Book excerpt: The methods and equipment technology employed in the deep foundation industry have improved rapidly in recent years. The ingenuity of civil engineers, the results of new scientific research and the ongoing and new developments in machine technology have all led to the acceleration of this process. Applying technologies that have become very complex, and selecting the suitable machinery and equipment, demand ever more specialized knowledge and practical experience. It has become very difficult for users and manufacturers of special deep foundation machinery to maintain an overview of the level of technology in the sector. Both volumes provide a comprehensive overview of the special deep foundation applications, equipment and processes. They are intended as an aid to planning and implementation, and aim to help practitioners, public authorities, engineering companies and students to broaden and complete their level of knowledge. They are targeted primarily at occupational engineers and applications in the field. The individual chapters discuss manufacturing techniques and potential applications, along with the associated machine components. The specifics of each method and machine technology are examined in detail. Since the first volume of the compendium on Special Deep Foundation was published in March 2008, it has become a standard reference book.