ScaffChamp future under review after successful Vilnius event

Daniel Norton
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ScaffChamp future under review after successful Vilnius event

The future location of ScaffChamp is unclear after key figures behind the international scaffolding competition moved on from Layher Baltic.

This year’s event in Vilnius closed after another successful competition, with 19 teams taking part across 2 rounds in front of sponsors, suppliers and supporters from across the scaffolding industry.

RNDV Industries won the title for the second year running, giving the Lithuanian team another major result on home ground.

But the event now enters a period of uncertainty.

Changes behind the event

Viktor Voroncov

ScaffChamp has become closely linked with Lithuania and the team at Layher Baltic, who have helped turn it into one of Europe’s most visible international scaffolding competitions.

Viktor Voroncov, one of the figures most closely associated with the event, has already left Layher Baltic after 15 years with the company.

Oleg Abramov, another central driving figure connected with ScaffChamp, is also due to leave Layher Baltic in the near future.

Speaking to Scaffmag during this year’s event, both Voroncov and Abramov said they did not yet know what was planned for ScaffChamp 2027.

Andrius Mikenas, Layher Baltic’s new general manager, said he was confident the event would continue, but confirmed that the final decision rests with Layher Germany.

“The event will continue for sure,” he told Scaffmag. “The question is where.”

Mikenas said Layher Germany controls the ScaffChamp brand and would decide where the next competition is held.

He said it was “hard to say” what would happen in 2027, but added that feedback from Layher representatives at this year’s event had left him confident the competition would continue.

Poland and Germany discussed

Scaffmag understands that Poland and Germany have both been discussed as possible future host countries.

A source familiar with discussions around the event said ScaffChamp was expected to take place next year, but suggested it may not return to Vilnius. The source said Poland or Germany were likely options.

Mikenas also confirmed that Poland had previously been considered as a possible host before the decision was made to hold the 2026 event in Lithuania.

He said moving ScaffChamp to another country would require knowledge and support to be transferred, with local partner companies needing time to prepare.

That could keep Lithuania in the conversation.

Several support companies involved in the Vilnius event already understand the format and have experience helping deliver it. Asked whether he would like ScaffChamp to return to Lithuania, Mikenas said he would be happy to host it again.

He also suggested Abramov could continue to support the event after leaving Layher Baltic, potentially through a subcontracted role.

ScaffChamp has built a strong following because it gives working scaffolders a rare public platform.

Teams are judged on safety, speed, accuracy and teamwork as they complete a timed scaffold build in front of an industry audience.

This year’s competition included teams from Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Ireland, Türkiye, Mongolia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Italy, Peru, Romania, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Canada.

For competitors, the event is a chance to represent their country, employer and trade on an international stage.

For Layher, the decision now is whether to keep ScaffChamp in Lithuania, where the support network is already in place, or take the competition to another country under the ScaffChamp brand.

No formal announcement has yet been made on the 2027 event.

Stepup expands OCTO access in Denmark through SST deal

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Stepup expands OCTO access in Denmark through SST deal

Stepup Octo ApS has announced a new partnership with Danish scaffolding specialist SST ApS to widen access to its OCTO scaffolding system across Denmark.

Under the agreement, SST will supply Stepup OCTO equipment for both resale and hire. The deal gives Danish contractors a local route to the system, backed by SST’s market knowledge and customer base.

SST was founded in 2009 and has built its business around scaffolding sector supply and support. By adding OCTO to its range, the company said it aims to give customers wider access to a flexible system with local service behind it.

Stepup said the agreement forms part of its wider European growth plans. The two businesses will work together on sales, leasing and customer account development in Denmark.

The companies said demand for higher-performance scaffolding systems in Denmark is rising as contractors place more focus on efficiency, safety and reliable supply.

Stepup and SST are also investing in production planning, stock availability and operational capacity. The aim is to improve delivery performance and reduce the risk of supply delays.

The release said expanded investment will increase warehouse and service capacity during 2026, giving Danish customers more consistent product availability.

