News Archive Introduction

We're delighted to announce Groundforce Shorco are exhibiting at Geotechnical Challenges in Urban Regeneration. We would like to invite you to join us at the event and offer you an exclusive 20% discount to attend. Please quote EXB-AR when registering to redeem this special offer.

U Mole (a division of Groundforce) recently supplied, on hire, a new HAMMERHEAD™ HydroBurst HB100 pipe bursting system to contractor David Carr of Leeds, UK for use on a project to replace some 300 m of 400 mm diameter spun cast iron gas main with new size-for-size PE pipe.

Hire specialist Groundforce pumps has supplied two of their 8 inch Hidrostal super-silenced ‘Betsy’ pumps to divert sewage from an excavation close to the river Thames in Reading where main contractor J Murphy & Son is carrying out investigative work on behalf of Thames Water.

Groundforce Technical has developed the first ever MP500 hybrid strut for the £260m New Tyne Crossing project which will provide a second vehicle tunnel under the River Tyne and refurbish the existing tunnel which was opened in 1967. This project is one of the largest transport infrastructure projects in Britain.

In order to offer an improved client service, U Mole recently appointed two new regional sales managers and a regional salesman. James McMahon has been appointed to cover the North and Northwest area of England and will be based in the northwest area. Mark Aspinal starts as sales manager for the East and South East regions, and Ian Holt has been appointed as salesman for the Midland and Southwest area.

Structural support & specialist equipment provider Groundforce are to re-brand two of their business based in the Irish republic. The two companies which are based in Portlaoise, County Laois and currently trade as Groundforce USS and PTA, will now operate as Groundforce and Piletec, bringing them in-line with the groups UK trading names.

U Mole and Groundforce exhibited together at SED 2009 on 12 – 14th May at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby, Northants.

Any company that offers emergency over-pumping services in the waste water treatment sector had better be confident that it has the right equipment and can respond quickly. And it’s not just the supplier that needs that confidence – its client needs it too.

Groundforce Shorco are the UK’s leading supplier of high load capacity hydraulic struts, and to increase knowledge within the industry they have recently developed a campaign to show why Structural Steel is no longer the only option available.

Groundforce PTA a division of VP Equipment Rental (Ireland) Ltd is exhibiting at the re-branded resource and recover exhibition at its new location at Simmonscourt in Dublin on 24th – 25th March 2009.

Groundforce’s Sales Support Secretary Becky Richards will be walking the Great Wall of China from 5th – 13th September 2009 in support of Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate.

Shoring equipment from specialist hire company Groundforce Shorco has enabled utilities contractor Murphy Pipelines Ltd drive part of a new 1,200 mm diameter high pressure gas pipeline under the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire.

Structural support and specialist equipment rental group Groundforce has widened its offering with the launch of a new specialist pump equipment hire subsidiary that promises to be every bit the driving force in the UK large pumps market.

As part of a planned expansion into the North of England, U-Mole has established a depot location at Wigan. This not only allows U-Mole to support their existing trenchless equipment rental business in the area, but will also enable new business development in the region with the ability to provide a more local service.

Modular hydraulic bracing equipment from specialist shoring supplier Groundforce Shorco has provided essential support during the construction of a large excavation for Westminster City School.

Survey Technology, the UK’s leading independent provider for the sale, hire, service and repair of surveying instruments, has continued its expansion across the UK with the opening of two new depots.

Stopper Specialists, the UK’s leading provider of Air testing, Flow Control and Pressure testing equipment, has continued its UK expansion by offering an extensive range of stoppers from its new depot in Raunds, Northamptonshire.

Specialist rental equipment hire group Groundforce Shorco is supplying a 63 tonne Press box, which is providing a non vibration shoring solution to Morrison Construction on a £3.3M sewer network upgrade at Boughty Ferry in Scotland.

As a way of driving further growth Stopper Specialists are stepping up efforts to promote their range of packers by implementing a direct marketing campaign throughout June targeted at companies such as Drain Doctor and Dyno-Rod.

