JCB is marking its 80th birthday today with news of a £100 million investment in ultra-modern manufacturing facilities at its global headquarters in Staffordshire. The company was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford on 23 October, 1945 – the same day as his son Anthony was born. The project at the company’s plant in Rocester will see the installation of a fully automated powder-paint plant costing £60 million as well as a full modernisation of the shopfloor, with new machining centres, friction welders and cylinder boring machines.
The investment was announced as the family company celebrates its 80th birthday today (23 October) – and that of its chairman Anthony Bamford. The company is marking the occasion by giving its entire global workforce of more than 19,000 people an additional day’s holiday tomorrow.
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford said investing in the World HQ, JCB’s home since 1950, was an important and logical step for the company. He said: “Basing JCB in the UK makes business sense, just as it has always made business sense. The work ethic in our country remains strong – especially in the Midlands, with its deep engineering heritage. It makes perfect sense to invest heavily in our British factories and the £100 million we are investing now will put us at the forefront of our industry.”
Overseas expansionHe continued: “Obviously, we are expanding overseas, not least in America, where we have been for decades. But the UK is our home. We directly employ more than 19,000 people around the world, more than 8,000 of whom are in the UK. Even though around 75% of our UK production is exported, we continue to make a huge contribution to this country and to the national economy.”
The 80th birthday celebrations began today by with Lord Bamford stepping back in time to where it all began, unveiling a blue heritage plaque on the spot where the original garage stood in Uttoxeter High Street. Lord Bamford’s father rented the lock-up garage — which had no electricity - for 30 shillings a week and it was there he made his first product, a farm trailer built largely from wartime scrap, which he sold for £45 at Uttoxeter market.
Mr Bamford stayed at the garage for 18 months until the owner asked him to leave because she didn’t approve of Sunday working. He then moved down the road to a stable block at Crakemarsh, a few miles north of the town.
Unveiling the plaque at Hollydene House, Uttoxeter, Lord Bamford said: “My earliest memory of the business is of me playing in my father’s workshop. Other than my time at school and my apprenticeship in France with another company, I have been around ever since. We have developed the business and products along the way enormously. Probably one of the greatest pleasures for me has been in developing products with our formidable team of highly qualified engineers. As we celebrate JCB’s 80th birthday, it’s wonderful to be back at the spot where it all began and to mark the location with a special blue plaque. I am delighted that in a small way we can highlight where it all began and reflect on the continuing importance of our home county of Staffordshire.”
Later in the day, as Lord Bamford arrived back at the World headquarters in Rocester, he was greeted by more than 3,500 employees lining the Lakeside Works’ pathways to pay tribute and to celebrate his and JCB’s birthdays. A spectacular cavalcade procession marked milestones and showcased machines he has introduced since becoming chairman in 1975.
The cavalcade starred the first Loadall from 1977, the classic 3CX and the world speed record-breaking JCBGT backhoe, the revolutionary 1991 Fastrac tractor and its 2019 World’s Fastest Tractor protégé, the multi-award winning 19C-1E electric mini excavator, followed by the industry-leading Pothole Pro and game-changing hydrogen backhoe and hydrogen Loadall.
JCB Academy successThe procession also featured eight former students of the JCB Academy who have forged successful careers with the company. It was Lord Bamford’s vision to found the school which opened in 2010 with the goal of producing the engineers and business leaders of the future. In partnership with high-profile companies such as Rolls-Royce, Toyota and Hex Group, it has gone on to educate more than 3,500 students from across Staffordshire and Derbyshire, with every student either entering employment or further or higher education.
The gathered crowds were also treated to the unveiling of a special JCB 3CX ‘Backhoe in a Box’ - a spectacular life-size 3CX Sitemaster backhoe packaged in the same way as manufacturer Britains package the 1:32 scale models of the JCB machine. It will be displayed beside the JCB lake until January, for members of the public to see.
Paying tribute to Lord Bamford, JCB’s CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “When he became chairman in 1975, this was JCB’s only factory. Today, JCB has 22 plants around the world and more than 19,000 employees. As we have expanded globally over the past 50 years, he has remained steadfast in his support for British manufacturing and committed to investing in JCB’s UK plants. In fact, nine British plants have opened in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham during his tenure. JCB has been backing Britain since 1945 — and with a renewed energy under his leadership.”
Addressing the crowds of employees, Lord Bamford said: “My father would have been proud of JCB at 80. We have great products and great people making a difference in the world. We continue to hold true to his values of ‘jamais content’ (never content) and ‘always looking for a better way’. While my father retired at the age of 59, I – along with JCB - shall be 80 tomorrow and I am still here!”
The day will conclude with a formal party for Lord Bamford at the World HQ, with more than 100 invited guests, including dozens of retired people with whom Lord Bamford has worked with over the decades.
To mark this major milestone in the company’s history, 80 limited edition top-of-the-range machines will be produced, comprising of two of JCB’s most iconic machines - backhoe loaders and loadalls. The 40 4CX PRO dualdrive backhoe loaders and 40 542-70 Agripro loadalls will come in satin black with chrome decals and JCB yellow highlights, and feature 80th-edition embroidered seats, carpets, decals and plaques.