Scaffolding manufacturer AFIX Group is expanding its presence across Asia, the Middle East and Africa as it looks to strengthen its distribution network and secure larger industrial and infrastructure projects.
The Belgian-headquartered group has stepped up its activity across the AMEA region following the appointment of Paul Grant in February 2026 to support business development and operations across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Grant brings more than 40 years of experience in the scaffolding industry, including 15 years overseeing operations across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Speaking about his new role, Grant said: “It’s an exciting time for me personally, heading up the AMEA business for AFIX Group. Having spent over 40 years as an end user in the scaffolding industry, including 15 years running operations across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia—I know firsthand the engineering and commercial benefits this system brings to major projects.”
Grant, whose role is Business Development & Operations Support, is working alongside other regional appointments, including David Barango Tariah, who is helping develop the company’s position in Nigeria.
AFIX says it is now seeking further distribution partners across the region while strengthening relationships with existing customers in Africa, where the group currently operates two permanent branches.
From European manufacturer to international supplier
The expansion follows more than 20 years of growth for AFIX, which was founded by Christiaan Fleurbaey in 2004.
The company was originally established to provide contractors with an alternative to traditional tube and fitting scaffolding through its AFIXFAST modular system.
Manufactured using high-strength S355 steel, AFIXFAST is a multi-directional ring scaffolding system designed to reduce erection times while meeting international safety and engineering standards.
According to the manufacturer, the system holds DIBt approval and certification to relevant European EN standards.
Over the following two decades, AFIX developed its manufacturing, rental and engineering operations, establishing production facilities in Rotterdam and Istanbul and building a distribution network across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
The business now supplies scaffolding equipment alongside project engineering, design and rental services for contractors working across a range of industrial and construction sectors.
UK business forms part of wider expansion
AFIX strengthened its presence in the UK in 2019 through the acquisition of Grand Construction Products Ltd.
The company was subsequently renamed AFIX UK Ltd and operates from the South East of England, supplying traditional tube and fitting equipment, ancillary scaffolding products and the group’s AFIX modular systems.
Alongside its equipment range, AFIX has developed finance and leasing arrangements aimed at helping contractors invest in additional scaffolding stock.
The manufacturer says these options have proved particularly popular with small and medium-sized scaffolding businesses looking to increase their equipment holdings or introduce ringlock systems into fleets traditionally built around tube and fitting scaffolding.
Depending on the arrangement, contractors can spread the cost of equipment purchases rather than committing substantial capital upfront.
For smaller scaffolding companies, the initial investment required to build a system scaffold fleet can be a significant consideration, particularly when equipment is needed to take on larger contracts.
AFIX says its financing arrangements are intended to give those businesses greater flexibility when expanding their operations.
Focus turns to major international projects
The group’s latest expansion is focused on developing opportunities across infrastructure, industrial scaffolding, offshore construction and major energy projects.
AFIX is looking to establish new distribution relationships while working more closely with existing customers in Africa and other developing markets.
The strategy is intended to strengthen its position as a supplier to contractors delivering large-scale industrial and infrastructure work.
Grant said the company’s approach to customer relationships would be an important part of that expansion.
“At AFIX we focus on long-term partnerships with our customers, offering access solutions and value engineering. I’m really enjoying working with the whole team to drive our expansion forward.”
The company believes its combination of modular scaffolding equipment, engineering support and financing arrangements will help it compete for larger contracts as it develops its international operations.
The AMEA expansion continues a period of international growth for AFIX as the manufacturer seeks to build on its established European operations and extend its reach into new markets.