In a busy start to the new financial year, April 08 saw the acquisitions of Redding Hire Ltd and U-Mole Limited.

Structural Support and specialist equipment rental group Groundforce exhibited at Scotplant 2008 this April.

Leading structural support and specialist equipment supplier Groundforce, part of the Vp plc group, is gearing up for expansion into Europe with the appointment of a new business development director.

The Lite Guard is an ultra light trench box, fabricated from aluminium. Designed in Australia it is primarily intended for use by mini excavators, in the 2 to 7 ton range, with limited lifting capacity.

Groundforce Easiform are offering 10% off on all new designs placed in July 2008.

A versatile pile breaker sourced by Piletec has helped Shanco Construction save time and reduce health and safety risks

A robotic total station sourced by Survey Technology has helped Leeds-based Howard Civil Engineering cut survey times by up to 25%

Groundforce Easiform’s small-panel Frami formwork system is helping contractors build a new water treatment works at Scottish Water’s Stewarton treatment works 20 miles south of Glasgow.

A Taets 314 Round Pile Breaker from specialist hire company Piletec is helping Leeds-based Hewlett Civil Engineering prepare land for construction of a huge media business development in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Groundforce recently exhibited at Civils 2007 in Earls Court and ran a competition for customers visiting the stand. The prize of offer was £400.00 of De Vere Hotel vouchers. (Just in time for Xmas!)

Groundforce have recently sponsored the Kita Ogawa Martials Arts club based in Harlow which was formed in 1986/87 as a pure Shotakan Karate club.

The latest Survey Technology Sales Catalogue has just been launched for 2008.

Survey Technology exhibited at Interbuild for the first time this year. Interbuild is the UK’s largest annual building show attracting over 40,000 visitors and over 1200 exhibitors.

Excavation support specialists Groundforce, part of Harrogate based Vp plc, continue to build on their operations in the Republic of Ireland with the announcement that they have acquired the business and assets of two businesses, for a consideration of €0.8m of which €120k is deferred.

As part of a strategy to promote their capabilities in the specialist underground, basement propping market, Groundforce took the opportunity to exhibit at the Civils 2007 exhibition in Earls Court, London.

Six giant “Super-props” from support specialist Groundforce Shorco are being used to brace the massive casting basin where tunnel sections will be built for the new Limerick Tunnel in the Irish Republic.

Digging a deep, wide trench in challenging ground conditions is no job for run-of-the-mill shoring equipment, so when contractor Trant won the contract to install a 550 m long, 3 m diameter pipeline on the shore near Southampton, it knew it would need something special.

Survey Technology is delighted to launch its brand new sales brochure featuring an extensive range of surveying and related products.

Groundforce were recently invited to attend a 4D Golf day organized by Ian Wynnes a programme Delivery Manager for 4D. The 4D golf society was made up of 4D staff, contractors and sub-contractors associated with the project and suppliers.

In line with a sales and marketing strategy, Groundforce Easiform exhibited at SED in May. The forum enabled the business to promote itself to construction professionals from UK and Ireland, escalating the brand within this relatively new market sector for Groundforce.

Structural support and formwork specialist Groundforce Easiform has found a low-cost solution to a challenging concreting job on the site of a new supermarket in Cheadle, Manchester.

A hydraulic bracing system from specialist Groundforce Shorco is providing temporary basement support in the early stages of a new residential development in south London.

On Wednesday 21st February 2007, Groundforce sponsored a table at a dinner organised by Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club to raise money for Sheffield Children's Hospital. The guest of honour was current England cricket captain and former Collegiate player, Michael Vaughan OBE.

Groundforce announced the acquisition of the business and assets of Evershore Trench Support Systems, a supplier of trench shoring equipment in the North of England. The business will be integrated into Groundforce’s existing structure.

Groundforce Shorco have create a product for support schemes involving non-perpendicular cross strutting arrangements, the current practice is to weld a shear restraint to the waling beam.

Groundforce Shorco’s above ground safety product portfolio has been increased by the addition of handrail units for use with their fleet of super drag boxes.