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We support contractors of all sizes, from local groundworks specialists to national civil engineering firms, across schools, hospitals, roads, railways and energy infrastructure throughout the UK.
Our comprehensive range of groundworks products is designed to meet the diverse needs of construction professionals and civil engineers. Our carefully curated selection of high-quality equipment and materials ensures safety, efficiency, and reliability in all your groundwork projects.
Our Groundworks Equipment Range
Trench Boxes
Our trench boxes are simple to assemble, two sided excavation support systems installed by an excavator using the dig and push or excavate and lower technique. They give you a safe working area below ground by withstanding the surrounding soil pressure, protecting your team from collapse risk while you lay utility pipes and trench runs. The range spans the lightweight Backhoe Trench Box and Mini Trench Box through to the Standard, Super and Magnum Trench Box for deeper excavations.
Manhole Boxes
Four sided manhole boxes support excavations up to 5.3m deep, making them ideal for installing pre cast concrete manholes and chambers. They can be used alongside trench boxes to form a continuous protected trench run. Available in our range are the Backhoe Manhole Box and the Standard Manhole Box.
Drag Boxes
Drag boxes give you a faster alternative to a trench box when laying long pipe runs in stable, self supporting ground. An excavator pulls the box along the trench as pipe laying progresses, using a cutting edge at the front of the box rather than the bottom. Available in our range is the Standard Drag Box and the Maxi Drag Box.
Our trench sheets and steel sheet piles create a continuous retaining wall for deep or wide excavations. We stock overlapping and interlocking profiles in mild and high yield steel, available in lengths from 1.5m to 8m, so you can match the sheet to your ground conditions and depth requirements.
Hydraulic Bracing and Alloy Walers
Large hydraulic brace systems range from 1.60m to over 25.00m, suiting any type of excavation. Alloy waler rails give you a two sided hydraulic support system where cross services rule out a trench box, commonly used in city centre and highway excavations.
Our Ground Guards support vehicles up to 120 tonnes, and our Road Mats and Plates up to 80 tonnes, protecting surfaces and creating temporary access routes over soft or sensitive ground. They remove the cost of replacing damaged plywood boards and reduce the stone and lorry loads needed for temporary roadways.
End Panels, Edge Protection, Ladder Safe Platforms, and lifting equipment complete your groundworks setup, keeping your team safe at every stage of the excavation.
Choosing the Right Groundworks Equipment
The type of excavation determines the equipment you need. Trench Boxes suit most utility and pipe laying work, giving you a stable supported working area with minimal setup. For long pipe runs in stable ground, a Drag Box lets you move continuously without lifting and repositioning. Where ground conditions are difficult, the excavation is wide, or cross services prevent a box, Trench Sheets give you a continuous retaining wall that adapts to the site.
Expert Engineering Design
Our in-house engineering design team is at the heart of our groundworks solutions. With extensive experience in handling complex projects, they work closely with clients to understand site-specific challenges and develop tailored solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that every project benefits from the latest engineering insights and innovative design techniques. To help you visualise and plan your project effectively, we offer free design services. Our team will work with you to create detailed temporary works designs that not only meet but exceed your expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What equipment do I need for groundworks?
A: The equipment you need depends on the type of excavation. Most groundworks projects require trench boxes or trench sheets for excavation support, ground protection mats for vehicle access, and ancillaries such as edge protection and lifting equipment. For complex excavations or poor ground conditions, hydraulic bracing and a formal temporary works design will also be needed.
Q: What is a trench box used for?
A: A trench box is a two sided steel support system installed into an excavation to prevent the surrounding ground from collapsing while work is carried out below ground. It protects your team from collapse risk and allows you to lay pipes, cables, and utilities safely. Trench boxes are installed by an excavator using the dig and push or excavate and lower technique.
Q: When should I use trench sheets instead of a trench box?
A: Trench sheets are the better choice when the excavation is too wide for a box, ground conditions require a continuous retaining wall, or cross services prevent you from positioning a box. They also suit deep excavations and permanent reinforcement works where a continuous sheet wall is specified.
Q: Do groundworks excavations need a temporary works design?
A: CDM 2015 places specific duties on those responsible for managing excavation support on construction sites. Altrad Generation provides a full temporary works design free of charge, covering installation drawings and engineering certification to BS 5975, BS 8002, and BS 6031.
Hire or Buy Groundworks Equipment
Altrad Generation supplies groundworks equipment for hire and sale across the UK, backed by free design support and technical sales representatives with over 25 years of experience. Contact us to discuss your excavation safety requirements, or browse our full groundworks range to explore individual products.
