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Our Story

The early years

The story of JCB is one of innovation, ambition and sheer hard work. From small beginnings building agricultural tipping trailers in 1945, to the global force in manufacturing the company has become today, JCB has constantly pushed the boundaries in our desire to be the best. My father and company founder Joseph Cyril Bamford’s motto was, “Jamais content”, and that is exactly right – we are never content with our achievements. But I believe that even he would be amazed by what the company has become. Today, we have 22 plants on four continents and more than 750 dealers around the world.

These are exciting times. In the past 70+ years, we have gone from one man in a garage in Uttoxeter to a major global brand renowned for its pioneering spirit. All of this is down to our people – a 12,000-strong worldwide workforce that make up the JCB family. Our achievements have been considerable, but at JCB we believe in always looking ahead to the next development, the next level of success. As you read, JCB continues to innovate and push the boundaries in research and development; in particular within the area of sustainability, where energy costs and emissions are becoming an increasingly important purchasing consideration. Many of our customers will need to reinvent their businesses to meet new building standards and emissions legislation. JCB will be there to support you every step of the way.

Do take the time to read through our innovation milestones below. 

Anthony Bamford

JCB Chairman

 

Innovation milestones

  • 1949:JCB major loader revolutionizes agriculture
  • 1952:JCB backhoe loader is born with the Mk 1 excavator
  • 1963:JCB 3C takes backhoe performance to new levels; a design classic
  • 1964:JCB 7 becomes JCB's first crawler excavator
  • 1971:JCB 110 hydrostatic crawler loader proves our pioneering spirit
  • 1977:JCB 520 telescopic handler, a new concept, takes the industry by storm
  • 1980:JCB 3CX marks the construction industry's largest investment in a single machine
  • 1990:JCB Fastrac becomes the world's first fully suspended, high-speed draught tractor
  • 1993:JCB robot skid steer loader sets new standards for skid steer safety
  • 1997:JCB Teletruk takes the industry by storm
  • 2006:2 JCB 444 diesel engines power the JCB Dieselmax to the diesel world land speed record
  • 2010:JCB Eco machines take machine efficiency and productivity to new class-leading levels
  • 2011:The ‘Story of JCB Visitor Center’ opens at our World HQ in Staffordshire
  • 2012:Our award-winning Tier 4i/Stage IIIB EcoMAX engine range goes into full production
  • 2012:Official opening of JCB’s new factory in São Paulo, Brazil
  • 2013:The millionth JCB machine is built – a JS220 tracked excavator in shimmering silver
  • 2015: 3CX Compact Tool Carrier offers big performance in small areas
  • 2016: JCB Hydradig 110W takes the construction industry by storm with its ground-up, innovative design
  • 2016: Agri-Pro Loadall with DualTech VT offers innovation to the agricultural industry
  • 2016: New JCB Fastrac 8000 series tops the JCB tractor line up
  • 2017: JCB's Access equipment range opens up new markets for JCB
  • 2017: JCB Teleskid's innovative design offers new possibilities in the skid steer market


1940s
1945
JCB tipping trailer 1945

THE EARLY YEARS

Joseph Cyril Bamford began the business that bears his initials using surplus World War II parts and scrap metals. The JCB all-steel tipping trailer was made with wheels and tyres from a Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft and hubs from a small howitzer.
1949
JCB Timeline, JCB History

A MAJOR INNOVATION

In a little less than three years since JCB started, Joseph Bamford launches the Major Loader. Engineered for versatility, it is Europe's first industrial front-end loader.
1950s
1953
JCB HISTORY

WORLD'S FIRST BACKHOE LOADER

Attaching a prototype excavator with hydraulic rams to the back of a front-loader, Mr Bamford invents the world's first backhoe loader, the MK 1 Excavator. The revolutionary design brings hydraulic power to construction and shapes the industry's future.
1960s
1963
JCB 3C backhoe loader 1963

3C BACKHOE LOADER LAUNCHES

In 1963 the JCB 3C backhoe, an acknowledged design classic, was launched.
1964
JCB 7 crawler excavator

JCB'S FIRST CRAWLER EXCAVATOR

The JCB 7 crawler excavator was manufactured under licence from Warner Swasey and powered by a Ford engine, while JCB made the undercarriage and excavator assemblies.
1970s
1971
Image for news article

DESIGN COUNCIL AWARD

JCB launched a tracked loading shovel, the 110, the first of its type to feature a hydrostatic transmission and twin tiller loader controls. The machine was the first to be awarded with a Design Council Award in 1972.
1977
JCB HISTORY, TELEHANDLER, LOADALL

