EXECUTIVE REPORT
This preserved 15 cwt JCB site dumper was made in the mid 1960s.
Notable achievement
As JCB records its 75th anniversary, Nick Johnson chronicles how its introduction of compact machines has played a significant part in the family company’s growth and worldwide success.
The 23rd October 1945 is a very important date in the history of both construction equipment and the Bamford family. For this was not only the day that the late Joseph Cyril Bamford set up in business on his own (to create what is now simply known after his initials as JCB) but it was also the birthday of his first son Anthony – now the company Chairman Lord Bamford.
Working in a rented garage in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, Mr JCB’s first product was a two-wheeled, screw tipping farm trailer made from wartime scrap materials. 1948 saw hydraulic rams being introduced for tipping on JCB trailers and for raising the arms on a new Major Loader attachment for the front of Nuffield or Fordson Major tractors.
The JCB 1 backhoe dozer was effectively the company’s first compact machine.
The first JCB rear mounted backhoe excavator attachment was developed in 1953 and an improved Mk1 Excavator rear digger was soon combined with the Master Loader on a New Fordson Major
tractor to create the first JCB backhoe loader. This type of machine became synonymous with JCB and the company has now made more than 750,000 backhoe loaders.
Blessed with both practical engineering expertise and marketing flair, Mr JCB was an early believer in the merits of compact plant. So in 1962 he introduced the JCB 1 – a 2.8 tonne purpose-built wheeled machine with a rear mounted sideshift backhoe excavator and a front dozer blade. But, in a conservative UK construction industry, it was ahead of its time and sales ceased in 1966.
Mr JCB also briefly entered the then very competitive site dumper market in 1964. Only sold for some two years, there were three two- wheel drive, front tip models with skip capacities of 15 cwt, 22.5 cwt and 30 cwt. A 15 cwt model is today preserved within the offices at JCB World HQ in Rocester. 1977 saw JCB enter the then embryonic telescopic handler market with the 520 Loadall. This was the start of an epic JCB journey that has culminated in the company becoming world leader in telehandler sales with a comprehensive range that today includes compact models like its smallest 516-40. Having originally introduced its first standard sized 360° hydraulic excavator
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back in 1964, the company recognised the growing importance of the mini excavator market in 1983 by adding the 3.34 tonne 802. This machine, which incorporated much componentry from Kubota, was available for around three years.
In 1989 JCB re-entered the mini market with its own fully in-house designed and made 1.38 tonne 801. Today the company is a leading UK supplier of diesel engined compact excavators as well being at the forefront of the electric mini excavator revolution. It successfully put the innovative 1.9 tonne 19C-1 E-TEC into production last year.
The 1990s saw the JCB compact machine portfolio expand rapidly with the arrival of the 4.5 tonne 2CX backhoe loader in 1990, the company’s first Robot skid steer loaders in 1993 and the 2.7 tonne 1CX skid steer backhoe loader model in 1994. Interestingly, JCB skid steer loaders and compact track loaders are all distinguished by having a single offside mounted boom so that the operator can enter the cab easily through a nearside door.
One of the very few company acquisitions made by JCB in its 75-year history was that of the long established German compaction equipment maker Vibromax during 2005. This has resulted in the current JCB compact plant range including updated lightweight tandem vibrating roller models.
Launched in 1989 this 801 was JCB’s first completely in-house produced mini excavator.
2015 saw JCB re-enter the site dumper market through a badge engineering deal with Terex. This lasted two years before JCB decided to design and make its own dumpers in-house and today its range extends from a 1 tonne Hi-Tip model to a 9.0 tonne forward tip machine.
Ably led by first Mr JCB and, since 1975, by Lord Bamford, JCB has risen to become one of the world’s most prominent construction equipment makers. It is a real shame that the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented the business from applying its usual showmanship prowess to this milestone 75th anniversary.
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www.jcb.com
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