JCB growth set to continue

Despite uncertain economic conditions worldwide, JCB said it will continue investing in new products and manufacturing facilities. The strategy saw sales increase by 30% in 2007 - half of which was accounted for by new or revised products.

Having upgraded its production capabilities in the UK, India and the USA, JCB is now boosting its parts stocking in Paris, Moscow and India. At Conexpo, the company will announce 29t and 36t tracked excavators (and show a prototype 52-tonner) along with three new minis and a brace of compact loading shovels.

The new JS290 is said to have "best in class" performance with slew torque and bucket tearout respectively 14% and 19% ahead of the class average. Its six-cylinder Isuzu engine produces 6% more power than the class average, giving 4% more hydraulic power to provide 11% more dipper tearout.

The machine has an all-new undercarriage (in standard, long and long narrow versions) and features JCB's Auto cab with 'keypad' immobilisation as standard.

The new 8055 minis are based on the 8045 platform and will be available in compact radius (55mm) and zero-tailswing versions when they replace the 8052 later this year. Increased tracking speeds with auto kick-down track motors are standard, while the options list for the 5.3t machines include air conditioning and low flow hydraulics.

At 2t, the new 8020 is designed to comply with towing regulations on the Continent and will run alongside the existing 8018 and 8025 models. Also aimed at European markets are the new hydrostatic loading shovels with the 2t operating weight 403 equipped with a ROPS bar, while the 5.8t model (409) comes with a cab.

Both the HiViz telehandlers and Hi-Tip Dumpsters, previewed at Bauma and SED, have now gone into full production.

The JS290's Isuzu engine produces 6% more power than the class average.