With skid steer loaders accounting for 43% of all construction machines sold in the US in 2010, compact equipment has become a core focus for JCB over here. However, it is unlikely to forget its backhoe roots and thus is born the 1CXT, putting its smallest backoe, the 1CX, onto mini crawler tracks. It will become available later this year, the company says.
The 1CX itself has also been updated and improved, with more cab room created by removing the control lever post. Other improvements include longer loader arms, an extending dipper option, servo controls and a power management system.
Also new from JCB at the show are the 225 wheeled and 225T tracked skid steer loaders, bringing to nine the number of models now offered in the family. The other seven, introduced just last year, are vertical lift machines. The two newbies have radial lift capability.
At a press conference on the opening morning, JCB Inc chairman and group deputy chairman John Patterson said that JCB's growing line of compact equipment, coupled with its growing dealer network, were positioning the company well in North America. "Distribution has always been our biggest issue in North America," he admitted. However, he added, it now had a network of 85 dealers with 250 branches, and no JCB dealers also sell competing products, he said.
Mr Patterson also announced that JCB is investing $100m in a new factory in Brazil. Click here for that story.
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