JFE Steel Corporation announced today that its Tsubasa (Wing) Pile, a rotary penetration steel pipe pile with a toe wing, has obtained certification under Vietnam’s “TCCS” technical standard. TCCS, which recognizes the Construction Technology Review and Certification awarded to Tsubasa Pile products in Japan, sets out design and construction parameters based on local-market requirements in Vietnam, including materials standards and welding methods for steel pipe piles. Also, certification of the Tsubasa Pile bearing capacity formula, an important design consideration, is based on the formula approved in Japan, assuring performance matched to Japan’s high technical standards. Going forward, JFE Steel will step up promotion of Tsubasa Pile to boost market penetration and contribute to infrastructure development in Vietnam.

Tsubasa Pile rotary pile products have an extensive track record of installations, mainly in Japan. Steel pipe pile-construction in Japan is widely recognized as a cutting-edge method for urban areas. The method enables low-noise, low-vibration construction, is applicable in narrow, confined spaces, and is environmentally friendly because it does not produce waste soil or groundwater contamination. JFE Steel has been promoting the expanded use of this advanced method for infrastructure development in Southeast Asia, based on which the company has been obtaining technical certifications in each country.

JFE Steel initiated the certification process in Vietnam in 2016. At the end of 2017, we obtained a TCCS—a basic standard issued by VJIAT (Vietnam-Japan Institute for Advanced Technology), National University of Civil Engineering (NUCE) that evaluates/certifies the requirements and technical details of a particular product or construction method—and the standards certification was then published in 2018.

JFE Steel also is expecting to obtain official certification guidelines from the Ministry of Construction (MOC) during 2019. Training based on the provisional Tsubasa Pile Guidelines has begun at the Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities, which operates under the auspices of the MOC. JFE Steel will also highlight this official certification in its PR initiatives to promote Tsubasa Pile in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s rapid urbanization and industrialization has led to fast-paced development of urban transport infrastructure, such as ring roads and subway lines in and around large cities, and basic infrastructure, such as power plants, airports, and seaports. Developing infrastructure in heavily urbanized areas, however, requires special construction methods that cause only minimal disruptions to transportation and can be deployed in confined spaces. Low-noise, low-vibration methods are naturally preferred when constructing pile foundations, and interest is also growing in the rotational installation of steel pipe piles, a method that is suitable for confined spaces and doesn’t cause environmental problems.

JFE Steel looks forward to continuing to contribute to infrastructure development in Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, through the company’s high-value-added civil engineering materials and construction methods.

Tsubasa Pile(Open-end Type)	Construction of Tsubasa Pile
Technical examination session at Ministry of Construction	Academy of Managers
Tsubasa Pile TCCS (left: Vietnamese version, right: English version)

About JFE Steel Corporation

JFE Steel Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated steel producers, was established through the consolidation of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 2003. The company operates several steelworks in Japan and numerous branch offices and affiliates throughout the world. JFE Steel leverages world-class technologies and know-how to produce a wide range of products based on its “Only One, Number One” strategy of focusing on unique and best-in-class products. The company reported consolidated sales of 3,900 billion yen in 2018 and consolidated crude steel output of 27.88 million tons in the fiscal year ended March 2019.

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