Volume 2, Issue 3 September 2017

Report
The Museum of Pile Drivers opens in Kochi, Japan
Ms. Rie Kanbara
General Affairs Section
GIKEN LTD.
GIKEN LTD. (Hereafter, GIKEN) unveiled theMuseum of Pile Drivers at a ceremony whichcelebrated the “fiftieth foundation” and “listingon the Tokyo Stock Exchange 1st section” on
25th July 2017. There are 26 valuable piledrivers collected from all over the world at theheadquarters of GIKEN in Kochi, Japan, fromwhich we can learn the history of pile drivers
and piling methods.
Piling is essential for infrastructure: to build
foundations, retaining walls and cofferdams. Inthe past, conventional piling works caused
severe construction pollution (excessive noiseand vibration), in contrast to the developmentof the modern state. However, in 1975, theSilent Piler was developed by GIKEN as thePhoto1 a view inside the museum
world’s first “reaction based” hydraulic sheet
pile machine. Since then, construction pollution
has been greatly reduced and GIKEN has been pioneering new use of pilers.
Traditional, rare, and valuable pile drivers (i.e. the diesel hammer, steam hammer, vibratory hammer, earth auger andother apparatuses) collected by Mr Akio Kitamura (President of GIKEN and Honorary President of International Press-inAssociation) in the world, as well as the initial Silent Piler and thirteen representative models which introduce both theenvironmentally-friendly technique and the IT function, are on display. Moreover, the full-scale soil investigation rig reproduced from the drawing by Leonardo da Vinci is displayed and visitors are able to learn about the past, examine thepresent and look into the future of piling there.
GIKEN is prepared to expand and improve the collection at the exhibition facility as well as supplementary materials, andaims to have open days for the public as well as people involved in the construction industry.

◆ Some comments from Visiters
1For me, Museum of Pile Driver is an expression of evolution in pilingtechnologies. It is there to highlight the past, present and the future of thistechnology. Therefore, it such a privilege to visit this museum!
From Dr. Nor Azizi Bin Yusoff (Malaysia)
2
I got the opportunity to visit "World Pile Driving Machine Museum"
newly established in GIKEN LTD.. Since I had few opportunities to see piledriving machines up close, the appearance of old and new machines werereally impressive and overwhelmed. It was a very valuable time to see andfeel the history of the progress of pile driving techniques.
Photo2 the signboard of the museum

From Prof. Kentarou Nakai (Japan)
14Volume 2, Issue 3 September 2017

History of Pile Drivers in the world

Around 1500
Da Vinci’s Soil
Investigation Machine
Pile driver reproduced fromDa Vinci’s design

Around 1720
Drop Hammer Pile Driver
Drop hammer pile driver using
steam power, among others

Around 1870
Steam Hammer
Impact driving systems withsteam driven pistons

Around Vibratory Hammer
1930 Vibration systems which
Diesel Hammer
Impact driving systems
using diesel engines

drive piles using highfrequency

Around 1940
Continuous Flight Auger (CFA)
Machine that excavates andbuilds piles through augering

Around 1960
Pile Master
Multi-ram pressing machinewith panel driving method

1975
Giken first Silent Piler
KGK-100A
Founder’ s Dreams cometrue - The 1st Silent Piler

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