HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 1, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Worldwide industrial services and products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced today that its SGB division has strengthened its international leadership for providing total access solutions to major construction and industrial plant maintenance projects by acquiring full ownership of its Mastclimbers Ltd joint venture partnership, which ranks as the UK's leading supplier of mast climbing work platforms and related services.
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Mast climbers are motorized elevating platforms that enable workers and materials to be placed at their exact work location on a building. SGB acquired a majority shareholding in Mastclimbers Ltd in 2001, growing it from a regional base in Scotland into a national supplier serving the broader UK market. Today, Mastclimbers Ltd operates the UK's largest fleet of rental platforms, with services that extend from project feasibility and design to site erection and dismantling. SGB has also been expanding its international fleet, having acquired additional mast climber units in Denmark earlier this year to become that country's largest mast climber rental operator.
Harsco's SGB division is unique in its ability to provide a complete range of mechanical and non-mechanical access solutions for any work-at-height application. "We see the use of mast climbing platforms continuing to increase, particularly in high-rise residential and commercial construction where there is growing pressure on build and maintenance cycle times without compromise to the safe movement of men and materials," said Steven Shine, SGB's managing director for the UK.
Mastclimbers Ltd's founder Andrew Reid, a recognized expert in mast climbing technology, will continue to be involved with the development of the business in a consultancy capacity while Cameron Reid, previously Mastclimbers' operations director, has been appointed the unit's managing director in succession to his father, ensuring continuity and positioning the business for further growth.
Harsco's two access services divisions, SGB and Patent Construction Systems, comprise one of the world's largest and most complete providers of scaffolding, shoring, forming and other access solutions. The UK-based SGB division supports requirements throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific, while the U.S.-based Patent Construction Systems division serves North and South America.
Harsco Corporation is a diversified, worldwide industrial services and products company with annual sales in excess of $2 billion. Harsco's market-leading businesses provide mill services, access services, gas containment and control technologies, and engineered products and services to customers worldwide. The company employs 18,000 people at over 400 locations in more than 40 countries of operation. Additional information about Harsco, including its Access Services Segment businesses, can be found at www.harsco.com.
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