Technology

How are Screwpiles Installed

Using powerful rotary hydraulics fitted to earthmoving machinery screwpiles are wound into the ground, much like giant self tapping screws into wood. The machinery used needs to be compatible with:

  • Screwpile design capacities 
  • CHS shaft sectional lengths
  • Site access limitations (height/width)
  • Soil profile and site ground conditions
  • Screwpile shaft torsional capacities
  • Minimum installation torque requirements
  • Allowable positioning tolerance
As a general guide the machines listed below are used for the following applications:
 
Bobcats (skidsteer loaders)
Used for small pile installations such as restricted access sites or underpinning works and where high volume, small capacity screwpiling projects such as mining accommodation villages etc. require fast installation. Our bobcat is fitted with an extension boom enabling installation of sectional lengths of up to 3.5m. Ideal for sites with low headroom clearances and accessways as small as 1.6m. Pile load capacities of up to 80kN can be accommodated. Our bobcats are also used as pile feeders (see QWIK-LOAD) through to our larger equipment, enabling incredibly high rates of pile installations per day.
 
Mini Excavators, 5 and 7.5 tonne (rubber track)
Used for small to medium screwpile capacities of up to 400kN. Our mini-excavators are fitted with extension booms allowing for up to single sectional installation lengths of up to 6.0m. These machines are perfect for domestic and small to medium size industrial projects or for lighting, signage and grouped pile applications. All our mini excavators are adapted for our QWIK-LOADER systems.
 
Excavators 25 and 30 tonne (steel track)
Used for large pile installations such as multi-storey buildings, large capacity commercial and industrial projects, power and communications transmission towers, mining conveyors, pipelines, bridges and jetties. Suitable for pile load capacities of up to 1500kN. These machines are fitted with extension booms allowing for single sectional installation lengths of up to 10m. These machines are adapted to suit our patented QWIK-LOAD system, enabling a single machine to install up to 100 x 600kN x 7.0m screwpiles in a single day.
 
GPS-Robots (rubber track)
Currently under development is STG's remote-controlled GPS based robotic installation machine, the first of its kind in the world. The patent-pending prototype is due for completion in March 2011, with field trials expected to be completed and ready for service by April 2011. When completed, the GPS robotic system will offer many procedural and speed advantages over standard installation methods. Just another example of our technically superior screwpiling system.
 
QWIK-Load® and QWIK-Connect® - Screwpile Loading and Driving Systems
Screwpile's engineers have developed a new and revolutionary patent pending QWIK-Connect® screwpiles, loading system, driving system and building interface attaching bracket system.  QWIK-Connect® and QWIK-Load® products and systems include:
  • screwpiles with a redeveloped driving mechanism
  • a newly developed screwpile loading system
  • a newly developed building interface clamping bracket
Over two years of fine tuning products and systems has culminated an a system that is 3 to 4 times faster than existing industry and conventional methods.  Field trials are now complete and QWIK-Connect® products are in roduction and the new QWIK-Connect® drive-tools are currently being implemented in the field.
 
Note: Screwpiles can be installed to depths in excess of 30m by adding spliced pile extensions.