Work has just begun on a new $500 million JCB factory in North America. Apparently, this is the biggest-ever investment in the company’s history.
The construction kicked off with the traditional ground-breaking ceremony, which took place at the new site in San Antonio, Texas. JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford and his daughter Alice were on hand to cut the first sod.
The 67,000m² factory will eventually create 1500 new jobs over five years. It will be the company’s second largest plant after its World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire.
The new US factory will make Loadall telehandlers and aerial access equipment, with production scheduled to start in 2026. The factory will also have the capacity to expand into the manufacture of other products in the future.
“Construction equipment manufacturers sell more than 300,000 machines every year in North America, making it the single largest market in the world," said Lord Bamford. "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.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said: “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. Today's ground-breaking 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 sold its first machine in North America in 1964 and opened its first manufacturing plant in Savannah, Georgia, in 2001. JCB employs 19,000 people and has 22 factories worldwide, including 11 in the UK, seven in India and others in Brazil and China. The company will mark its 80th anniversary in 2025.
https://www.jcb.com/en-gb
