The
landmark machine was driven off the line at the company’s factory in Rocester,
Staffordshire – the very location where the first JCB backhoe was manufactured
almost 70 years ago in the UK.
It
was in 1953 that company founder, the late Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE, conceived
the idea of the JCB backhoe loader, which created, for the first time, a single
machine which combined a front shovel and rear excavator arm. In its first full
year of production in 1954, just 35 of the machines were produced and it took
more than 20 years for the first 50,000 to be made. JCB now manufactures backhoe loaders in the
UK, India, Brazil and the USA.
JCB
Chairman Lord Bamford said: “Some of my earliest childhood memories are of
watching our first backhoe loaders being produced at Rocester and it’s
incredible to think we have now manufactured 750,000.
“What’s
even more incredible is that the backhoe remains one of the world’s most
popular pieces of construction equipment almost seven decades after the first
was produced. It really is testament to the versatility of the machine that its
popularity continues to endure and will see it continue to prosper in the
future.”
The
750,000th model is a Special Edition of JCB’s latest 3CX backhoe loader,
bearing a unique livery and comprehensive specification.
Despite
its maturity, the backhoe loader remains hugely popular in terms of global
construction equipment sales – even though new and competitive products have
evolved over the past 67 years. And JCB’s iconic backhoe is the biggest selling
in the world – and has been for 19 consecutive years.
The
company’s first backhoe was the JCB Mark I and the concept quite literally went
on to change the shape of the world, mechanising many jobs, which had
previously been done by hand. The product developed rapidly, with the launch of
the Hyddra-Digga in 1956. Both these early machines came in blue and red livery
and it was only in 1960, with the launch of the heavier, more powerful JCB 4,
that JCB’s signature yellow branding made its first appearance.
The
JCB 3 went into production in 1961, followed by the JCB 3C in 1963 and the JCB
3CII in 1967 – a model which stood the test of time, staying in production for
the next 13 years.
It
was 1980 which proved to be a real turning point with the £24 million
investment in the launch of the technologically advanced JCB 3CX – a machine
which has become a backhoe icon around the world. It was the launch of this
machine which was the real catalyst for growth of backhoe sales and for JCB.
Fast
forward to today and the current generation of backhoe loaders feature
automatic deployment of stabilisers on unlevel ground, a Smooth Ride System
which cushions the loader and improves load retention when travelling and a
TorqueLock feature which reduces on-road fuel consumption by up to 25%.
Subir
Kumar Chowdhury, Managing Director and CEO of JCB India said “JCB introduced
the iconic Backhoe Loader in India four decades ago. Today, it is visible at
almost every worksite in metros, towns, and villages, working tirelessly
towards building a new India. JCB Backhoe Loaders have made a significant
impact in the country, with the machine becoming almost synonymous with
infrastructure development”
Royalty,
Prime Ministers, politicians and TV stars have all been photographed in the
cabs of JCB backhoes over the years. The JCB backhoe was even the subject of a
song which made the top of the charts. The latest backhoe production milestone
comes after JCB celebrated the manufacture of its 500,000th backhoe in December
2012 – a 5CX, the most powerful commercially available backhoe JCB has ever
made. Source: JCB