Award for Equipment Innovation

This category is open to any company that can show excellence through new product or technology development for the ground engineering industry between January 2024 and January 2025.

Entrants must demonstrate how the innovative new product or technology has delivered benefits in health and safety, in-use performance, sustainability or cost during on site delivery of a geotechnical project. Evidence to show how the product or technology can improve the performance or quality of service that the purchasing company offers to its clients is essential. 

Akela Ground Engineering
ABeam precast ground beam system

Akela Ground Engineering have recently launched our Abeam Precast Foundation Solution which is 70% quicker install than other Ground beam solutions on the market. It is an innovative precast ground beam designed specifically for the residential and light commercial market which features a fully mechanical jointing system, allowing for rapid beam installation. By combining precise alignment, interlocking section with secure fastening, this joint design ensures a robust, reliable, and efficient way to connect precast ground beams, offering many significant advantages in terms of construction speed, structural performance, and overall project quality. The system has also recently achieved NHBC accepts certification and UKCA.

Arup, Bachy Soletanche, Canary Wharf Contractors, Premier Concrete Pumping - Camfaud
One North Quay: E-Pump & E-Agitator

One North Quay stands as a prime example of how sustainability innovation can be integrated into construction projects. The project’s mains power supply allowed the trial and use of a fully electric ancillary equipment setup both CFA and marine piling techniques. Notably, this was the first time a combination of an electric concrete pump and agitator has been used simultaneously. This step forward was not just a win from an environmental perspective. It also opens possibilities for improving workforce wellbeing and working conditions providing quieter, cleaner and safer working environments. The solution is readily adoptable across the wider ground engineering industry. This achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Canary Wharf Contractors and their subcontractor Wingate Electrical Services and Premier Concrete who developed the innovative equipment used on-site. This achievement showcases the power of equipment innovation and collaboration in advancing sustainable practices within the piling industry.

Mabey Hire 
Super Bracing Strut 1200mm

As one of the UK’s leading temporary works providers, Mabey Hire supplies contractors with the specialist equipment needed to enable, facilitate and complete vital groundworks projects across the UK. Mabey Hire continually invests into its product offering for this sector, better equipping its customers to complete projects safely and efficiently. With a significant amount invested into new product development, Mabey Hire has developed the largest proprietary strut extension available on the market, providing its customers with high-load support for more complex basement excavations, clearly demonstrating its commitment to continued equipment innovation.

Dawson Wam
Steel mat hire

DAWSON-WAM’s steel access mats are a durable, reusable solution for supporting the UK’s largest construction equipment. Measuring 6.5m x 2.45m and weighing 5.5 tons, these heavy-duty mats can bear loads exceeding 1,400kPa, making them ideal for projects like HS2 and National Highways. Designed with lifting points for quick assembly, they are perfect for short-term use, such as rail possessions and highway closures. Steel mats offer superior load-bearing capacity, even weight distribution, and resistance to wear and corrosion, outperforming timber and granular platforms. They are sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, with high reusability and minimal maintenance needs. Versatile applications include load spreading, bridging utilities, temporary bridges, and marine platforms. Digitally integrated for advanced planning, DAWSON-WAM’s mats have proven successful in high-profile projects like Silvertown Tunnel and Hinkley Point C, highlighting their innovation and reliability in modern construction.

Equipe Group
Rhino cutter

So, here’s the bottom line: Rhino Cutter is a no-brainer if you actually care about the safety of your team. It’s not just an improvement—it’s a game-changer. It’s taken a operation riddled with hazards and delivered a tool that is riddled with innovation and which doesn’t just reduce risk; it obliterates it. It’s taken over 35 years for industry to wake up but finally there is a suitable cost effective solution, not that cost should come into it. The Rhino Cutter isn’t just a better tool—it’s the only tool which has been designed and developed by our industry for our industry to solve an extremely well known problem. Rhino Cutter is a must have tool for logging sheds and laboratories and if you’re serious about health and safety and want a product which solves the problem and looks great, there’s no excuse not to have it.

Casagrande and Expanded Piling 
Hybrid piling rig

In partnership with Casagrande UK, Expanded Piling have successfully trialled & operated the UK’s 1st fully operational Hybrid Heavy Duty Piling Rig. This machine uses 20% less fuel than a traditional combustion unit. This Rig has been installing 600mm dia rotary piles to depths of 21m which is within it’s capability of 1800mm dia piles to 57m depths. This rig operated on a major UK infrastructure project promoting the construction industry’s strive to become more sustainable and embrace new equipment technology as it is developed. The XP175-2 piling rig has successfully completed it’s first UK project in testing logistical working constraints and will be installing piles across the whole of the UK throughout 2025 and beyond.

