Pilar
Groundbreaking technology for the installation of screw pile foundations
Published online: 30.01.2023
Pilar
Groundbreaking technology for the installation of screw pile foundations
Published online: 30.01.2023
20% of the World’s energy consumption is utilized for construction and building materials, while resources like sand and gravel, commonly used for building foundations, are becoming increasingly scarcer. This calls for new and innovative solutions in order to reduce the use of resources, increase the recycling of raw materials, and further the green transition of the building industry.
Pilar, a spin-out company from Aalborg University established in 2020, has developed a new method for faster and more cost-effectively installation of screw pile foundations for buildings. The spin-out company is the result of several years of research followed by an Innovation Fund Denmark Grand Solution project called “Day to Day Foundation” focused on the development of new calculation models for the application of more sustainable foundations to be used in future housebuilding.
FOUNDATIONS BASED ON SCREW PILES
Screw piles are long, galvanized piles which can be used for screw pile foundations for buildings. When drilled into the bearing layers of the subsoil the screw piles will form the basis for a foundation with the same or even stronger bearing capacity and stability as a traditional concrete foundation.
Furthermore, screw pile foundations are beneficial to use when the ground and soil is of too poor quality to hold a traditional foundation, and to avoid settlement damages which otherwise could occur in concrete foundations.
Historically, screw pile foundations have mostly been used for minor constructions like sheds or porches but also for minor modular building aka prefabricated houses. This is due to a lack of standardized calculation models to document the bearing capacity of the screw pile foundations in larger buildings resulting in a disproportionate amount of work in order to test, calculate, and install the screw piles – all increasing the cost for the end customer.
A SUSTAINABLE AND CIRCULAR BUILDING INDUSTRY
Pilar provides the building industry with a new solution for economically and environmentally attractive foundations that makes both modular building and lightweight houses more financially attractive in a rapidly growing market.
The solution consists of a technological device and cloud-based software which ensures an intelligent installation of screw piles while automatically providing building code documentation. The screw pile foundation can be installed within a day, all year round, and already the day after a typical family house can be raised in a week – a combined solution which normally would take 3-4 months.
When using screw pile foundations, large amounts of sand and soil removal are also being saved. Hence, using screw pile foundations will result in savings on scarce raw materials and, at the same time, have a green impression. In addition, screw pile foundations can easily be removed again, and the ground screws can be recycled for new housebuilding.
Furthermore, by introducing screw piles to the traditional building market, the need for concrete, sand and gravel for foundations and slabs in future housebuilding will, therefore, be almost eliminated. In total, the production of cement as well as other industrial processes associated with traditional construction emits up to 2 million tons of CO2. By replacing the current standard concrete foundations with screw pile foundations, the CO2 footprint can be reduced by 85% (or by 3784 kg CO2-eq) for a 150 m2 family house.
A TEAM WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE
As a result of the Innovation Fund Denmark Grand Solution project “Day to Day Foundation”, Pilar was established as a joint company between the three consortium partners: Bayo’s International, Andreasen & Hvidberg, and Lars Bo Ibsen, Professor in Geotechnical Engineering at AAU Build, Aalborg University, and founder of Ibsen Pile Technology.
Bayo's International produces, distributes, and installs screw piles while Andreasen & Hvidberg carries out geotechnical investigations, foundation design, and accreditation of screw piles foundations. Together with Professor Lars Bo Ibsen, the two co-founders of Ibsen Pile Technology, Mikkel Ibsen and Anders Ellern Bilgrau, are responsible for the research-based development in Pilar.
THE COMMERCIALIZATION PROCESS
AAU Technology Transfer Office has contributed to Pilar's journey going from a research project to an established company, uncovering the commercial potential and possible IPR rights in close cooperation with Professor Lars Bo Ibsen.
Furthermore, the team has received sparring and guidance from Open Entrepreneurship regarding the development of the company's business model, pitch training, funding opportunities, and networks that have created a match with external parties.