In light of the upcoming spring season, JCB debuted a number of products to the press at its headquarters in Savannah, Ga., March 5.
North America is the company’s third largest market, and JCB plans to take advantage of the region’s ever-growing opportunities.
“JCB’s global sales were helped by a strong North American construction equipment market that grew by 13 percent in 2014,” said Arjun Mirdha, president and CEO of JCB North America.
With 97 dealers in about 300 locations, the company said it’s focusing on responding to the region’s needs.
JCB plans to do so with its new backhoe loaders, compact excavators, skid-steers and wheel loaders.
Rounding out JCB’s line of backhoe loaders are the company’s 3CX and 4CX Super backhoes. Serving a variety of needs, the 3CX is available in the 3CX-14 model and 3CX Super model. The 3CX and 3CX-14 are powered by 74 hp versions of JCB’s Ecomax diesel engines, which have no diesel particulate filter (DPF) or exhaust after-treatment.
The 3CX Super comes standard with a 91 hp or optional 109 hp engine, while the 4CX Super comes with a 109 hp engine. Both machines use Selective Catalytic Reduction with a diesel exhaust fluid additive to meet Tier 4 Final emissions standards.
“You’ve got the highest lifting capacities in the industry with over 9,000 lift capacity with this loader,” says Rafael Nunez, product manager, backhoe loaders, referring to the 3CX Super.
Spotlighted in the company’s line of compact excavators is JCB’s 100C-1, which shares the appearance of the latest JCB compact excavators but provides users with more hydraulic capabilities, a more powerful engine and increased productivity compared to its predecessors.
Powered by a 74 hp JCB Diesel by Kohler engine, the 100C-1 reaches a maximum digging depth of 15 ft. and features an H-pattern track frame with an open design and sloping side frames for easy cleaning.
JCB also released the 325T ForestMaster skid-steer, which it calls its safety machine yet. It offers a recovery winch, front work light protection, falling object protection system guard and track tube guard.
Powered by a 74 hp Ecomax engine, the machine includes a comprehensive protection kit and can be equipped with a 60-in. wide mulching head.
Concluding the introduction of JCB’s latest equipment is its 457 wheel loader, which is the first machine to feature the company’s JCB CommandPlus cab.
The CommandPlus cab includes JCB’s Command Driving Position, as well as an adjustable steering column and seat-mounted hydraulic controls. In addition, it provides increased internal space, additional storage room and LED lighting.
“It’s a massive improvement on the previous cab,” says Pete Gallagher, product sales manager, wheel loading shovels. “We’ve really focused on the operator and what the operator wants.”
The Tier 4 Final wheel loader is powered by an MTU engine and does not require DPF. The JCB 457 also comes equipped with a LiveLink telematics system, which provides operators with remote access to real-time fuel consumption and machine working data.
