Junttan recently launched a new environmentally sus-tainable
technological solution as an alternative to con-ventional
wooden pile cushions that eliminates the oc-cupational
health issue of smoke. Made out of recycled
plastic, Junttan’s J-Pad material lasts up to 10 times longer
than wooden cushions and doesn’t generate smoke or heat
compared to wood.
“The project resulting in J-Pad started about four years
ago stemming from the desire to get rid of the problem of
smoke related to piling work in reinforced concrete piling,”
said Jaakko Rytkönen, a service development specialist with
Junttan. “It was a work safety issue, an occupational health
issue and a work comfort issue.”
Traditional wooden pile cushions, usually made of hard-wood
and plywood, generate heat and smoke when piling,
creating smoke-related vapors, gases and microparticles at
the work site and the surrounding area. On top of hindering
visibility on the worksite, the use of wooden cushions can
cause short- and long-term health issues.
In addition to eliminating smoke, J-Pad provides stable
and optimal efficiency of the energy transfer from the
hammer to the pile. Another perk is that J-Pad makes it easy
to change the cushion.
“It doesn’t have to be taken off from the pile housing
because if the piling event heats the cushion enough, it
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
No Smoking
Junttan develops safe, smokeless pile cushion technology
By Colleen Birchwood
AHMETEMRE/123RF VANTUZ/123RF
melts off from the drive cap at which point the operators just
have to add a new plate to the pile helmet of the drive cap,”
said Rytkönen.
Developed to be used in reinforced concrete piling, J-Pad
can be used in most concrete piling jobs for all pile shapes.
To date, J-Pad has been used with pile sizes between 200 mm
and 400 mm, both round and square.
A healthier solution for workers
that also performs better
Although J-Pad was a solution designed to increase worker
safety and comfort, it also offers more stability and durability.
PAD PHOTO: JUNTTAN
PILING CANADA 13
/profile_ahmetemre
/profile_vantuz
