JCB (company)

JCB, is a manufacturer of equipment for

construction, agriculture, waste handling,
and demolition, based in Rocester,
England. It produces over 300 types of
machines, including diggers (backhoes),
excavators, tractors, and diesel engines,
across 22 factories spanning Asia, Europe,
North America, and South America; its
products are sold in over 150
countries.[3][4]
 JC Bamford Excavators Ltd

Type Private company

Industry Heavy equipment

Founded 1945

Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford

Headquarters Rocester, England

Key people Anthony Bamford

Chairman
Jo Bamford
CEO[1]
Products Construction,
agriculture, waste
handling and
demolition machinery

Revenue £3.35  billion (2018)[2]

Net income £341 million

Number of Approximately
employees 11,000[3]

Website www.jcb.com

Joseph Cyril Bamford Excavators Ltd. was

founded in 1945 by Joseph Cyril Bamford
and continues to be owned by the
Bamford family. In the UK, India, and
Ireland, the word "JCB" is often used
colloquially as a generic description for
mechanical diggers and excavators and
now appears in the Oxford English
Dictionary, although it is still held as a
trademark.[5]

History

20th century …

JCB was founded by Joseph Cyril Bamford

in October 1945 in Uttoxeter, England. He
rented a lock-up garage 3.7 by 4.6 m (12
by 15 ft). In it, using a welding set which he
bought second-hand for £2-10s (= £2.50)
from English Electric, he made his first
vehicle, a tipping trailer from war-surplus
materials. The trailer's sides and floor
were made from steel sheet that had been
part of air raid shelters. On the same day
as his son Anthony was born, he sold the
trailer at a nearby market for £45 (plus a
part-exchanged farm cart) and at once
made another trailer. At one time he made
vehicles in Eckersley's coal yard in
Uttoxeter. The first trailer and the welding
set have been preserved.
JCB's first welding set

The first vehicle JCB made (a farm trailer)

In 1948, six people were working for the

company, and it made the first hydraulic
tipping trailer in Europe. In 1950, it moved
to an old cheese factory in Rocester, still
employing six. A year later, he began
painting his products yellow. In 1953, his
first backhoe loader was launched, and the
JCB logo appeared for the first time. It was
designed by Derby Media and advertising
designer Leslie Smith. In 1957, the firm
launched the "hydra-digga", incorporating
the excavator and the major loader as a
single all-purpose tool useful for the
agricultural and construction industries.[6]

In 1960, JCB's hydraulic tractors entered

the North American market, proving a
long-lasting success. JCB became, and
still is, the brand leader in the world. By
1964, JCB had sold over 3,000 3C backhoe
loaders. The next year, the first 360-degree
excavator was introduced, the JCB 7.[7]

In 1978, the Loadall machine was

introduced. The next year, JCB started its
operation in India. In 1991, the firm entered
a joint venture with Sumitomo of Japan to
produce excavators, which ended in
1998.[8] Two years later, a JCB factory was
completed in Pooler near Savannah,
Georgia in the US, and the next year a
factory was opened in Brazil.

21st century …
In December 2000, JCB was fined €39.6m
by the European Commission for violating
European Union antitrust law.[9] The fine
related to restrictions on sales outside
allotted territories, purchases between
authorised distributors, bonuses and fees
which restricted out of territory sales, and
occasional joint fixing of resale prices and
discounts across different territories.[10]
JCB appealed the decision, with the
European Court of First Instance
upholding portions of the appeal and
reducing the original fine by 25%. JCB
appealed to the European Court of Justice
but this final appeal was rejected in
2006,[11] with the court slightly increasing
the reduced fine by €864,000.[12]

Production of the first engine designed

and manufactured by JCB, the JCB444
diesel engine, began in 2004.[13] In 2005,
for the first time in nearly forty years, JCB
bought a company, purchasing the
German equipment firm Vibromax. In the
same year, the firm opened a new factory
in Pudong, China. By 2006, the firm had
4000 employees, twice what it had in
1975.

