The new system, which has patent-pending, works by cutting precast concrete piles above the ground with diamond tipped blades.

The trimmed section of the pile is then used as the lead part of the next pile.

A project to build a supermarket in Scotland requiring 4,500 piles saw the cutting system save up to 3,600m of pile waste

Balfour’s system meets all requirements for compressive strength and can also cut piles to within 100mm of ground level, leaving fewer obstructions to other trades.

Based on a calculation that each precast pile manufactured and delivered to site in the UK produces around 40-60kg of C02, Balfour believes pile savings translate to cutting 2,000 tonnes of harmful emissions per year.

Malcolm O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering, said: “We are totally committed to driving down waste and improving the efficiency of our service and this new technique for precast pile cutting is a highly effective way to do this.”

“I am delighted at the help that our key suppliers Junttan have been able to provide, working closely with our innovations team.”

The BBGE team worked with Finnish suppliers Junttan who supplied the mechanical cutter which has been fitted to two piling rigs to date.