There is a vast array of methods currently employed for installing plastic piling, and the appropriate method selection will be influence by the pile you are using combined with the ground conditions at site.   Certain sites will place further equipment restrictions, such as access or noise or vibration and so this will influence the nature of the equipment employed and any associated method.

What is clear, is that in common with sheet piling the primary method of installation of plastic piling is most commonly associated with vibrators, such as the Dawson EMV70, EMV300 and more recently the new Movax Lite Range.    This is one of the quickest and quietest means of installing sheet piling, and the vibrator can drive and extract enabling the use of piling mandrels.   Vibrators are limited by ground conditions, suited to loose and granular, but generally mixed soils.  The influence and hence efficiency of the vibrator is greatly reduced when the soil is a heavy clay.

In clay soils, APE will often recommend the use of impact hammers, such as the APE Mini Hammers, or advise the client to consider installing MultiLock or ProLock as a hybrid with steel tubes.

In general, plastic piling will be more flexible than their steel counterpart, and this still holds true, especially for the budget range products.   Successful installation therefore depends very much on making the plastic pile as rigid as possible.   With all plastic piling we strongly advocate the use of a piling frame, these help support the pile during installation and help maintain accuracy.   Rigidity of the pile, varies according to pile type and it is fair to say the more you pay for the sheet pile, the easier and cheaper installation will be.