JCB World HQ hit by mini tornado
Backhoe production lines quickly back up an running following damage to side of factory
PRODUCTION lines at JCB were quickly back up and running yesterday after a mini tornado struck.
Hurricane force winds tore into the side of the factory where backhoe loaders are produced at the company’s World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire, causing a wall to collapse and windows to fall to the ground.
Production was suspended for 30 minutes while safety checks were carried out. Clear-up operations then began and the area beyond the wall declared safe for production to continue.
No-one was injured in the incident and the area has now been cordoned off.
JCB backhoe assembly manager, Richard Williams, said: ‘I was about 30 yards away at the time and heard an enormous crash. I turned around and saw the wall and the windows had come out and a big whirlwind of leaves and branches blowing around outside. Luckily no-one was in the vicinity at the time.’
A JCB spokeman added: ‘Shortly after midday the skies blackened and powerful winds moved in, literally whipping up big waves on the lake at the front of the factory. Employees who have been here for decades said they had never seen anything like it.’
