GROUND engineering specialist Keller Grundbau completed the piling work – involving the installation of a total of 1,196 piles – on the 222,000-sq-m site of the King Hamad University Hospital in just under four months and to the satisfaction of the client, thanks to its extensive experience in Bahrain.

The company’s scope of works on the project also covered 14 pile load tests, pile trimming, integrity testing and preliminary works and fencing.

“Keller’s Bahrain branch won this important contract worth BD680,000 ($1.8 million) on October 13, 2004 in a public tender for the piling works for the King Hamad University Hospital, one of the prestigious projects from Bahrain’s Ministry of Works and Housing,” says Imtiaz Ahmed Syed, general manager – Bahrain Branch.

Keller started work on the project on February 12, 2005 with two rigs. Initially, two non-working pile load tests were carried out on 700-mm-diameter piles to 2.5 and three times the working load. Bored cast-in-situ piles of sizes 600-, 700- and 800-mm-diameter were installed at an average rate of 20 piles per day, with production capacity reaching a maximum of 26 piles per day, according to Syed.

“Officials from the Ministry of Works visited the site and appreciated our piling work,” says Syed, who has been with Keller for the past 28 years. “The piling works were successfully completed on June 2, 2005 with constant support from the technical manager and the site execution team. Keller is very proud to be associated with this prestigious project,” he adds.

Visited the site to monitor progress.

Germany-headquartered Keller set up operations in Bahrain in 1973 and has since completed more than 1,000 jobs and is today a well-recognised name within the country’s construction industry.

The company is known for providing innovative and cost-effective solutions to ground engineering and foundation problems. It focuses on providing solutions using bored cast-in-situ piles, mini piles, bored and soldier pile walls, ground improvement with vibro techniques (dry and wet methods), dewatering, grouting, soil/rock anchors and other systems.
With operating centres in five continents, Keller has proved its capability in virtually every country in the world, says Syed.

“Since its inception in 1860, Keller has built its reputation through its focus on engineering excellence and a commitment to constant innovation,” says Syed.

In Bahrain, Keller has successfully carried out numerous prominent projects in addition to the King Hamad University Hospital. These include infrastructural projects such as Al Ezzel Power Plant, Hidd desalination plant (Phase Three), aprons at Bahrain International Airport, Tabreed district cooling plant, Seef flyover/Central Market interchange, Bahrain Map Junction interchange, elevated water tanks at various locations; residential and commercial developments such as Durrat Al Bahrain, projects at Amwaj Islands, Al Salam Resort (infrastructure bridges and hotel), Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters, the 35-storey BFB Tower, 30-storey Dar Two building, Bahrain Financial Harbour (car park and bridges), 39-storey Al Matrook Tower, 29-storey Kingdom Tower in Hoora, Amwaj Gateway, Regency Intercontinental Hotel (car-park and health club), Difaaf Development at Reef Island; and industrial developments such as a stainless steel cold-rolling mill plant, and Asry basin quay wall.

The company is currently working on the Sulb steel mill project, US Navy Base, Balexco expansion and several commercial and residential buildings in Bahrain.

“Keller’s strength lies in its wide experience, local focus, value engineering, widest range of technologies, and organic and acquisition growth. The geotechnical solutions we provide are backed by extensive experience gained by technology transfer from operations in Europe, North America and Australia,” says Syed.

He points out that Keller is the first and only company in Bahrain to have introduced the bottom feed (dry) method for ground improvement by vibro techniques using a purpose-built Vibrocat.

“The dry method uses air instead of water, avoiding disposal of mud and waste and, therefore, is environment friendly,” he explains. “The Vibrocat is equipped with monitoring units, which record data of the installation process in a continuous graphical mode, plotting depth and power consumption versus time,” he says.

The dry method system for ground improvement has been widely used in many projects in Bahrain such as Khalifa bin Salman Port, PWC Logistics facilities, Oriental Press and Al Ezzel Power Plant (all in Hidd), Bahrain International Airport extension, Sofitel Zallaq Resort Hotel, the stainless steel mill plant, ground storage tanks at various locations, and other residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Stamp of quality ... Syed (centre) with the TUV-Nord certification, flanked by other officials.

Syed attributes Keller’s success in the market, despite the competition and current market conditions, to being equipped with the latest equipment, an experienced construction management and design team, and its reputation for ensuring customer satisfaction. Additionally, Keller Bahrain receives strong support from its head office in Germany with regard to equipment and techniques.

He continues: “Since adverse ground-related conditions and associated problems are diverse and multi-faceted, Keller’s experience can provide clients with a wide variety of solutions that offer significant time and cost savings.

“Keller’s design team in Bahrain, headed by Jeyaprakash Elango, has many years of experience in the Gulf and is always ready to assist clients in formulating technically-sound and cost-effective solutions to foundation engineering problems.”
Keller Bahrain has successfully implemented and received the ISO-9001:2008 certification from TUV-Nord.

Its operation in Bahrain comprises a competent team of construction and project managers, design and site engineers, civil and mechanical supervisors and technical site staff, in addition to accounts, administration, safety and quality management departments.