REACHING FURTHER: THE TELESCOPIC HANDLER

The JCB 520 telescopic handler was launched in a blaze of publicity, created out of some blue-sky thinking by JCB's production team. It was a pioneering concept and proved to be very successful, leading to the modern range of JCB Loadalls - still one of JCB's most successful product lines.
1980s
1985
JCB HISTORY, BACKHOE LOADER

BACKHOE BESTSELLER

Product innovation continued to be the lifeblood of the company and in 1985 the 3CX Sitemaster backhoe loader was launched and went on to be JCB's biggest-ever selling backhoe. It's also the year JCB celebrated the production of its 100,000th backhoe.
1988
JCB Timeline, JCB History, JCB GT

WORLD'S FASTEST BACKHOE LOADER

The famous JCB GT was powered by a Chevrolet V8 and capable of reaching 160kph (100mph). It wowed the crowds at the British Grand Prix in the year 1988.
1990s
1991
JCB HISTORY, FASTRAC

WORLD'S FIRST HIGH SPEED TRACTOR

JCB launches the Fastrac 125 and 145 high-speed, full draught tractors with all-round suspension - a world's first, 'specifically developed for the farmer, with input from the farmer'. Breaking with more than 40 years of traditional tractor design to completely revolutionise the agricultural industry.
1993
JCB HISTORY, SKID STEER LOADER, ROBOT

THE WORLD'S SAFEST SKID STEER

Once again, JCB transforms the industry. This time by designing the JCB 165 Robot, the world's safest skid steer loader. Thanks to its patented single powerboom loader design and side entry cab, the 165 Robot, and our existing skid steer range today, has easier, safer access and greater visibility.
2000s
2004
500,000th JCB machine

500,000TH MACHINE LANDMARK

In 2004 employees gathered at World HQ for a commemorative photo to mark the production of the 500,000th machine. It had taken just short of 60 years to reach that milestone. The next half million machines would be produced in the next nine years.
2006
JCB Dieselmax group pic

RECORD-BREAKING DIESELMAX

The JCB DIESELMAX streamliner was powered by two JCB 444 diesel engines producing an incredible 1500hp. This car achieved a record speed of 350.092mph on Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, setting a new world land speed record for a diesel-powered car. JCB changed the name of the engine from 444 to DIESELMAX in honour of the record.
2010s
2010
union jack color, 65th anniversary

THE NEW ECO BACKHOE LOADER

JCB unveils its new fuel-cost cutting ECO backhoe loader. The first two machines off the production line were in union jack colours rather than the JCB yellow to celebrate the company's 65th anniversary.
2011
JCB Story

THE STORY OF JCB

The Story of JCB contains many of JCB's landmark achievements including breaking the world land speed record for a diesel-engine-powered car in 2006, and 1962's 3C backhoe loader, which took digging technology to new heights.
2016

THE FIRST TRUE WHEELED EXCAVATOR

Lord Bamford envisioned the JCB Hydradig 110W as an innovative solution to five key challenges in construction. Beginning from scratch, JCB engineers designed the Hydradig to be first for visibility, stability, manoeuvrability, mobility and serviceability. With innovation at its heart, the JCB Hydradig 110W is the first true wheeled excavator, ready to transform the industry.
2017
SSL 3TS-8T 3x2

THE NEW JCB TELESKID

The JCB Teleskid is the first skid steer and compact tracked loader to feature a single telescopic boom, making it the most versatile skid steer you've ever seen. It can lift higher, reach further and dig deeper than any other skid steer in the market and can access areas you wouldn't have thought possible, until now.
2018
MINI ETECH 19C-1E (3x2)

AN ELECTRIC FIRST

JCB unveils its first ever electric mini excavator - the JCB 19C-1E - the first in a range of zero emission products. The mini digger was developed in response to customer demands for a zero emissions machine which could work indoors, underground and close to people in urban areas. Once fully charged, it is ready to put in a full normal working day on the building site.
2019
JCB World's Fastest tractor

WORLD'S FASTEST TRACTOR

The JCB WFT storms into the Guinness World Records book as the world's fastest tractor with a top speed of 153.771mph (247.470kph). Fastrac Two - designed and built by a team of young engineers in Staffordshire, secured the latest title at Elvington Airfield in York with motorbike racer and lorry mechanic, Guy Martin at the wheel.
2020s
2020
750,000th backhoe loader 2020

750,000TH BACKHOE LOADER

In March 2020, JCB marked production of the 750,000th backhoe loader. With lots of new and innovative features, it sets new industry standards for ease of use, comfort and efficiency. With a striking new design and a whole host of new features, the world's best selling backhoe just got even better.
2020

FIRST HYDROGEN FUELLED EXCAVATOR

JCB has developed the construction industry's first ever hydrogen powered excavator as it continues to lead the sector on zero and low carbon technologies. The 20-tonne 220X excavator powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has been undergoing rigorous testing at JCB's quarry proving grounds for more than 12 months.