Russian Yale Material Handling dealer Universal Spetstechnica LLC has opened new sales and service centres.

Russian Yale Material Handling dealer Universal Spetstechnica LLC (UST) has opened two sales and service centres at its Belgorod and Kemerovo locations.

The new centres are expected to strengthen Yale's distribution and service network in the Russian market and significantly increase sales of Yale materials handling equipment. UST will also be able to provide more technical support to the region's customers.

Werner Meier-Ansari, Yale sales director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, says the move "will help to ensure that Yale products and expertise are available as widely as possible throughout Russia".

UST has partnered with Yale since 2010, and the opening of the new sales and service centres is part of the company's growth plans.

The Belgorod service centre area exceeds 1,700 sqm (18,299 sqft.) and has increased in size by 30 times since the partnership with Yale began.

Meanwhile, the new service area in Kemerovo is over 10 times the size of the original branch and now operates in over 2,500 sqm (26,910 sqft.) of space.

Both branches want to increase their workforce by up to three times. The company says it is committed to ongoing training for its engineers to ensure repairs can be undertaken as quickly and effectively as possible.

At the Kemerovo centre, emphasis is being placed on specialists in mining equipment to provide quality and prompt maintenance for leading regional coal companies in the area.

Victor Bunetskul from UST says: "The increased space at both centres will allow our company to grow by undertaking a wider spectrum of work. It will also increase our reserve stock which will minimise the amount of time our customers have to wait for a piece of materials handling equipment or spare parts to be delivered."

Bunetskul adds that the new buildings are a demonstration of UST's future growth objectives and commitment. "They are an important step, not only for the company but for the development of the region."