SAVANNAH, Ga., June 4, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- JCB today began work on a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas – the biggest investment in
the company's history.
An official groundbreaking ceremony at the site marked the
beginning of construction, where The Hon. Alice Bamford, the daughter of company Chairman
Anthony Bamford, as she turned the
first shovelful of dirt on the property.
Work on the 720,000 sq. ft. (67,000m²) factory is now under way
on the 400-acre site. It will be the company's second largest
plant, rivalled only by JCB's world headquarters in Rocester,
Staffordshire, England, and create
1,500 new jobs over five years. The factory will make Loadall
telescopic handlers and aerial access equipment, with production
scheduled to start in 2026. The factory will also have the capacity
to expand and build other products in the future.
Chairman Lord Bamford said: "Construction equipment
manufacturers sell more than 300,000 machines every year in
North America, making it the
single largest market in the world. JCB has been growing its share
of this important market steadily over the past few years and the
time is now right to invest in our manufacturing capacity in
North America, where we already
have one factory."
"JCB really has come a considerable way since we sold our first
machine here 60 years ago and it gives me immense pleasure to see
how our business has grown in North
America. Today really is a milestone day in the history of
our family company," Bamford says.
"Texas was this year named as
The Best State for Business for a record-breaking
20th year, and I am proud to welcome JCB as the
newest business to call our great state home,"
said Governor Greg Abbott. "Today's groundbreaking marks
a major milestone in JCB's journey that will create 1,500
good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans in Bexar County and bring hundreds of millions of
new capital investment to San
Antonio and beyond. 'Made in Texas' is truly a powerful global brand, and I
look forward to celebrating JCB's continuing success as we work
together to build a bigger, better Texas for decades to come."
JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said:
"JCB's business in North America
has made tremendous progress in the past few years and the
opportunity for growth here is vast. This record investment gives
us a fantastic opportunity to build on our success and we look
forward to the completion of this great new facility."
Richard Fox-Marrs, President
& CEO of JCB North America, said: "The Loadall telescopic
handler is JCB's biggest selling product in North America and it is also the single
largest market for aerial access equipment worldwide, and
therefore, it makes great sense to build these two ranges
here."
"Texas is an obvious choice for
our new North American manufacturing facility, not least because
the state is the largest consumer of construction equipment in the
USA. San
Antonio is also the logical choice as a location for our new
factory because of its central location, proximity to the supply
chain and great local labor force. We are really excited about
JCB's new San Antonio factory and
for the future of our business in North
America," says Fox-Marrs.
JCB sold its first machine in North
America in 1964 and opened its first US manufacturing plant
in 2001 in Savannah, Georgia,
which employs 1,000 people. The new facility will manufacture
machines for customers specifically in North America.
JCB employs 19,000 people globally and has 22 factories around
the world, including 11 in the UK, seven in India, and others in Brazil and China. The company will mark its 80th
anniversary in 2025.
About JCB North America
JCB is the world's largest
privately owned manufacturer of construction, agricultural and
defense equipment. JCB North America currently employs over 1,000
people and operates out of its headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. The North American division
also has regional offices in Dallas,
Texas; Santa Monica,
California; and Miami,
Florida. JCB manufactures a range of more than 300 products
for customers in 150 countries. JCB products include Loadall
telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, tracked and wheeled
excavators, wheel loaders, compact excavators, skid steer loaders,
compact track loaders, Access aerial work platforms, rough terrain
forklifts and Fastrac tractors. For more information, visit
www.jcb.com.
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SOURCE JCB North America