Soilmec SR-125 HIT drilling rig delivers solid foundations in Frankfurt

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The drilling rig SR-125 HIT is currently the flagship of the Soilmec range. Engineered to be multifunctional and technology-adaptable, the SR-125 HIT is built with robust and accurate design to face the most challenging jobsite conditions. The Four Frankfurt project was certainly a good job-site to test the rig performance. Piles were drilled in a difficult and overburden soil that stretches over pre-existing foundations. Silty clay, sand and several rock layers are the main geological components. The segmental casing technology, where piles are driven directly by the rotary head, were here employed. The foundation piles obtained through the Soilmec SR-125 HIT are performed at a depth ranging between 36 and 40 m, with diameter of 1500 mm and 2000 mm. Furthermore, the foundation piles in addition to their static function of supporting the structure are used for ecological heating and cooling of the building. In fact, the armature cages were installed complete with geothermal probes which act as close circuit heat exchangers. The SR-125 HIT is a multi-purpose drilling rig designed to deliver maximum return on investment and was based on the concepts of efficiency, power, performance and flexibility. The new mast and the new rotary ensure the best weight-to-performance ratio. The operator’s cab was designed to offer maximum comfort and ease of use to increase productivity. The drilling rig comply the most recent safety standard: platforms with vertical guards, mirrors and video cameras so the operator can control the area around the rig 360°, 10 lux lighting for night operation, as well as a new 470 kW engine meeting Tier 4 Final requirements. The Soilmec team came up with special technical solutions to give this model the competitive edge as regards noise impact. The SR-125 HIT rig has been designed with a continuous improvement approach to noise reduction through the use of radiators equipped with fan speed control, sound-absorbing and heat-resistant materials for applications in the engine area, an increased attention paid to air flows and the other parts subject to vibrations, as well as the use of coffers made of plastic material and hence better capable to muffle the noise. The combination of all these solutions and measures has led to an excellent result in terms of noise containment, with a guaranteed LwA of 109 dB and an LpA in the cabin of 78 dB. This feature is crucial when working in a metropolitan centre area like the Frankfurt central business district.