Planning of a new £40 million pound JCB

Heavy Products site began following the
launch of an architectural design
competition in 2007 managed by RIBA
Competitions,[14] and by the next year, the
firm began to move from its old site in
Pinfold Street in Uttoxeter to the new site
beside the A50; the Pinfold Street site was
demolished in 2009. During that year, JCB
announced plans to make India its largest
manufacturing hub. Its factory at
Ballabgarh in Haryana, was to become the
world's largest backhoe loader
manufacturing facility.[15]

JCB shed 2,000 jobs during the recession,

but in 2010 it announced it was recruiting
up to 200 new workers.[16]
The company was a member of the CBI
business lobby group until 2016. In
October 2016, it was reported that JCB
had left the CBI in the summer of 2016
following the Brexit vote.[17] JCB has also
been a significant donor to the UK
Conservative Party; since 2007 JCB and
related Bamford entities have given the
party £8.1m in cash or kind.[18] JCB
chairman Anthony Bamford donated
£100,000 to Vote Leave, the official pro-
Brexit group.[17]

Worldwide operations
JCB factory and park at Rocester

The Fossor, made from parts of JCB vehicles, at the

JCB headquarters in Rocester

JCB has 22 factories in the UK, Germany,

North America, Brazil, Australia, India and
China.[19][4] The company employs some
12,000 people on four continents and sells
its products in 150 countries through
1,500 dealer depot locations. The
company has a range of more than 300
products.[20]

JCB is headquartered in Rocester, England

which is also the production site for
backhoe loaders and telescopic 'Loadall'
handlers. It has a further three production
plants in nearby Cheadle, Staffordshire
(JCB Earthmovers, JCB Landpower and
JCB Compact Products), one in Rugeley
(JCB Cab Systems), three in Uttoxeter
(JCB Attachments, JCB Heavy Products
and JCB World Parts Centre), one in
Foston, Derbyshire (JCB Power Systems)
and one in Wrexham in North Wales (JCB
Drivetrain Systems). In July 2013 the
company opened a dedicated logistics hub
in Newcastle-under-Lyme.[21] This facility
is the central hub for component
distribution to production facilities, as
distinct from the World Parts Centre in
Uttoxeter which distributes spare parts to
dealers and customers.

In December 2013 it was announced that

the Rugeley Cab Systems plant would
move to a new facility in Uttoxeter which
would allow the in-sourcing of cab
assembly currently contracted to third
parties. This investment is to be
accompanied by the expansion of the
Rocester and Cheadle production sites by
2018.[22]

Its Indian factories are based in Faridabad

(Haryana), Jaipur[23] and Pune, its US
factory is in Pooler, Georgia, its Brazilian
factory in Sorocaba, and its Chinese
factory was completed in 2005 in Pudong
near Shanghai. JCB also owns Vibromax, a
German compaction equipment company
based in Gatersleben.
JCB has also licensed its name and image
to a line of consumer power tools,
manufactured by Alba.

The products are sold through franchised

dealerships, many of which are often
exclusive and cover whole countries.[24]

JCB dominates the Indian construction

equipment market with every three out of
every four construction equipment sold in
India being a JCB. JCB India's revenue
rose more than twelve times to $1 billion
in 2012–13 from $75 million in 2001. The
Indian operations of the UK company
account for 17.5% of its total revenue.[25]
Products
Many of the vehicles produced by JCB are
variants of the backhoe loader, including
tracked or wheeled variants, mini and large
versions and other variations for carrying
and moving items, for example forklift
vehicles and telescopic handlers for
moving materials to the upper floors of a
building site. Wheeled loading shovels and
articulated dump trucks are also
produced.
The Soil Compactor VM 115 of JCB

Excavators …

JCB now has its X Series, an updated

version of the J series Tracked 360°
excavators ranging from the JZ70 (7-tonne
zero tail swing excavator) to the JS460
(46-tonne tracked excavator). In 2008 at
Con expo JCB revealed a new top range
JS520 which included the new style paint
job with rams painted black.
Wheeled 360° excavators ranging from the
JS130W to the JS200W.

Machines can be produced with either

monoboom or a triple-articulated boom

In July 2020 the company's electric digger

(19C-1E) was the winner of the MacRobert
Award, the most prestigious prize for UK
engineering innovation.[26]

Wheeled loaders …

Industrial and agricultural wheeled loaders

from compact 6-tonne hydrostatic
machines to larger 25-tonne quarrying
machines using a mix of 4- and 6-cylinder
diesel engines.

