GIKEN LTD. (Head office: Kochi, Japan) opened the Information Transmission Base “RED HILL 1967”, which is designed to promote the “press-in technologies” for piling, and the tour applications are now available through the website. Since its opening in May, it has already attracted a significant number of visitors, including government agencies,contractors, users, and shareholders.
The new facility consists of four areas including two unique steel sheet pile-based buildings called “Sozokan” and “Research Building”. The facility showcases a variety of actual GIKEN machines, methods, and structures, adhering to the notion that “Seeing is believing.” This lets visitors comprehend the press-in technology intuitively, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. GIKEN hopes that visitors from all around the world will reflect on what ideal construction is and ponder the future of the construction industry through the experience at “RED HILL 1967”.
Outline of Each Area:
1. Demonstration Area
In this area, various construction sites are reproduced with real machines on an actual scale, such as a pile press-in and extraction machine SILENT PILER™, GRB System™ for temporary work-free construction, and structures constructed by Implant™ Method. For example, visitors can observe the Implant™ Lock Levee, which is designed to resist all types of levee breakage factors with great strength. They can also learn about the Gyropress Method™, a rotary cutting press-in of tubular piles used for the maintenance and reinforcement of ageing infrastructures without the need for the removal of existing concrete structures. Additionally, there are construction models on display that showcase how the Implant Method can solve challenging conditions such as hard ground, railway adjacency, or headroom restrictions.
2. Sozokan (The Museum of Piling Machines)
The structure of the building is very unique in that it uses sheet piles as the main structural materials and confined ground seismic dampers to create a steel spread foundation over soft ground to reduce ground subsidence in the event of an earthquake.
Including the first SILENT PILER™ which is certified as a Mechanical Engineering Heritage, Group’s most notable inventions and development such as SILENT PILER™ and GYRO PILER™, and other piling machines with different principles, a total of 50 actual machines and equipment are exhibited. Visitors can learn the history of those through the informative panels and videos.
3. Research Building
It is also built using steel sheet piles forming a continuous wall that integrates all the functionality of pile foundations, pillars, and walls. As another world’s first trial, a 2-meter diameter tubular pile has been used directly as the elevator shaft through which the elevator moves.
The building features a theatre and exhibition hall, where the past, present and future of press-in principle and press-in technologies are explained, and it also has office space for research on various verification tests.
4. Kochi Factory 3
Kochi Factory 3 is the largest factory of GIKEN in Japan and was established as a base for accelerating product development for global expansion in 2019. The factory responds to developing, prototyping, and verifying large-scale products, which have become the leading products in recent years.
The factory has a foundation of 54 tubular piles (15.0 to 15.8 m in length) installed by “Gyropress Method™”.
Movie
Admission and Hours
This facility must be booked in advance with a specific date and time through the website.
Hours : 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.（Last admission at 15:00）
Closed : Weekends & National Holidays（As per the company holidays）
Admission : Free
Address : 2246-3, Daito, Akaoka-cho, Konan-city, Kochi Prefecture, 781-5310
Inquiries regarding tours
General Affairs Department
GIKEN LTD.
E-mail : redhill1967 ( at ) giken.com
RED HILL 1967 website: https://redhill1967.giken.com/en/
GIKEN LTD. website: https://www.giken.com/en/
Inquiries regarding the press release
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Profile of GIKEN Group
GIKEN developed SILENT PILER™, the world’s first reaction-based hydraulic pile jacking machine,installing piles without noise or vibration. GIKEN Group now actively promotes its press-in technology worldwide and contributes to the construction industry by proposing and implementing innovative solutions. The innovative press-in technology provides a unique solution and the adoption of this technology has spread to over 40 nations and regions.
Inquiries regarding the press release
Please feel free to contact us using the form below.
https://www.giken.com/en/contactus/
