17 Oct Efficient Piling on Soft Soil: Delivering 1,238 Points in 6 Weeks at Batu Kawan
At Batu Kawan, Penang, a Semiconductor Factory led by IJM Construction, piling work began in September 2024 and was completed by mid-October 2024 — just six weeks from start to finish. Despite soft ground and tight timelines, 1,238 spun pile points were installed successfully, marking another solid delivery by ICP Piles.
Tackling Soft Soil the Smart Way
The project site is mainly soft sandy clay, a soil type with low bearing strength. In such conditions, bored piles would require deeper penetration and longer installation time, leading to higher overall cost. On the other hand, RC square pile would require more number of pile points due to their limited range of pile sizes, without prestressed to cater for high tensile stress during driving, that would be detrimental to substructure performance over long term. Spun Pile offers a proven solution that performs efficiently in soft soil while maintaining cost control, structural reliability, and construction speed.
Spun Piles Built for Heavy Loads
The project used 450mm and 600mm diameter piles, both Grade 80 Class C. The smaller piles carried 100-ton working loads, while the larger ones supported 200 tons. Class C piles offered higher prestress, helping to control tensile stress and reduce cracking risk — an advantage for soft ground and slender piles.
Efficient Driving, Reliable Control
Installation used a 13-ton hydraulic hammer, averaging 2–3 pile points per machine daily. Continuous Pile Monitoring (CPM) was carried out at the beginning stage of the project to develop a set driving criteria that could be trailed throughout the whole project site. The hammer drop height was adjusted gradually by monitoring its tensile stress to avoid overstressing the piles. This procedure enabled the respective site to conduct the piling work more effectively and progressively.
Delivering Confidence from the Ground Up
Piling works were completed on time, with excellent quality and performance. ICP’s prestressed spun piles offered faster installation, better durability, and improved cost efficiency — proving again their value in challenging soil conditions.
This project highlights how ICP Piles combine design precision, field experience, and quality control to deliver dependable results. Even in soft soil, ICP Piles helped keep the project on schedule — strengthening Malaysia’s industrial foundation, one pile at a time.