Digging Deep, Standing High!

Rapid infrastructural development across residential and commercial sectors are boosting the growth in the global piling machine market. Expansion of the metals and minerals industries, coupled with industrialization is also expected to drive the global piling machine market growth. Equipment Times explores the current market scenario of foundation equipment in India, latest products and solutions offered, Research and Development as well as technological trends, more fuel and energy efficient equipment, safety of the machine, training of the personnel and higher capacity and challenges and suggestions to iron out those bottlenecks in the foundation equipment industry.

Foundation equipment, also known as pile driver equipment, is used to drive piles into soil to provide base support to bridges, buildings and other large infrastructures. A heavy weight is placed between guides allowing it to move up and down in a straight line. Once placed upon a pile, it is raised using diesel or hydraulics. Its components include diesel hammer, hydraulic hammer, hydraulic press-in, vibratory pile driver, piling rig, etc. In traditional foundation equipment, manual labour and animals are used to lift heavy loads. With the advent of new technologies, various methods such as diesel hammer, hydraulic hammer, and hydraulic press-in are used to raise the weights.

Policy paralysis has made a major dent in demand for foundation equipment. A sluggish mood prevails over this industry segment. But the silver lining is that slow times are making construction companies more conscious about productivity and demanding of latest technologies.

The demand for foundation equipment in India is backed by continuous effort for modernisation of infrastructure. Major demand for foundation equipment comes from construction projects such as roads, metro, railway, power plants, special economic zone, mining and water and irrigation sector.

According to a latest study, the growth of Foundation Drilling Machine Market is projected to reach Multimillion USD by 2028, In comparison to 2021, over the next Seven years the Foundation Drilling Machine Market will register a spectacular spike in CAGR in terms of revenue.

An increasing level of construction of roads, railways, and various transportation systems globally is expected to fuel the growth of the market. Additionally, growing construction activities globally from developing regions due to the growth of urbanization and industrialization are the factors bolstering the Piling Machine Market growth.

Applications…

A piling machine is a machine that is used to create heaps or shaft in the ground to support compositional constructions. Piling machines are used to drill through mud, sand, and other types of soil. These machines are employed in the development of water tanks, extensions, structures, and business endeavours, for example, establishment fortification and stomach barriers. A heaping rig is a heaping equipment used in a commercial structure. Its primary application is to bore holes in sandy soil, mud, silty soil, and other types of soil. It is often used in the construction of heaps, stomach barriers, establishment fortification, and other establishment initiatives. Furthermore, it is vital to provide adequate care to the location and arrangement since powerful air might either hurt or displace the machine from its unique position.

The continuous expansion of the construction sector is a crucial revenue growth driving factor for the piling machine market. Significant urbanisation and increased demand for buildings, railroads, and roads have resulted in the global construction sector expanding rapidly. Governments throughout the world are investing in infrastructure and transportation development. In 2016, the Indian government authorised 24 smart cities, two ports, a 1500-kilometer-long six-lane highway, and 23 industrial parks. More efforts of this nature are expected to drive the piling machine market over the forecast period. Rapid infrastructure development in the private, public, and corporate sectors is propelling the piling machine market forward. In recent
years, there has been an increase in underwater piling operations for wind turbine development, which is expected to boost market revenue growth.

High prices and a low replacement rate are major factors impeding revenue development in the worldwide piling machine market. Piling equipment used in building, road, and bridge construction may drill in piles and poles underground to the exact depth necessary. Because these devices are expensive, many contractors opt to acquire older equipment or rent it instead of investing in new technology. Piling machines have a long shelf life and are extremely sturdy for frequent usage. Though the low replacement rate is one of the reasons that would impede future market growth.

Advances in pile placement equipment have the potential to create significant economic possibilities in the worldwide piling machine industry. Foundation equipment manufacturers are now creating technology that can locate foundations using GPS or other terrestrial positioning systems. Furthermore, many types of sensors are employed on crane masts of foundation rigs for foundation element location. As a result of such technical developments, the rig or crane can place the foundation to specific coordinates, lowering the cost of the survey.

Choosing the right foundation equipment…

Every contractor has to buy new equipment, whether because the units he owns don’t fit anymore or because new projects require additional foundation machines. Buying a piling or drilling rig means a serious impact on your budget, though so many comparisons have to be completed in order to purchase the right equipment. We have listed some aspects worth considering below.

The purpose of the job… 

The most important question to be answered is what type of machine is needed. What is the main purpose of the rig you would like to add to your fleet? Depending on these variables, a short list of rigs can be made and more research can be conducted before you make your final decision on purchases. To this end, an exploratory meeting with a sales engineer can be very useful when considering buying new equipment.

Budget…

Although acquiring new foundation equipment means a serious investment, we’d recommend that you look further than the lowest price. Is a brand new machine a must, or do you want to add an overhauled used machine to your fleet? Remember, too, that the purchase price of a rig is not the only cost you have to deal with. Bear in mind the quality of the machine and the condition. In the case of an overhauled machine, remember to check the number of running hours, where the rig is coming from, and what application it was doing – so that you can estimate upcoming service costs.  

Service level…

After you’ve purchased your rig, the expenditures do not stop. After a certain period of time, parts need to be replaced and maintenance has to be planned. Before you buy foundation equipment, have a look at the price and service level of these aspects and try to forecast the future expenses. It’s also relevant to find out the proximity of a service location and the quality of the first line support, as well as service and repair costs.

Industry leaders speak…

D.V. Brahme, Regional Manager, Mait India Foundation Equipment, said, “Though the Indian market for foundation equipment is yet to mature, the process of maturing has slowly started with different & complex projects being undertaken. Some of such projects need & in future will need specific equipment that has not yet found its application in India, like CFA, Soil Mixing etc. However in developed countries there is always a demand for specialized equipment for techniques like Double Head, Deep CFA Piles etc.

Due to its strong technological prowess, MAIT has been at the forefront of manufacturing & supplying tailor made foundation equipment particularly in developed countries for many years. Truck Mounted Piling Rigs, Rigs for mounting on Railway Tracks, Low Head Room rigs, Mini rigs for working in the basements of buildings etc. are some of the examples of specialized equipment being manufactured & supplied by MAIT. Recently, MAIT has expanded its product range by adding MDT Micro Piling & Tunnel Consolidation rigs.

MAIT has also started commercial production of components like Cabins & cowling made of COMPOSITE MATERIAL that is being considered as ‘Steel of the Future.’”

Neeraj Bhatia, SBU Head, Construction Equipment, Eimco Elecon (I), said, “With our aim to remain a step ahead in technology, Eimco Elecon has been a forerunner in providing reliable machines to Indian customers in Mining and Construction Space. We have technical collaboration with CZM, USA, a premier Piling Rig manufacturer & US market leader in foundation drilling rigs for designing our Piling Rigs. Our Rigs are ‘Designed in USA and Made in India. These rigs are designed for High Torque to Weight ratio resulting in Fuel efficiency, fitted with anti-shock mechanism, having 3 rotary speeds for performance in all types of soil & rock strata, unique Kelly Bar design for transferring complete torque to ground effectively. These harvests through R&D gives customers extra savings, reliability in performance and longer life to equipment.”

Hits: 32