JCB unveil growth plans as sales soar to new record

JCB are poised for greater global expansion in this their 60th anniversary year with the building of their first ever Chinese factory. The company have acquired land in Pudong, south of Shanghai, which will become JCB’s Chinese manufacturing headquarters. Outline planning permission for the factory has been granted and a decision on which products will be manufactured there will be announced in due course.

JCB are also expanding in India, where manufacturing started at the company’s Delhi plant in 1979. A second factory has now been constructed in Pune, which is strategically close to the port of Mumbai. The new £16 million facility will produce fabricated and machined components.

This overseas expansion, which is in addition to plans announced last year for a new JCB Heavy Products factory in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, means JCB will have 15 plants worldwide, 10 of which are in the UK.

News of the growth comes after the most successful sales year in JCB’s history. In 2004 worldwide sales increased by 23%, compared to 2003, and turnover rose to a record level of over £1 billion. JCB’s worldwide market share also rose from 8.2% to 8.6% and the company retained its position as the world’s fifth largest manufacturer of construction equipment.

JCB’s managing director and chief executive officer, John Patterson, said: ‘Our business continues to go from strength to strength and the expansion plans we have announced for China and India will ensure JCB is well positioned to take advantage of future growth opportunities as these markets expand.’