JCB’s innovative engine business marked its 20th birthday with a celebration to thank employees for their vital role in its continuing success.
Since 2004, JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, has gone from producing three engines a day to making almost 300. It has become a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of diesel engines and is now leading the way with the pioneering development of hydrogen engines.
The business initially employed 20 people but has expanded its workforce to more than 400. To mark their anniversary, employees were presented with gifts and letters thanking them for their service. In addition, 10 employees with a combined 200 years’ service, planted an oak tree in the grounds of the plant to mark the occasion.
“I’m proud to have worked at JCB Power Systems since day one. Today marks 20 years of innovation, growth and dedication involving a talented team, delivering manufacturing excellence at JCB.”
Robert Taylor | JCB Power Systems General Manager
JCB Power Systems’ engines have been instrumental in helping set world records – firstly when the JCB Dieselmax streamliner, powered by two JCB engines, became the fastest diesel-powered car in the world in 2006 when it reached a speed of 350.092mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, USA – a record that still stands. In 2019, JCB’s Fastrac tractor stormed into the record books as the world’s fastest tractor with a speed of 135.191 mph – thanks to JCB’s 7.2 litre, 6-cylinder Dieselmax engine.
In 2010, JCB expanded production of engines to JCB India, with a dedicated facility in Ballabgarh, Delhi, where 200 engines are produced every single day.
In the UK, a team of more than 150 engineers is currently engaged in developing hi-tech hydrogen combustion engines for use in JCB machinery as part of a £100 million investment. More than 120 engines have come off the production line so far and many machines powered by these super-efficient engines are currently undergoing evaluation.
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That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
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Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
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It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
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Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
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Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.
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PROFITS GROW AT JCB AS MARKET OUTLOOK BECOMES MORE UNCERTAIN
Profits at construction equipment manufacturer JCB rose to £805.8 million in 2023, the company announced today. Sales turnover grew to £6.5 billion and machine sales increased to 123,228. The Group maintained a strong balance sheet with no net borrowings throughout 2023.
| 2023 (in £s Sterling) | 2023 (in US$) | 2022 (£) | |
| Turnover | £6.5 billion | $8.65 billion | £5.7 billion |
| Profit before tax | £805.8 million | $1.07 billion | £557.7 million |
| Machine sales (units) | 123,228 | $1.33/£1 | 105,148 |
JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “Despite a global market for construction and agricultural machinery which shrank by 4.3% in 2023, JCB’s sales increased by 14% to £6.5 billion.
“North America remains the world’s largest market for construction equipment and JCB’s sales there grew strongly during 2023. JCB’s business in India also performed well in a growing market and while the UK market remained largely flat in 2023, JCB increased its share of the market.
“The full year market outlook for 2024 is less positive, with challenging conditions in the UK and Europe, particularly in Germany where economic activity has declined sharply during 2024. In the UK, housebuilding activity has contracted, which is having a negative impact on machine utilisation.”
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford said: “Our family company, JCB, continues to invest both in new production capacity and in product innovation. Earlier this year, we broke ground on our new factory in San Antonio, Texas.
“The company’s ongoing investment in innovative new machines, such as the recently-launched JCB Pothole Pro designed to tackle the global scourge of potholes, together with our continued focus on the development of hydrogen combustion engines for our equipment in the future, puts JCB in a strong position for further long-term growth.”
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