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The first JCB products to be designed, engineered and manufactured in North America have been launched at JCB's Savannah, Georgia facility. The new generation skid steer and compact tracked loaders are initially being introduced in the USA and there will also be Volvo versions.

JCB reveals new skid steer and compact tracked loaders

In a bold move to break the mould in North America where twin arm skid steer and compact tracked loaders proved most popular, JCB has teamed up with Volvo to update the challenge from JCB's one arm machines.

JCB intends to break into more of the lucrative North American skid steer loader market with its new generation machines.

JCB first introduced its single, side mounted arm skid steers back in 1993 and now, in co-operation with Volvo it has developed a new generation range with more sizes and versions to enhance their customer appeal.

It was at the beginning of this year that JCB and Volvo Construction Equipment made the surprise announcement that they had agreed to co-operate on the engineering and manufacturing of skid steer loaders and compact tracked loaders. The resulting new generation of single, side-mounted arm machines now revealed in JCB colours will be sold under both the JCB and Volvo brand names through the two companies respective global dealer networks.

    The deal will allow both companies to compete more effectively in the high volume USA skid steer and compact track loader markets in which the big players include Bobcat, Case, Caterpillar, New Holland and John Deere. Volvo entered the skid steer loader market in 2002 with the purchase of the twin arm Scat Trak skid steer loader line. However, these machines were never homologated for Europe and Volvo has been lacking the increasingly popular compact track loaders in its product portfolio.

The new JCB 280 skid steer loader demonstrates the good forward reach at full height obtained by its vertical lift path boom.

When this article was written in November 2010, Volvo had yet to reveal how different its versions of the new generation one arm loaders would be. The Conexpo exhibition during March next year in Las Vegas should provide an excellent opportunity to inspect and compare both versions.

Logical to produce units in Savannah

JCB has initially introduced seven models out of its planned 18 new generation small loader range - the others will follow in June next year. Speaking at the launch event, the company's Deputy Chairman John Patterson said, "North America generates 60% of the worldwide demand for skid steers and compact track loaders. So developing and producing the new generation of machines in Savannah makes perfect sense. It has enabled us not only to meet the unique needs of the North American market but also develop a machine range that will have universal appeal."

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