Equipment selection based upon application

Strictly speaking, from the range of hammers and vibrators that APE have available, the actual selection of equipment depends more on pile type.  That stated, the following provides a good guide of where to look on this site for equipment that is more commonly used in a given application,

Waterways

This heading covers applications such as erosion control, bank retention, scour protection and flood alleviation.  The main criteria for selection tends to be based upon the fact that many locations are restricted in terms of the size of excavator that can gain access.  Therefore, it is more common for smaller products to be more popular.

This is compounded by the fact that the majority of waterways applications either use light trench sheeting or plastic piling. 

The following are the more popular items hired into a waterways application:

Air Hammers - specifically APE Mini Hammers

For more information on these products click here

Excavator mounted vibrators - specifically the EMV70

For more information on this product please click here

HT500 & HT1000 Hammertech Impact Technology - Usually the modified HT Series or Powerblow.

For more information on these products click here

Temporary Works

This application tends to concentrate on trench sheeting, but typically heavy gauge sheets, and more frequently for deeper applications Steel Piling.   This is reflected in the type of equipment normally employed, this being the larger air hammers, and the larger excavator mounted vibrator, the EMV300 or MS4.

Due to the temporary nature within the application, vibrators are typically more popular as they can drive and extract sheets, and are substantially quieter.  The latter is important in residential areas.  Air hammers tend to occupy a fall back position, due to noise, and are often used when the ground consists of dense clay or compact granular soils.  Often, a vibrator will still be employed first and the air hammer used to back drive the piles to depth.

The Excavator Mounted Vibrator - EMV300

For information on this type of piling equipment click here.

The larger air hammers e.g. The BSP 600N

For information on this type of product please click here

Cut-off Walls

This is a relatively new application for sheet piling, and is more applicable due to the increased use of plastic and composite piling.  The products used here tend to use the excavator mounted vibrators complete with some form of sleeve, cap or mandrel.

For information on our range of vibratory pile drivers, please click here

For information on available mandrels for plastic piling click here