SGB opens in Ukraine

SGB has added to its eastern European operations with the opening of a new branch in Kiev, Ukraine, in a joint venture with Latvian engineering services company Excelsio Group. The branch will stock standard scaffolding products.

SGB will be a majority shareholder in the joint venture. Excelsio, which was also SGB's partner when it established its business in Latvia in 2003, has operations throughout the Baltic States, the Ukraine and Russia.

Geoffrey Butler, president of the SGB access services division, said: “Ukraine is a major central European gateway with a population of 50 million and a substantial industrial base. After years of under-investment, there exists considerable emerging demand for major office, hotel, motorway and airport expansion projects, all of which are clearly within our core competencies to support.”