Stepup also plans to introduce its own RINGLOCK product range to the Danish market. The move would give customers access to a wider product range from the same supply base.

Mike McAnnally, CEO of Stepup, said the agreement would help strengthen the OCTO platform in Denmark.

“By working with SST, we can support customers more closely, respond faster to market needs and create the right conditions for continued growth,” he said.

Nicholas Morgan, Managing Director UK & Europe, said the collaboration would help Stepup serve Danish customers with reliable supply and a clear long-term commitment.

“It also supports our wider strategy to expand Stepup’s presence across key European markets,” he said.

The move is another sign of manufacturers and suppliers placing more weight on local stock, hire availability and country-level support as European contractors look for more certainty in system scaffold supply.

Nearly 80% of scaffold sites fail safety checks in German state

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Nearly 80% of scaffold sites fail safety checks in German state

Authorities in the German state of Hesse have launched a week-long scaffold safety inspection campaign after previous checks found that only 21% of construction sites fully met required safety measures.

The targeted inspections are taking place across Hesse from 8 to 12 June and involve the regional administrations in Gießen, Darmstadt and Kassel.

The move forms part of a wider campaign by Germany’s Joint Occupational Safety and Health Strategy, known as GDA, which is focused on reducing fall accidents in construction.

Falls remain one of the biggest risks facing construction workers in Germany. According to Hesse officials, falls accounted for 31% of fatal workplace accidents in the country between 2009 and 2023.

Inspectors are expected to focus on both technical and organisational failings linked to scaffolding. Previous checks found a high level of non-compliance, including missing assembly instructions and scaffolds being altered incorrectly on site.

Dr Katherina Rüping, deputy head of the construction occupational safety department at the Kassel regional administration, said accidents continue to occur where scaffolds are built incorrectly or are not properly secured.

The campaign follows several years of information, advice and monitoring work aimed at improving fall prevention on German construction sites.

For scaffold contractors, the findings point to a familiar problem: safety failures often sit between the scaffold handover, site management and later unauthorised changes made during use.

The German action will be watched by safety bodies across Europe, where falls from height remain a major cause of death and serious injury in construction. Eurostat data shows construction accounted for 24% of all fatal workplace accidents in the EU in 2023.

The Hesse campaign is expected to put site managers, employers and scaffold users under closer scrutiny, with inspectors aiming to address unsafe conditions while they are on site.

RNDV crowned ScaffChamp champions again in Vilnius

Daniel Norton
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RNDV crowned ScaffChamp champions again in Vilnius

RNDV has been crowned ScaffChamp 2026 champion after winning the international scaffolding competition for the second year running.

The team retained the title in Vilnius, Lithuania, after completing this year’s scaffold build against a field of 19 international teams.

Judges assessed speed, safety, accuracy and workmanship, with teams also facing time penalties for any faults found during inspection.

The result brought the 2026 event to a close after 2 days of competition, industry networking and live demonstrations at the ScaffChamp arena.

This year’s contest opened on Friday with team presentations, the official draw and the reveal of the structure that competitors would have to build on competition day.

The draw placed the teams into 2 rounds.

Round 1 began with RNDV, followed by Stabil, N-Projects, Scaff-Tech, A-Team, Skyline Scaffolding, Team Türkiye, NBIK, Muehlhan and MTL Group.

Round 2 brought Teknopont, Talim, AlpAccess, AK Scaffolding, Air Tek Group, Bilfinger, Gerüstbau Samiez, Volken Group and Groupe Vermeren into the arena.

Competition day saw each team race to complete the required scaffold structure before dismantling it safely and cleanly.

Times were then reviewed alongside any faults or penalties identified by the referees.

RNDV finished with a final time of 02:05:08, securing victory ahead of Bilfinger in second place and Volken Group in third.

The result gives RNDV back-to-back ScaffChamp titles and confirms the team’s place as one of the standout competitors in the event’s recent history.

The 2026 structure quickly became one of the main talking points around the arena.

