MABEY Hire has announced an expansion of its lightweight shoring range, offering utility companies and contractors a ‘complete, comprehensive range’ of temporary support equipment designed specifically for shallow trenching works.
Joining the MAP Box is the new Vertishore, as well as the improved aluminium waler system.
The aluminium Vertishore is described as a pre-assembled, two-sided vertical hydraulic waler system. It can be utilised in self-supporting ground up to 2m where services are present, such as pipe maintenance or small connection works. The product comprises two aluminium rails supported against the trench walls by a pair of hydraulic rams, which Mabey said are easily expanded and adjusted using a manually operated hand pump.
Vertishore can be installed by just one or two people from above ground, with no need for workers to enter an unsecured trench. It is also compact and foldable, which aids work in areas where access is restricted, means it can be carried on to site if required, and makes transportation and storage more straightforward.
Mabey’s product range also now includes the improved aluminium waler system, designed to provide two-way support to trenches with widths from 657mm to 4,317mm. The system has a load capacity of up to 80kN/m2 and is said to be suitable for use in poorer quality ground, such as trenches where ground water is present.
The updates include improvements to Mabey’s end units, which can now be used with all the firm’s aluminium walers, creating four-sided support when trench ends have not been battered back.
Mabey revealed that, following customer feedback and recognising on-site challenges, a number of modifications have been made to its fleet of aluminium walers, ensuring the range offers enhanced flexibility and meets the needs of the most common installation practices. For example, the walers can now be suspended from one another via restraint chains, making installation and removal easier.
Sarah Lockhart, product marketing executive at Mabey Hire, said, “We know that when it comes to shallow trench support, whether that’s aiding emergency pipe repairs, investing in utility infrastructure or laying new services on a road or housing development, we need to have equipment that aids the safe and efficient delivery of the works. A key part of this is having equipment that can adapt to on-site conditions and is easy to manoeuvre.
“For all of these reasons, we’re excited to be able to re-introduce our comprehensive lightweight shoring range, providing our customers with the equipment they need to get the job done safely. We know no two trenches are the same; because of this we’ve developed the kit so it can easily be adjusted to fit the trench in question.”
