The world's biggest JCB dealer depot has officially opened its doors for business after a £6m investment designed to accelerate growth in one of the company's most important markets.

Stroykomplekt (SKL) is the JCB dealer in Ekaterinburg, Russia's fourth largest city and home to 1.3 million people. From its base, the company covers a vast area of almost 7 million km² (2.7 million square miles) and in the past seven years has seen a 10-fold increase in sales. SKL's new facility covers 3,500m² and has a showroom for 25 machines as well as an impressive parts and service operation.

The honour of officially opening the new premises fell to JCB CEO Alan Blake who described Russia "as one of the jewels in the crown of JCB's global sales regions".

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"Almost one in four machines sold in Russia is made by JCB," Mr Blake said. "This success could not have been achieved without excellent dealers; dealers with vision; dealers who are prepared to invest and dealers with ambition. And this is what we have with Stroykomplekt.

"By investing £6 million in new premises Stroykomplekt has demonstrated not only a commitment to providing excellent service support but also great ambition to grow their business. The opening of this fantastic new building sets the standard for others to follow."

JCB sold its first machine in Russia - a backhoe loader - in 1979 as part of the build-up to the Moscow Olympics. Today, the company sells a wide range of other equipment in the country including tracked and wheeled excavators, telescopic handlers, mini excavators, wheeled loading shovels and skid steer loaders.

Across Russia and the CIS JCB's dealers have a network of 70 depots with another six opening this year.

www.jcb.com

(CD/JP)