JCB announces expansion after sales surge
Manufacturing giant JCB, based in Staffordshire, has announced plans to build a £63m academy in Brazil. The company also revealed that it will invest £19m in a new engine plant in Delhi.
The company announced the proposals as it posted its annual results for the year to 31 December 2010. JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said that JCB’s revenue rose by 48 per cent last year, up to $3.2bn (£2.0bn) from $2.2bn (£1.35bn) in 2009.
In 2010 JCB sold 51,600 machines compared to 36,000 in 2009.
JCB said it will enhance its South American operations with the creation of a new $100m (£63m) factory in Brazil which will produce excavators and backhoe loaders. The £19m plant in Delhi will produce engines for the iconic yellow diggers.
The 350,000 sq ft factory in Brazil is being built in Sorocaba, close to JCB’s existing factorie
Sir Anthony said: “Last year saw a welcome return to growth for JCB, with an increase in our worldwide sales of almost 50 per cent, which is a tremendous achievement in a very competitive market.
“One thing that sets us apart as a privately-owned, family company is that we take a long-term view and can make decisions quickly. With markets growing so rapidly, the time is now right for us to enhance our already strong presence in Brazil and as a result I’m delighted to announce that we are building a new factory in Brazil for the production of excavators and backhoe loaders.
“Similarly in India, a successful market for JCB for more than 30 years, we have invested in an engine production facility which means our Indian customers now benefit fully from the performance and reliability of JCB’s world-beating engine for the first time.”