Several teams were unable to complete the build within the allotted time, with the technical demands catching out even experienced competitors.

One competitor told Scaffmag the structure was “one of the most technical ScaffChamp builds we’ve seen, with very little margin for error once you got behind on the sequence”.

Event organisers had not expected the build to catch out as many teams as it did, with the final standings shaped by completion, accuracy and penalty control as much as outright speed.

One of the most closely watched teams was A-Team, a young squad made up entirely of apprentices from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The team received eight minute penalty from the judges, but provided strong result in a contest where accuracy mattered as much as pace.

But they were unable to complete the build within the time limit.

Their performance still drew attention around the arena, with the apprentices keeping their standards under pressure against experienced international teams.

The weather also played its part across the 2 days.

Wet conditions affected parts of the event, including the opening day, but the rain did not stop the draw, briefings and partner activities from going ahead.

By Saturday afternoon, the sun came out for Round 2, giving the arena a very different feel as the second group of teams began their build. However, the brighter conditions did not make the structure any easier.

Speaking after the result, one spectator watching from the arena said: “The build looked incredibly technical this year and you could see teams having to think through every move. Even when things weren’t going to plan, the atmosphere was brilliant. The crowd stayed engaged all day and there was a real sense of respect for what the teams were trying to achieve.”

ScaffChamp brings together scaffolders from across Europe and beyond, giving teams the chance to compete under pressure in front of industry figures, suppliers and supporters.

For competitors, the event is also a rare chance to show the skill, judgement and discipline involved in scaffolding to a wider audience.

The 2026 competition again drew teams from across the international scaffolding community, with competitors travelling to Lithuania to test themselves against some of the best in the trade.

Scaffmag covered the event from Vilnius, with updates, images and reaction from the arena throughout the 2 days.

More reaction from the winning team and organisers will follow.

ScaffChamp 2026 gets underway in Vilnius

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ScaffChamp 2026 gets underway in Vilnius

After Friday’s team draw and structure briefing, competitors are now putting planning into practice as they take on the scaffold build challenge that will decide this year’s champion.

The competition day follows a wet opening programme on Friday, when teams were introduced, the running order was confirmed and the build design was revealed to competitors.

This year’s competition is split across 2 rounds.

Round 1 begins with RNDV from Lithuania, followed by Stabil Épít? from Hungary, N-Projects from Poland, Scaff-Tech from Poland, A-Team from Scotland and Northern Ireland, Skyline Scaffolding from Ireland, Team Türkiye, NBIK from Mongolia, Muehlhan from Greece and MTL Group from the Czech Republic.

Round 2 will feature Teknopont from Italy, Talim from Peru, AlpAccess from Romania, AK Scaffolding from the United Kingdom, Air Tek Group from Spain, Bilfinger from Germany, Gerüstbau Samiez from Germany, Volken Group from Switzerland and Groupe Vermeren from Canada.

For the UK industry, attention will be on AK Scaffolding, which enters the arena in Round 2.

The teams are being judged on more than speed. Accuracy, safety, teamwork and clean execution all matter, with referees inspecting the structures and applying time penalties where errors are found.

The scaffold design, revealed during Friday’s briefing, includes several sections and working levels including a roof, giving teams a technical task that will test planning and communication as well as pace.

ScaffChamp has become one of the few international events where working scaffolders compete directly in front of an industry audience.

The format puts practical skill at the centre of the event, with teams required to build quickly while still meeting the standards expected on site.

Scaffmag is in Vilnius covering the competition throughout the day through its live blog, website and magazine.

Live Blog: ScaffChamp 2026 opens today in Vilnius

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Live Blog: ScaffChamp 2026 opens today in Vilnius

ScaffChamp 2026 opens today in Vilnius, with the team draw and the reveal of tomorrow’s build task set to be the main focus of day 1.

Scaffmag is on the ground in Lithuania and will be running a live blog throughout the event, bringing updates, photos and reaction from inside the venue.

