Solar U-Pile — Open Channel Post

A U-pile serves as the primary post on low wind and snow sites, on small and mid-size ground-mount systems and on compact tables. On larger systems it is also an economical section for braces, ties and secondary members.

Its clean open face takes brackets and rails with fast bolted connections. Driving, alignment and assembly follow the same steps as a C-pile — the difference is the load the section can carry.

A U-section has free flange tips: without lips, its thin flanges buckle locally earlier than a C-section's. At the same developed width a C-section therefore carries more load. The U, in turn, is a simpler geometry that lowers cost per kilo wherever the load allows.

The rule of thumb: if the structural check passes with a U, use a U; if flange buckling or bending capacity is marginal, go to a C or a sigma pile. Share your site loads and we will pick the section together.

We roll U-piles from 80 to 200 mm deep and 2 to 6 mm thick. S350GD is the standard grade, with S250GD–S450GD chosen to suit the load. Coating is Zn-Al-Mg (ZM120–ZM430) or galvanized (Z275–Z600) — formed from pre-coated coil, so no post-galvanizing bath is needed. See our coating guide for choosing the class.

Connection holes and slots are punched in the same pass as the forming, so hole positions are identical across the batch. Round holes, oval adjustment slots or patterns to your drawing are all possible — or plain, unpunched lengths.