Geprode
GeoRISCO

Tunnels constructed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) face the challenge of lacking reliable techniques for geological-geotechnical recognition during excavation, which hinders the optimization of excavation parameters. Through an advanced analysis of geotechnical monitoring results, GEPRODE addresses this limitation with the goal of anticipating ground behavior. geoRISCO, a platform developed by GEPRODE, uses AI and Machine Learning to combine real-time data from instrumentation and TBM parameters during the pre-excavation phase and compares them with data from the previous excavated section to predict future ground behavior. This improves decision-making and minimizes geological risks. ACCIONA co-finances the development of geoRISCO through its I'MNOVATION 2024 program of which GEPRODE was the winning startup. For validation, ACCIONA provides Line 6 of the São Paulo Subway - Brazil, which is currently under construction. Overall, GeoRISCO has the potential to revolutionize the tunnel excavation industry by enhancing the precision, efficiency, and safety during excavation.

Jackson Geo Services
Safecut initiative

Cutting core liner has been a safety issue in the industry for many years. Numerous solutions have been suggested, however no solution has been 100% effective in being mobile and suitable for use onsite, whilst also removing the issues of using a blade to cut core liner. Jackson Geo Services has piloted and since adopted the use of reciprocal multi tools with a hooked blade to reduce the chance of accidents and increase efficiency when cutting core liner. Using the multi tool has made cutting core line far safer, as the reciprocal blade cannot cut the operator should it come in contact with the skin, and as a mechanical tool significantly reduces the stress and strain on the body when compared to cutting liner without mechanical assistance. In addition, the use of a mechanical tool is significantly more efficient and speeds up liner cutting, saving time onsite.

JSM Group Services
NICE: Non-Intrusive Cable Extraction

NICE® is JSM’s no dig, direct buried cable removal system – it is an advanced method for removing underground decommissioned fluid filled cables without the need for traditional open cut trenching for the length of the cable thus mitigating any environmental risks of leaving the cables buried. It is an approved method of cable extraction for National Grid and offers significant physical advantages by reducing disturbance and disruption but also significantly reduces health, safety and environmental impacts during the extraction process over traditional methods.

fibrisTerre, Network Rail, Senceive
Automated rockfall warning solution

The impact of rocks and debris falling onto critical infrastructure such as roads and railways causes disruption and danger. The problem is global and growing. Existing detection and alerting systems are of limited value at many sites due to the requirement for “always-on” technologies and the absence of power and comms infrastructure. Network Rail identified 19 sites that are at-risk and require monitoring. They instigated proof of concept trials using a combination of remote sensing techniques integrated with existing catchfences. The exercise delivered a robust, autonomous solution providing real-time alerts from remote sites using a combination of wireless sensors, automated cameras and fibre optic sensing. The system has already been successfully deployed to protect tracks in the Austrian Alps and is due to be installed on the railway at Folkestone Warren, Kent.

SoilSafe
Validated independent base design approach

SoilSafe have developed and pioneered its Validated Independent Base Design strategy, providing a non-intrusive method of ground investigation that uses our Advanced Continuous Surface Wave (ACSW) stiffness profiling test to ensure that we know the ground conditions at every single foundation location. Test twice in all foundation locations and on a tight grid in the floor slab, SoilSafe are able to complete up to 40 tests per day, providing results in real time. This innovative technology, minimises site disruption, and enables efficient data collection, saving time and costs for clients while achieving project outcomes. With its proven benefits in safety, performance, and environmental impact, the ACSW kit using the VIB method, positions SoilSafe as a pioneer in sustainable ground investigation and a worthy recipient of the 2025 GE Award for Equipment Innovation.

VSL 
Electric diaphragm wall trench cutter rig

VSL has redefined sustainability and innovation in ground engineering with its electric Trench Cutter, used in the extension of the Tung Chung line of the Hong Kong Metro project. Achieving a 34% reduction in CO2 emissions and a noise reduction of at least 6dB(A), this innovation tackled urban constraints while maintaining optimal excavating efficiency. The deployment was enhanced by safer electrical connections and improved rig mobility. This project exemplifies VSL’s commitment to lower-carbon solutions and has set a new standard for sustainable practices, offering valuable lessons to the broader industry. This achievement highlights how innovative equipment can drive performance improvements, reduce environmental impact, and enhance project delivery outcomes.