The opening day is largely about setting the stage for tomorrow’s competition, when teams from across the world will be tested on speed, safety, planning and scaffold craft.

Over the next few days, we’ll be your eyes and ears on the ground, providing real-time updates, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights into the competitions, innovations, and industry discussions that make ScaffChamp 2026 a must-follow event.

HAKI expands fall protection offer with Combisafe deal

Daniel Norton
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HAKI expands fall protection offer with Combisafe deal

HAKI Safety has signed an agreement to acquire selected operations of Combisafe, the fall protection brand best known for temporary edge protection and catchfan systems used on construction and infrastructure projects.

The deal is expected to complete at the start of the third quarter of 2026.

The acquisition will see HAKI take on selected Combisafe assets, including the brand, product portfolio, patent and design rights, customer relationships and certain operating assets. Operations and staff will transfer to HAKI Safety.

The purchase price is USD 2m, around £1.5m, for the net assets. The sellers will also contribute around USD 2m, again about £1.5m, to cover possible change-related costs.

Combisafe is currently owned by PIP Global Safety. It has annual turnover of about SEK 80m, around £6.4m, and employs more than 30 people across 6 countries. Its products are sold in about 20 countries.

HAKI said the deal will broaden its work zone safety offer and increase its presence in Europe. Combisafe’s product range includes edge protection and catchfans used to protect workers and the public on high-rise, public building, renovation and infrastructure schemes.

Sverker Lindberg, President and CEO of HAKI Safety, said the acquisition would give the group access to more markets and make it “a real player in the European fall protection market”.

He said: “It is with great confidence that I look forward to welcoming Combisafe to the HAKI Safety family. We have previously acquired fall protection companies and therefore find it very gratifying to acquire the Swedish pioneering company, with its unique product portfolio and brand.”

But HAKI has also acknowledged the work needed to improve the business. Combisafe has been unprofitable for the past few years.

Lindberg said: “It is evident that the company has challenges with its profitability. But we know the products and see the synergies. Once the acquisition is completed, we will immediately begin extracting both sales and product synergies. Our ambition is a fast integration process and to regain profitability in this fine business within a short time.”

Curt Holtz, CEO of PIP Global Safety, said Combisafe had a “rich history” but edge protection was no longer central to PIP’s strategy.

He said: “This brand is a good fit for the HAKI Safety team, and we believe they will be the right owner going forward.”

Combisafe was founded in Sweden in 1987 and has changed ownership several times since 2008. HAKI Safety has already bought other fall protection businesses linked to the same market, including Vertemax in 2021 and Novakorp Systems in 2022.

Those companies now sit within HAKI’s Work Zone Safety business area under the HAKI brand.

Former 3B Training director joins NASC training team

Daniel Norton
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Former 3B Training director joins NASC training team

NASC has appointed Rob Boardman as its new Head of Training and Education.

He will take up the role from Monday 8 June 2026, joining the trade body after nine years with 3B Training, a CISRS-recognised training centre.

Boardman most recently worked as Operations Director at 3B Training. NASC said his experience gives him a strong understanding of scaffolding training, training centre operations and the standards used to support workforce development across the sector.

The appointment comes at a busy time for scaffolding training, with continued industry focus on competence, skills shortages and the future structure of CISRS training routes.

NASC said Boardman’s role will support its work around training and education across the scaffolding and access industry.

Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC and CISRS, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rob to the team. He brings a wealth of relevant experience and expertise and joins us at an important time for training and education across the scaffolding and access industry. I look forward to working with him.”

The move also gives NASC a senior training appointment with direct experience from inside the CISRS training centre network.

Boardman’s background at 3B Training is likely to be relevant as the sector continues to discuss access to training, employer support and the skills needed to bring new entrants into scaffolding.

Fuel costs pile pressure on UK scaffolding firms

Daniel Norton
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Fuel costs pile pressure on UK scaffolding firms

Rising fuel costs are continuing to hit scaffolding businesses across the UK, with many firms absorbing the increases rather than passing them on to clients, according to a new NASC industry survey.

