Wick Drivers
ProductsAPE Wick Drivers are the tools that drive wicking material into the ground for the purpose of removing excess moister from a job site, establishing a solid footprint before driving pile.
Features & Benefits
Hydraulic Drive & Crowd System
Delivers powerful, controlled hydraulic force for smooth mandrel penetration and extraction. This system ensures reliable operation, consistent performance, and maximum productivity across a wide range of soil conditions.
High Downward Force Capacity
Engineered to generate substantial static crowd force, allowing the mandrel to penetrate dense and stiff soil layers efficiently. Ensures full design depth is achieved while maintaining structural stability and installation accuracy.
Mandrel Guidance System
Heavy-duty leader and guidance assembly maintains precise vertical alignment throughout installation. This ensures accurate drain placement and supports optimal ground consolidation performance.
Integrated Wick Drain Feeding Mechanism
Automated feeding system provides smooth, continuous wick drain deployment. Reduces manual handling, improves installation speed, and minimizes the risk of material damage or installation errors.
Anchor Plate Handling System
Secure anchor plate insertion ensures the wick drain remains fixed at the required depth during mandrel extraction. Guarantees reliable drain placement and long-term effectiveness.
Depth Control and Monitoring
Integrated depth measurement system allows operators to install drains to exact project specifications. Provides reliable quality control and ensures compliance with engineering requirements.
Consistent Installation Performance
Designed to deliver uniform installation speed and force, improving daily production rates while maintaining consistent installation quality across varying ground conditions.
Vertical Integrity Assurance
Rigid mandrel and leader system ensures straight, accurate installation, preserving the structural integrity and effectiveness of the wick drain system.
Optional Installation Monitoring
Advanced monitoring systems provide precise drain installation data recording. Enhances quality assurance, documentation, and project verification for large-scale and specification-driven projects.
APE Bottom Drive Wick Practical Refusal
The APE Model 200 Bottom Drive Wick Machine can install wick material in soil conditions up to 50bpf.
The APE Model 100 Bottom Drive Wick Machine can install wick material in soil conditions up to 25bpf.
Practical refusal is 2” per second of mandrel penetration or Maximum refusal at 1” per second of mandrel penetration for no more than two feet.
On extreme projects where there are hard layers of soil between softer layers of soils where the vibro is needed to penetrate the dense layers.
- The mandrel is advanced statically with the crowd function.
- When the mandrel stops statically, stop applying crowd force and start the vibro.
- With the vibro engaged, apply crowd force and run the vibro for 10 seconds while advancing with the static crowd circuit.
- After 10 seconds stop the vibro and continue to crowd statically.
- If the mandrel does not advance under crowd influence only then practical refusal is achieved.
If the desired tip is not met, then pre-drilling or pre-punch is required to reach tip elevation.
Pre-drilling or pre-punching is required on any soil conditions above 50bpf using the 200 Bottom Drive and 25bpf with the 100 Bottom Drive.
These conditions for practical refusal may need adjustment depending on jobsite and soil conditions.