Ultra Lite Utility Box

The Ultra Lite Utility Box is an exceptionally portable, lightweight trench shield engineered for shallow excavations and utility works. Constructed from hardened recycled plastic and a durable steel frame, it provides compliant trench support while remaining light enough to be installed by a standard mini-excavator.

This modular shoring system is available for sale and hire across the UK. It is supplied with fully adjustable spindles for fine-tuning the exact trench width, and its modular panels can be configured to suit the precise footprint of your project without relying on heavy plant.

Core capabilities and applications

Ideal for confined spaces, the system is designed to provide immediate, compliant safety in urban environments where lifting capacity is restricted and space is tight. Typical applications include:

• Telecoms installations and maintenance
• Utility and service repairs in urban streets
• Junction box installations
• Shallow urban groundworks
• Small pumping stations and chambers

Operational mechanics and site handling

Exceptionally lightweight. The defining feature of the Ultra Lite system is its low weight. A complete two-sided box weighs between 295kg and 320kg, allowing it to be safely handled and dropped into the excavation using a standard mini-excavator. This avoids the logistical headache and cost of bringing heavy lifting gear into confined residential or urban street works.

Hand-assembled for rapid deployment. Because the individual plastic and steel panels weigh just 136kg, the box is incredibly easy to prepare on site. A small crew can manually pin the panels and spindles together on the side of the trench prior to the lift, accelerating deployment.

Versatile orientation. The 2.00m by 1.50m panels can be placed in either a landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical) orientation, giving you the flexibility to increase either the trench length or the supported depth as required by the excavation.

Four-sided configuration. For complete 360-degree protection—such as around a junction box or a small manhole—the system can be supplied with end closure panels. When employed as an enclosed four-sided system, the entire assembled box weighs just 600kg, keeping it firmly within the safe lifting capabilities of small site plant while providing total perimeter security against trench collapse.

Temporary Works Design

When undertaking shallow utility repairs, ensuring the safety of your groundworkers is paramount. Our in-house engineering team can provide full Temporary Works Design calculations to verify that the 26.0 kN/m² earth pressure capacity is sufficient for your specific site conditions and if not we can design you a safe and compliant alternative.

Ultra Lite Utility Box: Common Questions

Buy or Hire Trench Shoring Equipment

We offer the Ultra Lite Utility Box for sale and hire with excellent stock availability, fast lead times, and prompt delivery nationwide. Temporary Works Design is also available from our in-house engineers. Please contact SEL for technical advice or a competitive quote.