World’s biggest JCB dealer depot opens

Russian dealer invests £6 million in new premises to accelerate growth in one of JCB’s key markets

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

Stroykomplekt (SKL) are the JCB dealer in Ekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city and home to 1.3 million people. From their base, SKL cover almost 7 million square kilometres (2.7 million square miles) and in the past seven years have seen a 10-fold increase in sales.

The company’s new facility covers 3,500 square metres and has a showroom for 25 machines as well as an impressive parts and service operation.

The facility was officially opened by JCB chief executive officer Alan Blake who described Russia ‘as one of the jewels in the crown of JCB’s global sales regions’.

‘Almost one in four machines sold in Russia is made by JCB,’ said Mr Blake. ‘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 have 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 their 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, telehandlers, mini-excavators, wheel loaders and skid-steer loaders.

Across Russia and the CIS, JCB’s dealers have a network of 70 depots with another six due to open this year.