Major milestone for JCB’s mini excavators

United Kingdom-based equipment manufacturer JCB has celebrated the production of its 100,000th mini excavator – with the promise of more machines to come.

JCB’s first mini excavator – an 801 model weighing in at 1.4 tonnes – rolled off the production line in 1989, when just over 450 machines were made.

By 1992 there were four models in the range with annual production of 1,000 units.

The 100,000th compact excavator itself is a 10 t 100C-1. It is one of 22 models ranging from one to 10 t that the company supplies to the construction and demolition industries. All are manufactured at its Compact Products factory in Staffordshire, England.

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “To have produced 100,000 compact excavators really is something for the whole JCB team to celebrate.

“With more additions to the range due this year we can look forward to more growth in this important sector of the market.”

In recent years the company has invested £15 million (US$22 million) in manufacturing technology and new product development, launching models in the six, eight, nine and 10 t weight categories.