Development of New “Handling System” Attachment That Improves the Efficiency of Hard Ground Press-in Under Limited Overhead Clearance

GIKEN LTD. (Head Office: Kochi-shi, Kochi; President and CEO: Atsushi Ohira) has developed a new Handling System model AM100B compatible with the SILENT PILER™ F Series of hydraulic pile press-in and extraction machines (hereinafter “press-in machines”).

Handling System is an attachment that allows the safe and efficient conduct of tasks—including the hoisting of a pile auger or connecting and disconnecting of a casing—when applying the Hard Ground Press-in Method^* under limited overhead clearance, such as during construction under a bridge. In general, an overhead clearance of at least 11 m is required when using cranes, but using Handling System reduces the requirement to 7 m, expanding the scope of application.

The new model comes with a significant improvement in safety, including a function that safely stops when it automatically detects an overload of the hoisting device; the addition of movable guardrails to prevent accidental entry; elimination of slinging at heights; and a function that prevents excessive tensioning of the wire rope sling.

Amid efforts on infrastructure life extension and national resilience, it is expected that there will be a further increase in construction with limited overhead clearance, such as seismic reinforcement of aging bridges and riverbank protection work under bridges. Going forwards, besides the development of the flagship SILENT PILER™ series of machines, GIKEN will also work on launching auxiliary equipment that create favourable conditions for various construction sites and strive to expand the market for the press-in method.

* By coupling pile press-in with augering by the pile auger installed on a GIKEN press-in machine, this is a method that allows the press-in method to be applied on hard ground. Unlike other methods, this method can reduce construction time and cost as press-in and augering can be carried out using a single machine.

The Hard Ground Press-in Method using Handling System is a method for GTOSS™ members. Please refer to the website of GIKEN for details regarding GTOSS™ membership.
https://www.giken.com/en/products/gtoss/

Handling System comprises the handling device and handling base as well as the stocker.

Handling device:
With mechanisms for moving up, down, forwards, backwards, and rotating, this is a device that hoists and moves the pile auger from the stocker to the chuck.

Handling base:
This is a part that connects the handling device to the press-in machine. It has stages that can move up and down for carrying out casing connection work.

Stocker:
This is a device that stores the casings required for pile jointing and rotates them.

An overload prevention device is a safety device that prevents damage to a machine due to overload. Based on input signals from a detection device, dangerous actions are stopped, and an alarm is sounded.

▶ Movable guardrails to prevent accidents
The movable guardrails prevent falls and caught-between accidents, such as when there are gaps due to differences in the heights of stages, or when working with the stage on one side removed.

■Profile of GIKEN Group
GIKEN developed the SILENT PILER™, the world’s first reaction-based, non-vibratory hydraulic pile driving machine that operates with minimal noise impacts. The GIKEN Group now actively promotes its press-in technology worldwide and contributes to the construction industry by proposing and implementing innovative solutions. The innovative press-in technology provides a unique solution and the adoption of this technology has spread to over 40 nations and regions.