Wheel loader

Tractors …

JCB Fastrac 8250 tractor

JCB has also made its name in the tractor
world by producing one of the first such
machines that features proper suspension
and is capable of travelling at speed on
roads. The JCB Fastrac entered production
in 1990. Prior to this design, the
suspension was difficult because of the
fixed-height connections required to farm
machinery, and tractors were notoriously
slow on the roads. Dependent on the
model, the Fastrac can travel at 50 km/h,
65 km/h or 75 km/h (40 mph). At launch
the Fastrac was featured on the BBC
television programme Tomorrow's World,
and years later as Jeremy Clarkson's
tractor of choice in Top Gear. From 2006
the company also produces a range of
compact tractors designed for grounds-
care, horticultural, and light agricultural
duties.

Military vehicles …

JCB also makes a range of military

vehicles, which also concentrate on load-
handling and excavation.[27] These include
the JCB HMEE.

JCB Dieselmax …
JCB Dieselmax on display at the Heritage Motor
Centre

In April 2006, JCB announced that they

were developing a diesel-powered land
speed record vehicle known as the 'JCB
Dieselmax'. The car is powered by two
modified JCB 444 diesel power plants
using a two-stage turbocharger to
generate 750 bhp, one engine driving the
front wheels and the other the rear wheels.
On 22 August 2006 the Dieselmax, driven
by Andy Green, broke the diesel engine
land speed record, attaining a speed of
328.767 miles per hour (529.099 km/h).
The following day, the record was again
broken, this time with a speed of 350.092
miles per hour (563.418 km/h).

JCB Vibromax …

JCB acquired the German company

Vibromax, which manufactures
compaction equipment.

JCB Phones …
JCB licenses its brand for a series of
rugged feature phones and smartphones
targeted at construction personnel. The
design and marketing contract was
awarded to Data Select in 2010.[28]

Marketing

Logo …

The JCB logo dates from 1953; from 1960

the company typewriters were given an
extra key to render it accurately. The
company has mainly advertised in the
trade publications and their
advertisements have won many awards,
particularly for photography. The logo was
designed by Leslie Smith, and is off-set at
18 degrees from the horizontal and 22
degrees from the vertical—the angles Joe
Bamford liked.

Display team …

To demonstrate his faith in the hydraulic

fail safes on JCB machines (which lock
the arms in the event of a loss of hydraulic
pressure, preventing them from crashing
to the ground), Joe Cyril Bamford arranged
to have several backhoes raise themselves
up on their arms, and drove his car
beneath them.
This has since developed into a world-
famous demonstration of the versatility of
the backhoe configuration. The JCB
display team (JCB Dancing Diggers) tour
agricultural shows and produce videos,
showing some of the unusual ways in
which such vehicles can support
themselves or manoeuvre. For example, it
is quite common for drivers to support the
vehicle on both buckets, either for turning
on the spot without damaging ground, or
for spinning the tracks in a puddle to clean
them. The display team expanded this
concept into a sort of vehicle gymnastics.
The drivers are members of JCB's
demonstration team, who visit prospective
customers and demonstrate machines on
the customer's property.

Trends …

JCB became very famous in India thanks

to memes about its digging activities.[29]

JCB Insurance Services Ltd

JCB Insurance Services was founded in
1984 by JCB chairman Sir Anthony
Bamford as a fully owned subsidiary to
provide for the insurance needs of the
customers purchasing the firm's
equipment, with the funding they obtained
from another fully owned subsidiary, JCB
Finance. The insurance subsidiary
provides all-risks policies, with optional
additions for road risks coverage, and for
public liability and employers liability.[30][31]

JCB Academy
JCB is the sponsor of JCB Academy, a
new secondary school in Rocester which
had its first intake of pupils in September
2010.[32]

JCB Research
JCB Research is described as an obscure
company worth £27,000 which donated
£2m to the Conservative Party, making it
the largest donor in the run up to the 2010
election. Ownership of the company which
has never filed accounts is disputed by the
Bamford brothers. According to The
Guardian, much of the Bamford money
was held in shares in offshore trusts.[33]

In popular culture
JCB is prominently featured in the song
"JCB" by music group Nizlopi, which
achieved UK number one status. The
song is about a boy who goes to work
with his father for the day.
A JCB (not talking) named Jekub
appears in volume 2 (Diggers) of The
Bromeliad (alias Nomes) series by Terry
Pratchett.
The Lego Technic range featured a
scale-model of the JCB backhoe (Set
8862), complete with working hydraulics
systems (simulated using pneumatics)
and many other features of the original.
The 2017 movie Alien: Covenant
featured 20 JCB machines in a
spacecraft's "terraforming bay" to be
used on a mission to establish a new
colony on another planet.[34]
 JCB was a major sponsor of the
Williams F1 Formula 1 team, with its
logo prominent on the F1 cars and
hospitality for 2018 season. In 2019 it
became a sponsor of Racing Point F1
Team.

