It’s no urban legend that more than half of all the backhoe loaders on planet Earth belong to JCB – it’s a fact. JCB’s backhoe loader is 70 this year and the company is celebrating with a spanking new machine for unlegislated markets. At a press event in early March, the new machines – backhoe loader and excavator – were introduced to regional media. Plant & Equipment was there to try them out first hand.
Over the last seven decades, JCB has designed innovative machines, features of which have become standard across the industry over the years as they were adopted by all equipment manufacturers. These include four-wheel drive, extending dippers, torque converter drive, powershift transmissions, all-wheel steer, sideshift chassis, powerslide and skid steer – all JCB world firsts. Innovation remains the USP of this sturdy, value for money, hardworking machine manufacturer.
Regional market
The launch event for JCB’s new machines was organised by local distributor Galadari Trucks & Heavy Equipment Company at the Jebel Ali Resort in Dubai. The brand’s new machines are poised to be an essential part of the regional construction market which, “has been very positive in the last couple of years with Saudi Arabia leading the growth,” as per Nigel Chell, PR Manager at JCB. This growth is attributed to multiple government-backed mega and giga projects such as NEOM, The Red Sea Project, and Roshn housing developments.
“The two products that we have launched are coming just in time to support the growing demand of construction companies for modern, highly productive and efficient machines. The JS385LC HD (a heavy-duty tracked excavator that has been purpose-built for the mining, quarrying and civil engineering sectors) is now the largest excavator in JCB range that our mining and quarrying customers have been waiting for and we see its success already spreading in the Middle East,” Chell continues. JCB’s customers who have driven this excavator say this machine takes the operator’s experience to a new level.
Multiple uses
JCB machines find a broad application in various sectors, catering to a range of tasks from precision work to heavy-duty operations. The brand’s excavators, backhoe loaders, and compactors are used as fundamental equipment in construction projects for tasks such as digging, material handling, and earthmoving. With machinery like telescopic handlers and wheel loaders, JCB serves the agricultural sector, aiding in farming operations and management.
In waste and recycling, JCB machines are contributing to material handling and sorting activities. JCB’s compact and manoeuvrable machines like mini excavators and skid steer loaders are ideal for shaping land and preparing grounds in landscaping. Robust and powerful machinery like large excavators and wheel loaders are suited for the demanding environments of mining and quarrying. “Our compaction equipment and other road construction machinery play a crucial role in building and maintaining road infrastructure. And in industrial settings, JCB’s telehandlers and forklifts are used for material handling and logistics operations,” adds Chell.
The 3CX Backhoe Loader
At the recently held press event, JCB unveiled a revised range of the 3CX backhoe loader for the non-legislated markets which has three models – the 3CX, 3CX Plus and the 3CX PRO. All three machine versions have a new cab and wide-ranging new features such as a standard ROPS/FOPS cabin with a revamped interior with high quality moulded plastics and a light grey roof and pillar colour that gives a spacious, airy feel to the cab. Plus and Pro models’ cabs also have a new HVAC system. All models have a single loader lever with integral directional control. All of the models also come with a variable flow pump, auto idle, auto stop and work modes leading to 24% fuel saving versus other brand machines. They have an EasyShift transmission as standard and Smooth Ride System for improved roading performance. All machines also have inbuilt telematics – LiveLink telematics – that report on fuel levels, real-time insights into machine health and performance helping optimise efficiency and minimise downtime on site.
All of the backhoe loaders provide optimal productivity on site. Its bi-directional and hammer auxiliary lines are available with a wide range of attachment options. The loader’s extending dipper provides an extra 1m of reach and dig depth. The excavator is also now compatible with auger and planer attachments to further enhance machine capability. Its 6-in-1 shovel with flip over forks provide effortless dozing, loading, digging, grading and object handling.
“Our 3CX JCB backhoe loader shares parts and components with other JCB products, adding value to the investment,” continues Chell.
The JS385LC HD excavator
This excavator delivers maximum productivity and efficiency in the toughest conditions. It comes with a reliable, 6-cylinder direct injection, turbocharged, common rail engine which is matched with advanced eco hydraulics and heavy-duty components such as a heavy-duty track frame with reinforced idler areas. It has a heavy-duty boom and dipper arms made of high tensile strength steel. Its hydraulic components and filtration systems have been tested to last a very long time. The excavator’s reinforced heavy-duty buckets provide protection from external impact and wear out.
The machine has JCB’s Dieselmax engine, the performance of which provides high torque at low speeds depending on the job that the machine needs to get done. Its ecohydraulic system features three lift modes and four digging modes, again enabling the machine to adapt to the application. Standard on the excavator is the hammer pipework to enable easy use of a hydraulic breaker. The weight of the JS385LC HD during operations is 37.5 tonnes. A heavy-duty undercarriage provides increased stability and lift capacity.
Safety options on the machine protect the machine, its operator and people working on site. The excavator comes with a wide-opening steel bonnet and external fuel cap to make re-fuelling and daily checks safe and convenient. Most daily checks and maintenance items are accessible from ground level, while filters are grouped together in the pump bay for quick, easy servicing. Hydraulic oil change is needed at 5,000 hours and its hydraulic filter has a life of 1,000 hours, reducing maintenance costs and increasing machine uptime. It also has an advanced self-diagnosis system displaying error codes and multi-coloured warning alerts for easier maintenance.
The excavator’s boom and dipper arms, its undercarriage and other parts all provide durability and reliability in the harshest working conditions. Its common rail fuel injection system delivers high power and low fuel consumption. All the excavator’s hydraulic components are manufactured in Japan.
Distribution and after sales
Before appointing a dealer in any region, JCB conducts extensive market research to identify the most suitable partner to represent the JCB brand. This partner then becomes the authorised JCB dealer for that territory. JCB has high benchmarks for its dealers to ensure customers receive the best possible support in the market after purchasing a JCB machine. To further support its dealers in the region, JCB operates a regional parts warehouse in Dubai, which enhances the accessibility of genuine JCB parts for customers.
JCB’s new machines’ features and options for 2024 will help customers reduce costs and increase efficiency, with improved operator comfort, versatility and productivity all round.