Foundation Problems?

Branlows specialise in providing solutions to foundation problems piling, drilling, grouting and ground anchors.  Our mini piling expertise helps overcome difficult operational conditions including restricted access, low and limited headroom, environmental restrictions and difficult ground.  Over the years, we have been involved with many national and international companies in providing expertise and practical knowledge.

Branlows was formed in 1981 and for the past two decades has been involved with many national and international organisations in providing expertise and knowledge to find answers to a multitude of foundation problems.  Our Engineers will investigate a problem, review the limitations and options, recommend what action to take and then implement it. The company is always willing to discuss which foundation methods may be appropriate to your particular foundation problems.

We believe our respected name is founded on impressive project management experience, highly skilled engineers, a quality management system to ISO 9001 and expert product knowledge. This goes together with a first class service, a strict and professional health and safety system which meets CDM regulations and by keeping up-to-date with equipment and geotechnical developments. We have in-house chartered engineers who can provide a complete design package for clients. The result is a top quality job and satisfied customers.  We give practical and realistic advice to a multitude of clients - engineers, builders and civil engineering contractors, developers, commercial and industrial companies. Our expertise is in driven, augered and drilled piling and grouting, stabilising of mineral workings and slabs, ground anchors and soil nails.  Within this site you will see some of the high quality equipment we own and use and the varied work we can undertake in different sectors.

Quality Assured

In 1992 Branlows became the first mini piling contractor in the UK to achieve ISO 9001.  This assures clients that procedures covering all our company's specialist activities are in place to ensure a high quality of work.  Our system is regularly audited by the BSI.

In house design team : We are proud of the dedicated design service we provide for clients and their professional teams, who find it invaluable, particularly at the feasibility stage.  Our chartered engineers have a wealth of experience, skill and practical knowledge for designing solutions to foundation problems. Because the designers are in-house, it means that the technical calculations and design of projects are prepared by the people who will actually be supervising the job.  In order to pass the industry's strict regulations, all our calculations and design procedures are quality assured, certified by the BSI mark.

Training : We have a directly employed workforce who are fully trained and certified to CITB standards, conforming with current CITB regulations.  We are also proud to be assisting the Construction Industry Training Board in the development of a recognised NVQ for our specialist sector.  In 1997 Branlows was approached by the CITB to help develop specific areas of operative training.  We have assisted with the development of NVQ levels 2 and 3 in underpinning and piling.  20 mini piling operatives were placed on a training programme involving regular appraisals and assessment against a profile developed jointly by Branlows and the CITB.  This year our personnel have been the first in the UK to achieve an NVQ level 2 training standard for minipiling.  We also undertake in-house training at Branlows through weekly tool box talks and specifically arranged seminars, both on and off the premises, covering topics such as welding/burning, materials handling and Health and Safety. Tool box talks are often held on-site so that trainees gain hands on experience.  Our close links with the CITB has established Branlows at the forefront of employee training and commitment to personnel development.

Partnerships : Branlows believe it is our pro-active approach with clients, engineers and main contractors, together with our expertise in both design and construction, which enables us to devise economical solutions to a multitude of foundation problems.  As part of our commitment to our clients, we produce a Branlows Bulletin periodically throughout the year, keeping you informed of our recent commissions and projects, which reflect our diversity and skill.

Refurbishment : Clients are demanding more and more from their existing facilities which often results in the need for internal structural alterations.  Foundations upgrading, repair or renewal is often required to cater for new or additional loads.  Branlows' solutions are often employed on buildings still in use, such as hotels, hospitals, sports centres, petrochemical plants and fuel stations. There are usually stringent working conditions to adhere to on projects such these including health and safety, environmental, noise and vibration.

New Build : Branlows have successfully worked on many contaminated sites and can monitor vibration and dust emissions to ensure compliance with any environmental constraints.  Where there is difficult access, restricted headroom or problem ground, then the use of our techniques is often the only viable way of providing a solution. Our plant and equipment have low mobilisation costs which give us an immediate advantage over larger CFA and precast type piling rigs.  Our equipment does not need expensive site preparation and in most cases we provide the finished pile cut-off at formation level, saving the the main contractor expensive pile trimming and disposal costs. Consequently even on open sites, our solutions can be very competitive.  Our systems have been of particular benefit to developers and contractors on housing sites where soft ground, old ponds, clay pits or infilled basements have been encountered. On countless sites, our mini piling systems have been employed to provide a more economic solution than conventional foundations.

Infrastructure : Branlows have successfully completed a variety of railway, road, river and telecommunications projects where small mobile rigs are vital to overcome difficult operational conditions and health, safety and environmental requirements.  Particularly specialised equipment is necessary on sensitive sites. Our equipment is capable of installing drilled, driven and augered piles, together with soil nails and ground anchors.  We are acutely aware that the number of piles used in a job can be reduced by the use of bottom driven piling, resulting in a saving against the more traditional precast and bored piling methods, where there are high mobilisation and other associated costs.  Recent projects include a variety of railway contracts for bridge  abutments and other structures using drilled mini piles, driven and augered piles.  The various Branlows systems are often less costly, less time consuming and more environmentally sensitive.

Branlows undertake work in the following areas

drilled mini piling : restricted access piling : subsidence remediation : limited headroom piling : auger bored mini piling : auger piled foundations : bottom driven drop hammer piling : drilled and rock socketed piling : foundation piles : foundation upgrades : piled foundations