ECO-FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT:

The construction industry is looking to a more sustainable future with cleaner and greener solutions being implemented with net zero targets in sight. However, with electrification looking to be a key trend going forward in 2023, piling equipment is also exploring other ways to adapt to more eco-friendly practices.

Hydraulic hammers are looking to take the lead in more eco-friendly equipment as they gradually replace diesel hammers. Hydraulic impact pile hammers are a more updated variation of the diesel impact hammer, however the hydraulic hammer releases no exhaust fumes and also has a significantly lower noise level.

In early 2022, Britain’s new high speed rail network, HS2, trialled and installed 40 Hiper Piles. The innovation combines a number of technological breakthroughs to deliver the first major change in the piling industry for over 70 years!

Hiper Piles claim environmentally friendly qualities by cutting embedded carbon emissions in half. Instead of using solid concrete foundation piles, Hyper Piles uses recyclable hollow ones, created from a steel waste product that lowers the carbon-intensive cement content by up to 70%.

Many equipment leaders are looking towards electrification on the road to net zero and piling equipment is no different. In October 2021, Finnish company Junttan premiered the world’s first electric pile driving rig. In the coming years, Junttan will be heavily investing in a completely new generation of electric rig models which are currently in development. This all gives the impression that the electrification of piling equipment is on the rise in 2023.

Intelligent Pile Driving Equipment

Today, businesses are looking to develop an intelligent pile driving system to bring efficiency in their equipment. For this, the hammer energy is regulated in real-time by measuring a range of variables including vibrations and sound levels. By measuring these levels, operators can see which methods need to be altered to decrease the energy consumption of the equipment.

PRESS-IN PILING

Press-in piling is poised to be a new adapted method of piling this year. Press-in piling installs sheet piles that don’t have the same noise and vibration issues as hammering or vibratory piling, therefore providing a noise and vibration free method of installing piling.

VACUUM EVACUATION (ZERO TRIM) PILING

Traditional concrete piling has significant health and safety risks for workers due to concrete being overpoured and the excess concrete then having to be broken out. The ‘zero trim’ method, involves sucking out the excess concrete while it is still wet. This means the zero trim method uses less concrete, and the extracted concrete is used and repurposed elsewhere on site. This not only giving an eco-friendlier approach, but also a saving on costs.

TECHNOLOGY:

In this modern-day, digital technologies are essential. Implementing up-to-date technologies in piling machines is likely to be a new trend in 2023 and over the coming years. Manufacturers are putting more effort into developing intelligent pile driving systems, to not only make their equipment more efficient, but also to give consumers more safety and dependability.

These technologies include Wi-Fi and advanced monitoring and control systems, allowing the operator to stay in control of the piling process at all times. Immediate data systems (IoT) also allow for instant feedback, ensuring operators can monitor any unstable movement and prevent equipment damages, ensuring a more efficient process. n