Foundation world embraces plenty of innovation

Smooth, fully ground displacement piles allow for faster and more efficient foundations

Olivier NV in Rumbeke is not shy of innovation. The company, founded by Gerdi Venkeirsbilck and now led by his son Dimitry, previously turned the foundation world upside down with the introduction of the now legendary soil displacement screw pile in 1996. In 2017, it obtained a worldwide patent for the screw pile without a lost drill point, equipped with a unique valve system. It also recently launched a new smooth and soil displacement pile, which can be drilled into the ground even more easily, and an automatic coupling for drill pipes. These innovations also quickly found their way to foundation companies worldwide.

Smooth posts for hard and/or unstable ground layers

The new, smooth and cylindrical soil displacement pile allows construction both on less load-bearing and hard soil layers. The pile can be drilled vibration-free and this also through sand layers. For large pipe diameters, the drill head is shorter than usual, causing less friction and the required drilling torque is much lower. Work can therefore be done faster and more efficiently with much less fuel consumption during drilling. The new system has the additional advantage that grout injection becomes unnecessary in hard sand layers. With smaller pile diameters of, for example, 360 mm, larger reinforcement baskets can be placed through the drill pipe. This is because a feed tube of 324 mm is used over the entire length. Numerous comparative tests with existing traditional systems have adequately demonstrated the speed and efficiency of Olivier's new smooth pile system.

Unique valve system with reusable drill tip

Thanks to the unique valve system, the drill point is no longer lost and can be reused every time. The drill tips no longer need to be placed manually, greatly reducing the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. In addition, the reusable drill point provides huge cost savings and less transportation to the construction site, thus also reducing emissions. This can count, considering that in Belgium alone, more than 150,000 soil displacement piles are used every year. 

The patented valves also allow for more precise positioning of the auger. Applying rebar and pouring concrete is a piece of cake. 

Automatic coupling for drill pipes

A further innovation is the new, patented and automatic Olivier coupling, which is mounted under the drill motor. This makes coupling the pipes to the machine faster and safer, and no one has to go upstairs to lock the coupling at high altitude. For ground displacement systems, the coupling can be applied to pipes from 219 to 914 mm. 

The new coupler can also be used for closed concrete systems (for example, with a VDW drill motor), where one can place a full reinforcement cage through the drill pipe. After the drill pipe has been inserted into the ground, it is possible to disconnect, insert a rebar into the drill pipe and reconnect in seconds. The automatic coupler can transfer maximum drilling torque in clockwise and counterclockwise directions and is compatible with all existing Olivier couplers.

Logistical and technical support

Olivier NV offers clients targeted training for drilling the piles through to supervising the drilling crews on site. In case of any problems, it will gladly come on site for the necessary support. The production, maintenance and repairs are done in our own workshop in Rumbeke, where also other foundation accessories are made.