Long Reach Telescopic Leader Rig Piling

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd is the pioneer of long reach rig piling, having designed and introduced the world’s first long reach telescopic leader rig.

Long reach piling is now an established methodology, but one only carried out in the UK by Sheet Piling UK. The Company has sole rights to long reach piling equipment, which was developed in partnership with ABI Equipment Ltd, the world’s leading rig manufacturer. Our highly advanced and unique rigs highlight our status as the UK’s leading sheet pile installation specialist.

Long reach sheet pile installation was introduced in 2018, following the arrival of our pioneering ABI TM12/15 LR rig. This has an 8.1m horizontal reach (when measured from the centre of the slew ring to the pile line) – a full three metres more than any comparable rig in the world. This unique facet remains a feature of our second long reach rig – the ABI TM20 LR, which joined the extensive inventory of plant owned by Sheet Piling UK in September 2021.

Innovative Long Reach Telescopic Leader Rig Piling on the M62
Long Reach Telescopic Leader Rig Piling for the Smart Motorway Widening Scheme

 

Advantages of long reach rigs

Our unique, patented state-of-the-art long reach rigs have delivered millions of pounds of savings to UK projects, including those involving highway infrastructure widening and HS2 rail infrastructure improvement and creation. By virtue of their huge reach, the rigs remove the need for extensive enabling works and the buildings of temporary structures and platforms, otherwise required so as to be able to work at the desired pile line. This avoids many frustrations associated with costs and logistics. Subject to the right circumstances, Sheet Piling UK’s long reach rigs can stand on the existing carriageway or surface and easily reach the piling line.

This saves Tier-1 contractors from incurring weeks of delay and keeps a tight control over budgets. It also disrupts less of the natural environment and cuts down on the amount of works traffic entering and leaving a site. On some occasions, projects can actually be delivered ahead of time, thanks to the involvement of a long reach rig.

Attributes of Sheet Piling UK’s long reach rigs

Despite having revolutionised sheet piling installation through the creation of the TM12/15 LR, Sheet Piling UK did not stand still. It evaluated where the long reach rig could become enhanced, for use in slightly different scenarios at times, and this process led to the development of the ABI TM20 LR.

 

The state-of-the-art ABI TM20 LR has:

  • a maximum driven and extracted pile length of 20 metres
  • a maximum below platform driving depth of 3.4 metres
  • a Euro Stage-V emission standard engine
  • ABI’s Efficiency Drive System to ensure fuel optimisation and low emissions
  • MRZV 30VV variable moment, variable frequency vibratory hammer
  • a heavy-duty hydraulically extendable undercarriage with unique infrastructure mode, to allow for easier working in restricted access areas
  • remote control unloading and loading function, to allow the operator to rig and de-rig with unhindered visibility on the ground
  • hydraulic rapid-changing docking station, avoiding the need to work at height and ensuring the timely interchanging of machine attachments
  • 900mm wide track-pads, to reduce ground bearing pressure
  • additional, vertically stacked counterweights for enhanced stability
  • a maximum load capacity of 10t in long reach mode
  • an extraction force of 180kN

 

Our advanced ABI TM12/15 long reach rig has:

  • a maximum driven and extracted pile length of 16 metres
  • a maximum vertical reach of 3.9 metres
  • Euro Stage IV-emission standard engine
  • crowd force of 100kN
  • extraction force of 175kN
  • powerful MRZV 20VV vibratory hammer
  • reduced track bearing pressures due to hydraulically extendable undercarriage
  • enhanced operator visibility
Sheet Piling Works
A19 Road Improvement Scheme

 

Projects benefiting from the use of long reach piling

Projects that benefit from long reach piling are found within four main areas: Ports and Harbours; Rail Infrastructure; Road Infrastructure; Commercial and Residential Construction.

Where it is necessary to strengthen or replace an existing quay, a traditional methodology would be that of using floating marine plant and carrying out conventional piling. This is both time-consuming and expensive. Using the TM20 LR, the piling can be carried out from the shore, saving costs and offering the enhanced safety benefits of land-based piling.

In rail projects, where an embankment requires stabilisation, all of the extensive enabling works can typically be avoided, simply by allowing a long-reach rig to handle the required piling. Impressive programme and cost savings can then be enjoyed. During 2022, our TM20 LR has been working on various new HS2 contracts, on the northern, central and southern sections.

When it comes to infrastructure widening and work taking place around embankments or cuttings, there is no requirement for temporary platforms to be constructed, as the long reach rigs can work from the existing carriageway. The original cost savings of using the TM 12/15 LR for such works were calculated to be between £40,000 and £60,000, on a typical 100-metre sheet pile wall installation. With all of the price increases that have affected raw materials since then, the savings in 2022 are even greater.

Commercial and residential construction projects similarly benefit from programme and cost savings, as enabling works can also be avoided within many of these projects. When costs need to be kept under control and projects delivered on time, or ahead of schedule, a long reach rig is a huge ally.

To discover more about our long reach rigs and how they could assist your project, please contact us on 01772 794141 or email enquiries@sheetpilinguk.com


Long Reach Piling Projects


Useful Downloads

ABI TM 20 LR Long Reach Leader Rig
ABI TM 12/15H Long Reach Leader Rig