JCB Hydradig launch results in new jobs

Company recruits 85 new members of staff as orders flood in for innovative new machine

THIS month sees the start of full production of a brand new JCB machine – a product innovation that has led to the creation of around 85 new jobs and is, according to the company, taking the construction industry by storm after making its international debut at the recent Bauma construction equipment trade fair in Munich.

JCB say hundreds of orders for their innovative new 10-tonne Hydradig machine have already been placed and production has started at the JCB Heavy Products plant in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Around 85 people have been recruited as result of the launch, including engineers, welders and assembly line employees.

The JCB Hydradig was developed in complete secrecy over a three-year period, under the codename ‘Project 710’. The vision from the outset was to design and engineer the most innovative solution in response to five key challenges facing customers in today’s construction sector – the machine had to have the best visibility, stability, manoeuvrability, mobility and serviceability.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford, who initiated the project, commented: ‘The Hydradig really does have innovation running right through the heart of it. In fact, Hydradig will transform the industry and I am certain customers will quickly appreciate its benefits.’

JCB chief executive officer Graeme Macdonald said: ‘The launch of the JCB Hyradig is not only one of the most significant launches in the company’s history, it is also one of the most successful. The response has been unprecedented and we have very high hopes for this revolutionary new product.’

Working closely with a range of customers, JCB conducted in-depth analysis of the potential applications for the JCB Hydradig, including utilities, highways, municipalities, general construction and landscaping, assessing the suitability of current machinery solutions.

With job sites becoming increasingly congested, whether in urban environments or on busy road carriageways, JCB say it became clear that a new and better solution could be achieved by rethinking machine design conventions, which has always been one of the company’s specialities.

The company’s chief innovation and growth officer, Tim Burnhope, said: ‘Visibility from the cab was the main customer consideration because of on-site safety concerns. Stability was next on the list, as machines are now being called upon to do an increasing amount of heavy lifting, not just excavating.

‘Also, as job sites become tighter many customers are demanding improved manoeuvrability, while others need increased mobility to allow machines to move between sites more quickly.

‘Finally, customers now expect excellent ground-level serviceability, so our design challenge was to develop a single machine solution that would deliver against all five customer challenges.’