JCB 3CXJCB has added the 3CX backhoe to the lineup of machines being made at its North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.
On November 1, the first JCB 3CX rolled off the line at the facility, according to a report from the Savannah Morning News. JCB is adding 100 workers to support production of the machine, which debuted in June 2013.
Since 2009, the facility has been used primarily to manufacture all of JCB’s skid steers and compact track loaders. JCB North America President and CEO John Patterson told the paper that 50 percent of those compact machines are shipped overseas through the Port of Savannah.
Also made at the facility are JCB’s High Mobility Engineer Excavators which it makes for the U.S. Army. Earlier this year, the Army put in a $50 million order for the machines.
Patterson told the paper that the Savannah facility will join several other JCB factories in production of the 3CX. In fact, the Savannah plant will be building the 3CX Global model which was designed for the North American rental market—the company’s second largest market for the machine. “The savings in shipping costs alone will make us even more competitive,” Patterson told the paper.
This “low-spec” 3CX features a 14-foot dig depth and comes standard with an open cab, synchroshuttle manual transmission, manual levers and a 74 horsepower, Tier 4 Final Ecomax engine.
