The world’s biggest JCB dealership has officially opened its doors for business after a $9.6 million 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 2.7 million sq. mi. (7 million sq km), and in the past seven years has seen a tenfold increase in sales. SKL’s new facility covers 37,674 sq. ft. (3,500 sq m) and has a showroom for 25 machines as well as an impressive parts and service operation.

The honor 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.”

“Almost one in four machines sold in Russia is made by JCB,” said 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 $9.6 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 Russia, including tracked and wheeled excavators, telescopic handlers, mini-excavators, wheeled loading shovels and skid steer loaders.

Across Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), JCB has a network of 70 dealers with another six opening this year.