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APE/J&M has recently delivered 5 J&M Model 115 HIH’s to a Cleveland jobsite that is an old garbage landfill that has been capped and a new shopping mall is being constructed on it. Closed end pipe piles are being driven thru the trash to support the buildings.

One interesting feature of the piles on this job is that although 10.75″ pipe piles are being driven, a 16″ shoe is welded on the end of the pile, eliminating all wall friction and making the pile a true end bearing pile. This was designed in such a way because of a fear that splicing piles could ignite the methane gas that is released as the pile is being driven thru the decaying garbage in the ground. The oversize shoe creates a large void between the wall of the pile and the soil and allows the methane to escape.

Here is another updated photo of our new faciliy under construction in New Jersey. We plan to have an open house on June 1, 2005. Our new location, just 300 yards from where ICE is leasing a small building and yard space, will outclass all other facilities in the Northeast. We look forward to providing our Northeast customers with a first class location owned and operated by APE. For more information contact John White, President, APE.

For everyone who could not attend America’s largest construction equipment exhibition “Conexpo” in
Las Vegas last month we herewith summarise new developments of our main partners for piling and
foundation equipment.

APE of Kent (American Piledriving Equipment) showed the brand new RoboVib, a vibro for mounting to the excavator boom which grabs beams and sheet piles from the side so that no additional servicemen are required. Another invention is the new diesel hammer type D180 with a ram weight of 18000 kg. It was a pleasure to meet many piling contractors who gave a lot of credit to the quality and performance of the APE machines as well as to APE’s continuous effort to develop new and better piling equipment.

You can read the complete story here. (PDF – 1.5MB)

David White, son of President John White of APE has come home from China to finish his International Business Degree at Seattle University.

David lived in China for three years and received a Degree from Shanghai Language School. This is the same school that Yao Ming, the now famous basketball star for the Houston Rockets, attended.

David White and Yao Ming attended Shanghai Language School at the same time, David learning Chinese and Yao learning English.

David worked very hard to expand APE in China. He assisted in the sale of the Quad Kong, the largest vibratory pile driver in the world. He was responsibile for the initial test of Quad Kong, handling all the language issues as well as assisting in the assembly of the machine at the job site. David also participated in the driving of 44 foot diameter steel piles using the same Quad Kong. He will be greatly missed at APE.

David’s plans are to play for the Super Sonics once finishing his remaining two years at Seattle University.

David works out four days per week with NBA all star players such as Detlef Shrempf, Mike Dickerson, and James Edwards (Budda), the 7-foot 2 inch, four time NBA champion who received championship rings while playing for the Bulls with Michael Jordon and while with the Detriot Pistons.

David also plays with Nate Robinson, starting point guard for University of Washington.

Jordan Pile Driving, one the most respected names in the South, has added another A.P.E. Hammer to the fleet. Having owned an A.P.E. 200 Vibro for several years, and with an A.P.E. Model 250-VM, 150-T, and a 417 on rent, along with several Diesel Hammers, Jordan is no stranger to the A.P.E. product line.
American Piledriving Equipment is proud to be part of Jordan Pile Driving and with the recent purchase of a New A.P.E. Model 150-T Vibratory Hammer and 350 Power Unit, we look forward to this working relationship for many years to come!

Various photos of friends at the APE/J&M booth at Conexpo tell the story of APE/J&M’s success around the world. Thanks again for visiting APE/J&M.

APE, Erickson Air Crane, and Overland Contracting of Baltimore, MD are working together on Conectiv Power’s Red Lion to Dover Delaware 230kV transmission line. Due to the marshy site conditions, conventional cranes are not an option. All equipment must be flown in via Erickson’s helicopter.

First, large wooden mats are flown in. Then comes the APE Helicopter Caisson Template, which houses an APE 350 Power Unit. Next comes the APE 150T Vibro with a caisson beam and 2 clamps. The caissons measure 48″ in diameter by 37.5′ long and are 12-sided. The caisson is already clamped to the vibro using an auxilliary power unit in a yard close by, and is then rigged to the vibro as a precaution. As the chopper hovers overhead slowly lowering the pile into the template, the ground crew quickly connects the hydraulic hoses while trying not to get blown away by the huge gusts, and the pile is carefully vibrated in. As soon as the caisson is able to support its own weight and the vibro while staying plumb, the helicopter releases the vibro rigging. The caisson is then driven to elevation, while the air crane flies mats to the next site. The process is then reversed. The air crane later installs the remaining segments of the pole.

The experience of being on the ground while the air crane hovers above is remarkable. It is stressful, chaotic, and intense, but mostly exhilarating. Ultimately one finds him/herself eagerly awating the chopper’s return for the adrenaline rush from rotor wash.

Manson Construction of Northern California is one of the leading Marine Contracors in the industry. Driving sheet pile into the Oakland Merit Sands can be difficult. That is why Manson chose to team up with APE. Using the APE 9.5 Hydraulic Impact Hammer Manson drove home the sheets without damaging them. Even the tough Oakland Merrit Sands can’t win against APE!

The APE/J&M Northeast office was contacted recently about an alleged APE sighting in the heart of Maine. APE immediately responded with the New England APE rep visiting that quaint Maine village where the APE was last seen. Sure enough the APE was hard at work driving sheetpiles at the new Rt 23 bridge.

The APE Model 100 Vibro has established a loyal following in Maine, where a 2,200 inch/lb hammer with a 7,900 suspended weight allows contractors to use their same cranes and reach the same distances that they are used to. Yet the Model 100 Vibro greatly outperforms the little MKT’s and H&M’s that contractors have been using.

Bi-County Equipment, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. had to drive sheets to form a cofferdam in East New York, N.Y.. Site of the excavation is adjacent to a railroad track, under a street bridge which is under an elevated roadway. R.Alessi Equipment mounted an APE Model 7.5 Low Headroom Hydraulic Impact Hammer on a Caterpillar excavator to solve the problem.