Piling contractor Franki Foundations is enjoying success on major projects.

Franki Foundations UK is one of the UK’s leading piling contractors, having extensive capability in CFA, rotary bored, restricted access, large diameter, and mini piling. 

Franki UK is well known for its ability to value engineer large scale projects using a variety of piling methods and bespoke equipment.

The firm’s acquisition of Martello Piling has strengthened its experience and enabled further exploration of innovative approaches to its clients’ foundation challenges. 

Significantly, this has allowed Franki UK to solidify its ability to deliver large-scale major piling projects, including its involvement at 1 Sherwood Street, Greenwich Pumping Station and several high-end hotel developments.

“2019 has been a great year for Franki UK due to our involvement in several flagship projects and a strong forward order book” Dan Hutchings, Major Projects Director.

Martello has recently mobilised in the basement of the buildings behind the famous Piccadilly Lights building, which will be redeveloped to offer residential, commercial and retail space.

Martello has worked closely with Erith Contractors to overcome the logistical challenges this site presents, including stripping the bespoke MP4004 rig to allow it to be lifted into the basement.  Working with as little as 3.5m of headroom, the team is installing piles of 750mm, 900mm and 1050mm diameter to depths up to 38m below platform level. Many of these include plunge columns. The Martello solution has allowed significant programme savings to be realised due to concurrent demolition, enabling and piling activities.

Over the past few months Martello has been installing piles for the 25km Thames Tideway Tunnel  Super Sewer. Martello installed an 850mm diameter secant wall, adjacent to a Grade II listed pumping station, the Docklands Light Railway and the Thames. This area of the site was subject to stringent loading restrictions which were not suited to standard rotary bored piling rigs. Martello was able to offer options which complied with the allowable bearing pressures and gross weight of plant and equipment.

Over the past 12 months Martello has launched two new bespoke   rigs; the MP4004 and MP6002. Both follow the company’s philosophy of producing rigs with a compact tail swing. 

The MP4004 is well suited to working within restricted access and low headroom environments. It can construct 1050mm diameter piles to 40m deep and is well suited  to working in basements, under existing bridges, overhead power lines and on top of structures sensitive to additional loading. 

The MP6002 is the largest in Martello’s fleet. With the ability to construct 1500mm diameter piles it offers a lighter weight and a reduced headroom working option.

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