See also
Backhoe loader
Joseph Bamford
Anthony Bamford, Lord Bamford
JCB Academy
Patrick Bamford

References
1. "Sir Anthony Bamford's son takes over
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theconstructionindex. 20 October
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2. "RECORD SALES FOR JCB AS MARKET
REBOUND STAYS STRONG" . JCB. 25
June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
3. "Company Information" . J C Bamford
Excavators Limited. Archived from the
original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved
27 September 2010.
4. "A Global Manufacturer" . J C Bamford
Excavators Limited. Archived from the
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27 September 2010.
5. Glancey, Jonathan (20 April 2007).
"Classics of everyday design No 16" .
London: The Guardian. Retrieved
27 September 2010.
. Phillips, David (5 March 2001).
"Obituary: Joseph Bamford" . The
Guardian. London. Retrieved
15 September 2009.
7. "J C Bamford Excavators Ltd" .
Jcb.com. 21 November 2013.
Retrieved 15 June 2016.
. Diesel Progress, North American
edition – October 1998
 9. European Commission. "Commission
fines JCB for unlawful distribution
agreements and practices" .
Europa.eu. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
10. "JCB hit by £22m competition fine" .
The Guardian. 22 December 2000.
Retrieved 29 June 2018.
11. "End of the line for JCB's six-year fight
against £21m EU fine" . Birmingham
Post. Birmingham Post. 22 September
2006. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
12. "JCB appeal leads to increased fine" .
Vertikal.net. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
13. JCB.COM news on JCB 444 engine
Archived 31 March 2006 at the
Wayback Machine
14. The Uttoxeter Sentinel
15. "Economic Times April 3, 2009" . The
Economic Times. 3 April 2009.
Retrieved 15 September 2009.
1 . "Staffordshire-based JCB creates
hundreds of new jobs" . BBC. 14 April
2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
17. Chan, Szu Ping (10 October 2016).
"Manufacturing giant JCB ends CBI
membership over anti-Brexit stance" .
The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved
25 August 2017.
1 . "Tories boosted by construction
donations" . The Construction Index.
25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August
2017.
19. https://www.jcb.com/en-
au/construction
20. "Company Information" . JCB.
Retrieved 31 January 2011.
21. "Press Release" . JCB. Retrieved
9 December 2013.
22. "Press Release" . JCB. Retrieved
9 December 2013.
23. "JCB India to set up Rs 500 cr facility
at Mahindra World City" . Business
Line. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
24. Construction and Agricultural
Equipment. Generators. – MTA
Angola's JCB Exclusive Dealer –
Construction ¦ Agriculture ¦
Generators
25. "JCB perfects the art of manufacturing
in India" . Livemint. 25 September
2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
2 . "The winner of the 2020 MacRobert
Award: JCB" . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
27. "BATTLESPACE – In this issue" .
Retrieved 5 January 2011.
2 . Garwood, Michael. "Data Select set to
lose JCB exclusive?" . Mobile News.
Retrieved 27 July 2013.
29. https://web.archive.org/web/2019060
1074805/http://www.everlastingcelebr
ations.com/wtf/top-best-jcb-memes-
jokes-why-everyone-is-making-meme-
on-jcb-what-jcb-ki-khudai/
30. "JCB Insurance improves Plantmaster
policy" . Theconstructionindex.co.uk.
19 September 2012. Retrieved 15 June
2016.
31. "JCB launches insurance website" .
Vertikal.net. 16 January 2012.
Retrieved 15 June 2016.
32. JCB Academy website
33. Jamie Doward (14 November 2010).
"Feud between Bamford brothers
threatens to cast light on funding for
Tories" . Guardian newspapers.
Retrieved 9 March 2015.
34. https://www.jcb.com/en-
us/news/2017/09/gold-star-for-jcb-as-
machines-take-a-bow-in-cult-film

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