HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 17, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Worldwide industrial services and products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced today that its London-based SGB Group has secured its largest supply contract ever for light access products, a three-year agreement from U.K. do-it-yourself (DIY) retailer, Homebase valued at approximately $10 million per year.
The agreement calls for SGB to supply a complete range of aluminum and wooden step, extension, and specialty ladders throughout the Homebase retail network, and grants Homebase exclusive three-year rights to SGB's all-new "Masterclass" brand identity program, which includes dedicated packaging and point of sale materials for in-store merchandising. Homebase is the U.K.'s third-largest DIY retailer with nearly 300 stores.
Announcing the contract, SGB Group President and CEO Geoffrey D. H. Butler said, "Our marketing team has developed a superbly branded, competitively positioned, premium quality range which, enabled us to dislodge the incumbent supplier. This three-year supply deal ensures significant base volume for our light access manufacturing, and is a tremendous boost for the company as we enter 2002."
SGB's Youngman light access division is the U.K.'s leading ladder and aluminum access tower manufacturer, with the top brand position in both the retail and trade sectors. SGB and Harsco's U.S. based Patent Construction Systems division comprise one of the world's foremost providers of access, powered access, and forming and shoring services and products.
Harsco Corporation is a $2 billion diversified provider of market-leading industrial services and products serving the worldwide infrastructure development, steel, railway transportation, gas and energy industries. The company employs approximately 20,000 people in 40 countries of operation. Additional information about Harsco, including its SGB Group division, can be found at www.harsco.com.