Pile Extractor

Driscoil Equipment supplies heavy-duty Pile Extractors designed for the controlled removal of driven piles from the ground. They are suitable for sheet piles, H-piles, tubular piles and other steel piling profiles, depending on the extractor configuration.

Pile extractors are available in hydraulic vibration-free and vibratory hydraulic configurations. Hydraulic extractors can remove piles with minimal ground vibration, while vibratory models use controlled vibration to reduce soil resistance during extraction.

Technical Specification

Specification Typical / Available Range

Equipment Type Hydraulic / Vibratory Pile Extractor

Primary Function Extraction of driven piles

Extraction Force Approximately 400–1,000 tonnes for heavy hydraulic systems

Extraction Speed Up to approximately 3 m/min

Hydraulic Operating Pressure Approximately 200–350 bar, model dependent

Hydraulic Flow Requirement Approximately 300–400 L/min, model dependent

Extraction Stroke Approximately 500–750 mm per cycle on hydraulic systems

Pile Types H-piles, U/Z sheet piles and tubular piles

Clamping System Hydraulic wedge/jaw clamp or vibratory hydraulic clamp

Clamp Force Model dependent

Power Source Hydraulic power pack or carrier/crane hydraulic system

Mounting Ground frame, crane-suspended or carrier-mounted, depending on model

Construction Heavy-duty fabricated/forged steel

Control Hydraulic control system

Operation Continuous or sequential extraction

Application Marine, civil engineering, temporary works and foundation construction

For example, Dawson's X400/X1000 systems are specified at 4,000–9,700 kN extraction force, approximately 3 m/min extraction speed, with hydraulic operating pressures of 200–350 bar.

How It Works

Hydraulic Pile Extractor

The extractor is positioned around the exposed pile and hydraulic jaws grip the pile securely. Hydraulic cylinders then generate a large upward extraction force. The reaction force is transferred through the supporting ground frame, allowing the pile to be progressively removed.

Vibratory Pile Extractor

A vibratory unit uses eccentric rotating weights to generate controlled vertical vibration. A hydraulic clamp grips the pile, while vibration reduces soil resistance and allows the pile to be pulled upward. Commercial vibratory systems can be configured for sheet piles, pipe piles, H-beams and other profiles.

Suitable Pile Types

U-sheet piles

Z-sheet piles

H-piles

I-beams

Steel tubular piles

Pipe piles

Wide-flange sections

Other compatible steel piling profiles

Some universal hydraulic extractors are specifically designed to accommodate multiple H- and sheet-pile profiles, with modifications available for tubular piles.

Key Features

High extraction force

Hydraulic or vibratory operation

Controlled pile removal

Heavy-duty steel construction

Hydraulic gripping jaws

Suitable for difficult ground conditions

Reduced requirement for conventional pile-driving equipment

Vibration-free options available

Suitable for restricted-access projects

Multiple pile-profile configurations

Suitable for temporary piling recovery and reuse

Applications

Construction & Civil Engineering

Sheet-pile removal

Temporary foundation removal

Bridge construction

Road and infrastructure projects

Retaining-wall dismantling

Foundation remediation

Marine & Offshore

Temporary marine piling

Cofferdam dismantling

Jetty and quay construction

Marine foundation removal

Sheet-pile recovery

Environmental & Demolition

Recovery of reusable steel piles

Temporary works removal

Site restoration

Foundation decommissioning

Advantages

✓ High extraction capability

✓ Precise hydraulic control

✓ Reduced ground disturbance with vibration-free models

✓ Suitable for reusable steel piles

✓ Handles multiple pile profiles

✓ Suitable for restricted-access sites

✓ Heavy-duty construction

✓ Available in hydraulic and vibratory configurations