The CMT Group Groundwork Tools range is organised into four separate handle categories, each representing a distinct buying path for site teams and procurement buyers.

Insulated Handle tools may be specified where site rules, risk assessments or project requirements call for additional protection near underground services, cables or electrical infrastructure. Buyers should check product specification, any insulation rating or standard where stated, service detection requirements, safe digging procedures, site rules and manufacturer guidance before ordering. Insulated handles do not replace safe digging practices or service detection procedures.

Polyfibre Handle tools are suited to wet, exposed or demanding environments where teams need strong, weather-resistant handles for daily site work. Polyfibre handles are often chosen for durability, moisture resistance and extended outdoor use, and are available across spades, shovels and forks.

Ash Handle tools offer natural shock absorption and traditional handling characteristics that suit teams doing extended digging and shifting. Ash handles can provide good comfort during use but may need more care in persistently wet or harsh site conditions.

All Steel Handle tools are a heavy-duty option for compacted ground, rubble, hard site conditions and repeated impact work. All steel handles can help reduce handle breakage at the socket, though buyers should check tool weight and grip suitability for the expected duration and intensity of use.

Spades and shovels are the most frequently ordered groundwork tools for site teams, often in more than one handle specification where teams work across different environments or site types. Forks are a standard requirement for sites involving stony ground, hardcore, aggregate and spoil. Rakes and lutes are regularly ordered for asphalt and screeding work on road, patching and paving projects. Crowbars and pickaxes are a common part of the van kit for teams doing site preparation, kerb work and breaking.

Teams on active groundworks sites typically need several tool types running at the same time. Ordering across the range in a single delivery reduces procurement frequency and helps maintain site readiness across the project.

Forks are the more practical choice when ground conditions make a spade blade inefficient. In stony or compacted soil, loose aggregate, gravel, hardcore and spoil from excavation or backfill, the tines of a fork penetrate and lift material more effectively than a flat spade blade. Digging forks handle bulk material movement and turning in these conditions more efficiently, where repeated spade strikes against consolidated aggregate or stones would slow progress and increase tool wear.

Spades are generally better suited to cutting into undisturbed ground, forming and edging trenches, and moving or placing cohesive soil and clay. Where a site team is doing both trenching and aggregate backfill, both tool types are likely to be needed on the same job.

Lutes have a wide, flat head designed for spreading and levelling asphalt or screed to an even surface. They are commonly used for road patching, surface dressing, car park laying and concrete surface work where an even finish is needed before compaction or curing. Asphalt rakes handle the initial spreading of hot or cold asphalt before luting, and can be used for aggregate spreading where a wide, even distribution is needed across the surface.

Site rakes are used for general material spreading, aggregate levelling and clearance that does not require the precision of a lute. Buyers should check the head type, head width and tine or blade specification to ensure the tool matches the surface material and finishing standard. Lutes and asphalt rakes are not the same as general site rakes and should not be used interchangeably on surface-critical work.

Groundwork Tools covers the hand-operated tools used directly by site operatives: spades, forks, crowbars, rakes, lutes and pickaxes for digging, levelling, breaking and material handling. These are individual operative tools, typically held in van kits, site toolboxes and depot stock for day-to-day groundworks tasks.

Groundwork Equipment covers larger items used in groundworks operations, such as compaction equipment, generators and mechanical site equipment. Power tools and plant items for heavier site work are held under Plant & Machinery. Buyers equipping site teams with hand tools and operative kits should use this Groundwork Tools category.

Crowbars and pinch bars are used for levering and breaking tasks including lifting paving slabs and kerbs, stripping shuttering and formwork, breaking compacted ground and demolition work. Bar length and head weight determine the leverage capacity available. Longer, heavier bars provide more force for heavy breaking tasks where there is space to operate, while shorter bars are easier to use in confined trenches or restricted working areas.

Pickaxes are suited to breaking clay, shale, tarmac, hard-packed soil and light masonry. The shape of the pick and mattock head suits different ground conditions and materials. Sledgehammers and mauls are used for driving stakes and posts, breaking concrete and masonry, and impact work on site. Buyers should match the head weight and handle type to the task requirements and the physical demands on the operative.

Yes. CMT Group supplies MAX and Richard Carters groundwork tools, including spades, shovels, forks, rakes, lutes, crowbars, pickaxes and sledgehammers for construction, civils, drainage, utilities, rail and maintenance teams.

For project quantities, depot stock or repeat site supply, procurement teams can use the EDGE B2B Portal or speak to the team about stock availability, account-based ordering and delivery options.

The wider supply service is supported by supplier-level accreditations including BSIF Registered Safety Supplier, BSI ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management and CHAS Elite. Product suitability depends on the individual item, task, ground conditions, manufacturer guidance and any project-specific or site requirements.

Spades, shovels, rakes and forks see regular wear on active construction and civils sites, and planned replacement cycles help avoid tools going out of service mid-project. Tracking tool stock across vans, site cabins and depot locations supports better visibility of when replacements are needed, and avoids emergency ordering at short notice.

Account-based ordering through the EDGE B2B Portal supports repeat purchasing with consistent trade pricing and a full order history, making it straightforward to reorder the same tool specifications without re-selecting products each time. For regular site supply or project-based replenishment, speaking to the team about standing supply arrangements and volume ordering can simplify ongoing procurement.