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Helical pile installation with excavator-mounted drive head
Helical Piles

Helical Piles – Certified Steel Foundations Without Concrete

Helical piles, also known as screw piles or helical screw piles, are steel foundation elements screwed directly into the ground. No excavation, no concrete, no waiting.

What Are Helical Piles Advantages Applications Learn More FAQ
Foundation Technology

What are helical piles?

A helical pile is a steel shaft fitted with one or more helical (spiral-shaped) bearing plates. When rotated into the ground, the helical plates pull the pile downward—much like a wood screw enters timber—until it reaches load-bearing soil. The result is a deep foundation element that carries load immediately, without excavation or concrete.

The helical plate is the defining feature. Unlike simple pointed or flat-ended piles, the helix creates a mechanical bond with the soil. It generates both downward (compression) and upward (tension/uplift) capacity, making helical piles uniquely versatile for structures exposed to wind uplift, frost heave, or dynamic loads.

Paalupiste manufactures two helical pile ranges in Finland: PRO for heavy-duty commercial and infrastructure projects (up to 1,000+ kN), and HELIX for residential and DIY applications that can be installed with a handheld drill.

Terminology: helical pile = screw pile = ground screw

Helical pile is the term most commonly used in the United States and in engineering literature. Screw pile is the standard term across Europe, the UK, and Australia. You may also encounter helical screw pile, helical anchor, screw anchor, or ground screw. The technology is identical regardless of the name used.

Helical pile tip with spiral bearing plate - PRO series by Paalupiste
Advantages

Why professionals choose helical pile foundations

Six measurable advantages that change your project economics. Every claim backed by real site data from thousands of installations across Europe.

50–70%

Faster installation

No excavation, no formwork, no concrete curing. Helical piles screw in and carry load immediately. Your build starts the same day.

Up to 50%

Lower total cost

Eliminate frost insulation, drainage, and multi-phase earthworks. Fewer work steps, fewer invoices, faster project delivery.

78%

Less CO₂ than concrete

Zero concrete eliminates the largest carbon source in foundation work. 100% steel, 100% removable, 100% recyclable.

Install year-round, any season – no curing required
No vibration, no noise – safe near existing structures
10 to 1,000+ kN load capacity range
Need helical pile foundations for your project?
01444 223 755
hello@ukhelix.com
Applications

Where helical piles are used

Helical piling is used across energy, construction, and infrastructure sectors worldwide. Here are three of the most common applications.

Helical pile installation at solar farm

Solar Farms & Energy

Rapid deployment of thousands of helical piles for solar racking, BESS platforms, and substation foundations. Removable at end of lease.

 Residential building on helical pile foundations

Buildings & Residential

Houses, cabins, extensions, modular buildings, and garden structures. PRO for structural loads, HELIX for lightweight DIY projects.

 Power transmission masts on helical pile foundations

Infrastructure & Utilities

Power line masts, noise barriers, road signage, 5G towers, EV charging stations, and pipeline supports.
Explore

Learn more about helical piling

Dive deeper into products, technical data, and real-world project examples.

Screw Pile Models

PRO vs HELIX: compare specifications and find your fit

Why Screw Piles

Full comparison tables vs concrete, driven piles, CFA, ground screws

Product Catalogue

Full range of piles, brackets, adapters, and accessories

Installation Equipment

Digga and HyperTorq+ drive heads, drills, and torque tools

Projects & Case Studies

Real-world helical piling projects with photos and data

Contact & Quotes

Get in touch for project-specific pricing and technical support
Frequently Asked Questions

Helical pile FAQ

Helical piles are steel foundation elements with one or more helical (spiral-shaped) bearing plates welded to a central shaft. They are screwed directly into the ground using an excavator-mounted drive head or a handheld drill, requiring no excavation or concrete. The helical plates provide both compression and tension capacity in a wide range of soil conditions.
Yes. Helical piles and screw piles are the same product. "Helical pile" is the term most commonly used in the United States, while "screw pile" is the standard term in Europe, the UK, and Australia. Other synonyms include helical screw piles, helical anchors, and screw anchors. Regardless of the name, the technology is identical: a steel shaft with helical bearing plates screwed into the ground.
Helical piles are installed by rotating them into the ground using torque. For heavy-duty PRO piles, an excavator-mounted hydraulic drive head provides the torque. For lighter HELIX piles, a handheld electric or hydraulic drill is sufficient. The pile is simply screwed into the soil until it reaches the required depth and torque, which confirms load capacity. No drilling, no excavation, and no concrete are needed.
Helical piles support loads from 10 kN to over 1,000 kN depending on pile diameter, helix size, shaft length, and soil conditions. They handle both compression loads (downward) and tension loads (uplift), making them suitable for everything from garden sheds to solar farms and industrial buildings. Each pile's capacity is verified in real time through torque-to-capacity correlation during installation.
Yes. Helical piles are fully removable by reversing the rotation. This makes them ideal for temporary structures, leased land, and projects where the site must be restored to its original condition. Removed piles can be inspected, re-galvanized if needed, and reused on another project. This is a significant advantage over concrete foundations, which require demolition to remove.
Paalupiste helical piles are manufactured under EN 1090 CE certification for structural steel. The company holds ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) certifications. All piles are hot-dip galvanized per EN ISO 1461 and designed according to Eurocode (EN 1997). Steel is sourced from SSAB, one of the world's lowest-carbon steel producers. Full per-pile installation documentation and traceability are standard.
Ready to discuss your helical pile project?
01444 223 755
hello@ukhelix.com