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The ‘Monster Screw Pile’ – Where Worlds Collide

At ABC Anchors and Autoguide, we’re used to tackling tough engineering challenges – but the Monster Screw Pile project was something special.

This one-off R&D trial took place a few years ago, but while digging through our archives we found the photos and knew it was too good not to share. It perfectly brought together the best of both worlds: ABC Anchors’ deep expertise in screw piling and Autoguide’s unrivalled torque head technology. When these two specialisms collide, you get the perfect partnership for taking on big, bold projects.


Simulating the Seabed on Land for the Monster Screw Pile

The challenge? Trialling the installation of an oversized screw pile in conditions similar to those found on the seabed.

Instead of heading straight offshore, we recreated those conditions here on land. First, we augered a large hole, then backfilled it with sand to mimic the resistance and behaviour of seabed soils. This gave us a controlled but realistic environment to put both pile and torque head to the test.


The Right Tools for the Job

The ‘Monster’ pile was manufactured off-site and delivered ready for installation. For something of this scale, we turned to our 250XV torquehead – a powerhouse of torque – mounted on a 45-tonne excavator.

The 250XV, designed and built by Autoguide, provided the sheer turning force needed, while ABC Anchors’ pile expertise ensured the installation process was optimised from start to finish.


Installation Success

Once the Monster was attached to the torquehead, the installation got underway. Even with the challenging sand-filled test bed, the 250XV powered the pile to an impressive 9 metres deep – a real proof of concept for large-scale screw pile use in marine and offshore applications.


Why It Matters

This project was the perfect showcase for what happens when ABC Anchors’ piling know-how meets Autoguide’s torque technology. It proves that with the right partnership, even “monster” installations are possible.


The insights gained have fed into our work for offshore, renewable energy, and marine construction – sectors where speed, reliability, and minimal environmental impact are key.

If you’ve got a large-scale piling challenge, whether on land or at sea, talk to the team at ABC Anchors or Autoguide – we’re ready to make it happen.


 
 
 

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