17/09/2026
When Experience, Engineering and Innovation Come Together
There are certain people you meet in your career who genuinely influence the way you think about your industry.
For us at SCREW Piling Experts, one of those people is Dr Howard Perko, Ph.D., P.E. from MAGNUM PIERING.
We were incredibly proud and privileged to spend time with Howard during his visit to Australia — not only talking engineering, but also welcoming him into our home for a TRUE Australian BBQ dinner.
And when we say Howard knows screw piles… he literally wrote the book on them.
Howard is the author of Helical Piles: A Practical Guide to Design and Installation, has more than 30 years of geotechnical engineering experience, and has contributed extensively to the development and understanding of helical piling.
We spent hours discussing screw pile design, installation, testing, torque, soil behaviour and the history of the technology.
A few key advantages of screw piles that really stood out:
1. A trusted technology with almost 200 years of history
The screw pile concept dates back to Irish engineer Alexander Mitchell, who patented his system in 1833. The principle of using a steel shaft with a substantial helix to transfer loads into the ground has stood the test of time and remains fundamentally relevant today.
2. No drill spoil
Less excavated material, cleaner sites and reduced spoil disposal.
3. No tall-mast drilling rig
Less reliance on large drilling rigs, cages, cranes and overhead lifting operations.
4. No hammering
Screw piles are installed using rotational torque, resulting in significantly less noise and vibration.
What impressed us most about Howard was not only his knowledge, but also his willingness to share it and his friendly attitude towards collaborating with like-minded businesses.
We are extremely grateful for the time, experience and guidance Howard has given us and are proud to call him a mentor and friend of SCREW Piling Experts.
Thank you, Howard. 🇦🇺🤝🇺🇸
Never stop learning. Never stop improving.
ScrewPiling