The survey, carried out among NASC members and wider industry stakeholders, found that 49.2% of respondents had seen fuel costs rise by more than 20% so far this year.

A further 44% reported increases of between 11% and 20%, underlining the pressure on companies that depend heavily on vehicle fleets, site visits and material deliveries.

Respondents rated the impact of higher fuel costs on their businesses at an average of 7.2 out of 10.

Transport and vehicle costs were the main concern, cited by nearly 94% of respondents. More than half also said fuel prices were affecting profit margins and site visits, while delivery logistics and project pricing were also being hit.

Despite the scale of the increases, many firms said they had been unable to recover the added costs from clients. Some 57.1% said they had not passed on any of the increase, while just 1.6% said they had passed on the full cost.

Instead, companies said they were absorbing the pressure, planning delivery routes more carefully, cutting site visits where possible, and reviewing estimating and pricing.

The survey also found concern about further fuel rises, with businesses rating their level of concern at an average of 7.9 out of 10. More than 30% gave the highest possible rating.

Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC and CISRS, said the findings should concern the wider construction supply chain.

“Scaffolding businesses play a vital role in enabling construction, maintenance, refurbishment and infrastructure projects across the UK, yet many are being forced to absorb substantial increases in fuel costs at a time when margins are already under pressure,” he said.

“We are seeing a worrying number of insolvencies across the sector. Rising operating costs, combined with intense competition and limited ability to recover additional expenditure from clients, are creating real challenges for many businesses.

“The scaffolding and access sector is fundamental to the Government’s ambitions for economic growth, housing delivery and major infrastructure investment. If the UK is serious about meeting its building targets, it must recognise the pressures facing the businesses that make those projects possible.”

Mr Dickin said NASC wanted the Government to consider practical relief for construction and access firms, including fuel-related support, targeted tax measures or other support to help businesses remain resilient.

The findings add to wider concern about cost pressure across the scaffolding and access sector, particularly for firms with large fleets, labour-heavy site operations and contracts priced before recent cost rises took hold.

Jersey gains first CISRS training centre for Channel Islands

Daniel Norton
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Jersey gains first CISRS training centre for Channel Islands

Scaffolders in Jersey can now access CISRS training locally after Scaffold Training Academy Ltd gained approval as an official CISRS Training Centre.

The centre is the first approved CISRS Training Centre in the Channel Islands.

It means scaffolders based in Jersey will no longer need to travel to the UK mainland for some nationally recognised training, including the CISRS Operative Training Scheme and Basic Scaffold Inspection course.

The approval follows nearly 2 years of work between Scaffold Training Academy Ltd, CISRS, NASC and the Government of Jersey.

The new centre has opened at a time when the Health and Safety Inspectorate in Jersey has made CISRS cards the accepted test of competency for scaffolders working on the islands.

Kelly Keating, Director of Scaffold Training Academy Ltd, said the approval was a major step for local scaffolders and employers.

“This has been a long time in the making and we are incredibly proud to have reached this point,” she said.

“Scaffolders in Jersey have always had to travel to the mainland to access nationally recognised training, and that has been a barrier for many.

“Having an approved CISRS centre here changes that. We are committed to raising the standard of scaffolding training across the Channel Islands and this is just the beginning.”

The centre launched its first courses in March and April 2026.

Two programmes are currently available.

The CISRS Operative Training Scheme, known as COTS, is the first step on the CISRS pathway. It must be completed before candidates can move on to further training, including Part 1, Part 2 or Advanced scaffolding qualifications.

The CISRS Basic Scaffold Inspection course is aimed at experienced scaffolders, supervisors and site managers who inspect basic scaffolding structures.

Funding support is also available for eligible candidates through Skills Jersey.

The approval gives the Channel Islands’ scaffolding and access sector a local route into structured training, while helping employers meet competency requirements without the extra cost and disruption of sending workers to the mainland.

CISRS and NASC said they were pleased to welcome Scaffold Training Academy Ltd into the network of approved training centres.

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