JCB Hits Major Milestone with One Million Backhoes and Counting
Equipment

JCB Hits Major Milestone with One Million Backhoes and Counting

JCB celebrated a major machine milestone with the production of its one millionth Backhoe Loader. The first JCB Backhoe rolled off the production line in Rocester, Staffordshire in 1953. Called the Mark One, it brought the new wonder of hydraulic power to construction equipment for the first time.

In the first full year of production in 1954 just 35 of the machines were built and it took more than 20 years for the first 50,000 to be made. It took 59 years for the first half million JCB Backhoes to be manufactured – but less than 13 years for the next half million to be produced, culminating in today’s celebrations.

JCB now manufactures backhoe loaders in the UK, India, Brazil and it remains one of the most versatile and productive machines in the world. Despite the maturity of the versatile Backhoe Loader, it is still one of the biggest selling pieces of construction machinery and it remains the world’s 4th most popular machine in the construction equipment sales league table.

Today hundreds of Backhoe Loader employees lined the road outside JCB’s World HQ, joining company Chairman Anthony Bamford to watch a cavalcade of 16 Backhoes from down the ages. These spanned a 1954 Mark I through to a 2025 3CX model. Also joining in the celebrations today was retired JCB employee Ken Harrison, aged 100, who joined JCB as a welder in 1952 when only 29 people worked on the shop floor. Ken, one of the last known survivors of the production team that built the first JCB Backhoes, retired 36 years later in 1988.

Bamford said: “I am the only person in the business now who can remember the early days when we first started to make backhoes in what was a former cheese factory in Rocester. Looking back at that time, I could never have imagined that we would make one million of these diggers after such humble beginnings. Looking back is a fun thing to do but it’s always been JCB’s way to look forward and I’m looking forward to the production of the next one million Backhoes.”

JCB has always invested heavily in its Backhoe Loader range and an early catalyst for growth was in 1980 which saw the £24 million launch of the technologically advanced 3CX. Customers then went on to reap the fuel saving benefits of the launch of JCB backhoes powered by the JCB Dieselmax, a development which saves up to 11 per cent in fuel costs. Today’s 3CX Pro is the fastest Backhoe Loader in the world, capable of speeds up to 50kph, reducing travel time between sites.

As well as Backhoes, JCB also manufactures Loadall telescopic handers, tracked and wheeled excavators, wheeled loading shovels, mini and micro excavators, skid steer loaders, track loaders, compaction equipment, rough terrain forklifts and Fastrac tractors.

JCB backhoes are manufactured in the UK, India and Brazil and the company sells the product in 120 different countries. The business unit which manufactures the machines has previously won six Queen’s Awards.

Royalty, Prime Ministers, politicians and TV stars have all been photographed in the cab of JCB Backhoes over the years. The JCB Backhoe was even the subject of a song which made the top of the UK charts. And it was a JCB Backhoe which robbers used in a failed attempt to steal £350 million worth of diamonds from the Millennium Dome in 2000.

The one millionth JCB Backhoe to be produced was a 4CX model, which has been decorated in graffiti art by London-based artist and illustrator Dave Smith, and presented to Lord Bamford at today’s celebrations.

