Piles : piled foundations and mini piling contractors

Branlows, restricted access piling, limited headroom mini-piling and piled foundation contractors specialise in providing solutions to foundation problems.  Our piling  expertise helps overcome difficult operational conditions whilst  undertaking  mini-piling, drilling, grouting and ground anchor contracts.  Difficult operational conditions include, restricted access, 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 recently employed by main contractor Carillion on behalf of Railtrack on the strategic West Coast main line.  This was another substantial piled foundation project we have been awarded in the railway industry, involving a piling contract worth around  £430,000.  The restricted access foundation piling contract for work at Float Viaduct, Carstairs, near Glasgow, involved the installation of around 300 mini-piles in three column bases for the foundations of a new railway bridge over the River Clyde, in extremely difficult working conditions.  Branlows had to provide a more sophisticated foundation piling solution than originally intended due to the many ground obstructions, restricted access and limited headroom restrictions encountered on site.  Working conditions proved  extremely difficult, as Branlows mini piling operatives were working on the foundation piling underneath a live railway bridge on a platform in the middle of the River Clyde.  The piled foundations for the new bridge involved closed ended steel cased piles of  273mm diameter.  These achieved by adopting a multi-stage driving operation.  The site has proved extremely challenging.  Limited headroom, in places, headroom was less than 4m, making it difficult to manoeuvre people and mini piling drilling rigs.  Access to the site was also highly restricted with live tracks above and water below.  Three separate work areas were available, on both sides and in the middle of the River Clyde.  Similarly, environmental concerns were high, as the Clyde is one of the best game fishing rivers in Scotland.  This contract enhances Branlows reputation in the infrastructure sector,  especially within the railway industry.  During the last eighteen months alone, Branlows has been awarded approximately twenty Railtrack contracts around the country.

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 problems.