JCB recently broke ground on its new factory in San Antonio, Texas. Located on a 400-acre site, the 67,000 square-metre facility is expected to cost $500 million, representing the largest investment in the company’s history.
Construction began following an official groundbreaking ceremony at the site, where the Hon. Alice Bamford, daughter of company Chairman Lord Anthony Bamford, turned the first shovelful of dirt on the property.
“Construction equipment manufacturers sell more than 300,000 machines every year in North America, making it the single largest market in the world. JCB has been growing its share of this important market steadily over the past few years and the time is now right to invest in our manufacturing capacity in North America, where we already have one factory,” Lord Bamford said.
The factory will be the company’s second largest plant, rivalled only by JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, England, and create 1,500 new jobs in five years.
“JCB really has come a considerable way since we sold our first machine here 60 years ago and it gives me immense pleasure to see how our business has grown in North America. Today really is a milestone day in the history of our family company,” Lord Bamford said.
JCB sold its first machine in North America in 1964 and opened its first United States manufacturing plant in 2001 in Savannah, Georgia, which employs about 1,000 people. The new facility will manufacture machines for customers specifically in North America.
“JCB’s business in North America has made tremendous progress in the past few years and the opportunity for growth here is vast,” said JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald.
“This record investment gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on our success and we look forward to the completion of this great new facility.”
The factory in Texas will manufacture Loadall telescopic handlers and aerial access equipment, with production scheduled to start in 2026. The factory will also have the capacity to expand and build other products in the future.
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“The Loadall telescopic handler is JCB’s biggest selling product in North America and it is also the single largest market for aerial access equipment worldwide, and therefore, it makes great sense to build these two ranges here,” said Richard Fox-Marrs, President and CEO of JCB North America.
“Texas is an obvious choice for our new North American manufacturing facility, not least because the state is the largest consumer of construction equipment in the USA. San Antonio is also the logical choice as a location for our new factory because of its central location, proximity to the supply chain and great local labour force. We are really excited about JCB’s new San Antonio factory and for the future of our business in North America.”
JCB employs 19,000 people globally and has 22 factories around the world, including 11 in the United Kingdom, seven in India, and others in Brazil and China. The company will mark its 80th anniversary in 2025.