JCB celebrated a major machine milestone with the production of its one millionth Backhoe Loader. The first JCB Backhoe rolled off the production line in Rocester, Staffordshire in 1953. Called the Mark One, it brought the new wonder of hydraulic power to construction equipment for the first time. In the first full year of production in 1954 just 35 of the machines were built and it took more than 20 years for the first 50,000 to be made. It took 59 years for the first half million JCB Backhoes to be manufactured – but less than 13 years for the next half million to be produced, culminating in today’s celebrations. JCB now manufactures backhoe loaders in the UK, India, Brazil and it remains one of the most versatile and productive machines in the world. Despite the maturity of the versatile Backhoe Loader, it is still one of the biggest selling pieces of construction machinery and it remains the world’s 4th most popular machine in the construction equipment sales league table. Today hundreds of Backhoe Loader employees lined the road outside JCB’s World HQ, joining company Chairman Anthony Bamford to watch a cavalcade of 16 Backhoes from down the ages. These spanned a 1954 Mark I through to a 2025 3CX model. Also joining in the celebrations today was retired JCB employee Ken Harrison, aged 100, who joined JCB as a welder in 1952 when only 29 people worked on the shop floor. Ken, one of the last known survivors of the production team that built the first JCB Backhoes, retired 36 years later in 1988. Bamford said: “I am the only person in the business now who can remember the early days when we first started to make backhoes in what was a former cheese factory in Rocester. Looking back at that time, I could never have imagined that we would make one million of these diggers after such humble beginnings. Looking back is a fun thing to do but it’s always been JCB’s way to look forward and I’m looking forward to the production of the next one million Backhoes.” JCB has always invested heavily in its Backhoe Loader range and an early catalyst for growth was in 1980 which saw the £24 million launch of the technologically advanced 3CX. Customers then went on to reap the fuel saving benefits of the launch of JCB backhoes powered by the JCB Dieselmax, a development which saves up to 11 per cent in fuel costs. Today’s 3CX Pro is the fastest Backhoe Loader in the world, capable of speeds up to 50kph, reducing travel time between sites. As well as Backhoes, JCB also manufactures Loadall telescopic handers, tracked and wheeled excavators, wheeled loading shovels, mini and micro excavators, skid steer loaders, track loaders, compaction equipment, rough terrain forklifts and Fastrac tractors. JCB backhoes are manufactured in the UK, India and Brazil and the company sells the product in 120 different countries. The business unit which manufactures the machines has previously won six Queen’s Awards. Royalty, Prime Ministers, politicians and TV stars have all been photographed in the cab of JCB Backhoes over the years. The JCB Backhoe was even the subject of a song which made the top of the UK charts. And it was a JCB Backhoe which robbers used in a failed attempt to steal £350 million worth of diamonds from the Millennium Dome in 2000. The one millionth JCB Backhoe to be produced was a 4CX model, which has been decorated in graffiti art by London-based artist and illustrator Dave Smith, and presented to Lord Bamford at today’s celebrations.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

NHAI to Upgrade Tamil Nadu Highways

To reduce congestion on key national highways in Tamil Nadu, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planned capacity upgrades for at least eight highway stretches. The improvements will include bypasses, flyovers, and four-laning in Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, and Cuddalore. NHAI has invited tenders to appoint consultants for preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) on these expansions. The affected highways include NH-181, NH-81, NH-532, NH-85, and NH-136. Proposed Upgrades Across Highways - NH-181 (Coimbatore-Gundlupet Route): This stretch will see four bypasses an..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Ludhiana-Bathinda Highway Revived as NHAI Invites Bids

The Ludhiana-Bathinda highway project, initially stalled due to land acquisition issues, has been revived as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) invites fresh bids to resume construction. The project, part of the Ludhiana-Ajmer Economic Corridor, is estimated to cost Rs 24.61 billion and will be executed in two phases. Package 1, covering 30.03 km, has a budget of Rs 9.06 billion, while Package 2, spanning 45.25 km, is set to cost Rs 15.55 billion. The NHAI had previously withdrawn the project due to unavailability of land. However, intervention from Union Minister for Road Trans..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Dilip Buildcon Wins Rs 460M Arbitration

Infrastructure major Dilip Buildcon has secured an arbitration award of Rs 460 million against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over delays and breaches during the execution of a highway project in Karnataka. The dispute pertains to the Rehabilitation and Upgradation of the Kerala Border to Kollegala Section of NH 212, awarded to Dilip Buildcon under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) agreement dated June 6, 2014. The project involved two-lane expansion with paved shoulders and four-lane development under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase IV..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?