant to build big you start deep.
SarahMcCay
takes a closer look at new
foundation products and how they can
help speed up the construction process
Piling
it on
F
oundations are a crucial part of any development. But
choosing the right approach and the right equipment is
a fine art.What a contractor wants is a good bearing on
solid ground – but rarely does the ground offer up a perfectly
solid platform fromwhich to start.
Knowing the quality of what lies beneath is half the battle.
Then it is down to choosing the right tools for the job.
With the whole development literally relying on it, getting
the foundation wrong is a costly business. However, today’s
modernmachinerymeans that foundations canbebuilt quickly,
efficiently, andmost importantly, strongly.
Pile drivers
Piling rig technology is advancing, as manufacturers produce
machines to install foundations deeper and faster than ever.
>
Finnish piling equipment company Junttan introduced three
new additions to its X-Series pile driving rig family earlier this
year. The new models, carrying the nickname J-reX, are the
PMx26, PMx27 and PMx28, have maximum leader capacities
of 20, 23 and 25 tonnes and maximum pile lengths of 24 m,
25m and 28m. According to themanufacturer, thismakes the
PMx28 the biggest and strongest complete, purpose-built pile
drivingmachine ever built.
Junttan has redeveloped the whole basic structure and
component layout of its X-Series for the PMx26-28machines,
including overhauling the hydraulic system, to make the
machinesmore economical.
Thepiledrivers arealsomoreeco friendly too.Newoperational
efficiencies mean that the J-reX family offers reduced emissions
alongside lower fuel consumption. For example, a new post-
compensated and load sensing hydraulic system saves a litre per
hour compared to traditional hydraulic systems. The PMx26-
28 machines can also be fitted with Tier 4 certified Cummins
engines to further decrease emissions.
Italianmanufacturer Soilmec added three newTier 4 drilling
rigs to its catalogue earlier this yearwith the launchof its SR-45,
SR-75 and SM-17models.
The SR-45 and SR-75, both hydraulic drilling rigs, are
designed for large diameter drilling of cased or uncased bore
Trevi Foundations
Kuwait isworking
on the construction
of the Jamal Abdul
Nasser Street in
Kuwait City.
ABSP CX110 hydraulic
piling hammer with a
HP125 power pack and
9-tonne dropweight,
is being used to drive
piles for a rail viaduct
over the river Qued
Sebou inMorocco.
