JCB has begun construction on a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas. The 720,000-square-foot factory sits on 400 acres and will begin producing Loadall telehandlers and aerial access equipment in 2026.
The factory is the company’s second largest, following its corporate headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, England.
The factory will also have the capacity to expand and build other products in the future. In announcing the move last fall, JCB said the facility will supply “largely” North America customers.
“The Loadall telescopic handler is JCB’s biggest selling product in North America and it is also the single largest market for aerial access equipment worldwide, and therefore, it makes great sense to build these two ranges here,” said Richard Fox-Marrs, president/CEO of JCB North America, in a statement.
“JCB’s business in North America has made tremendous progress in the past few years and the opportunity for growth here is vast,” said Graeme Macdonald, JCB CEO, in a statement. “This record investment gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on our success and we look forward to the completion of this great new facility.”
An official groundbreaking ceremony at the site marked the beginning of construction, where The Hon. Alice Bamford, the daughter of chairman Anthony Bamford, turned the first shovelful of dirt on the property.
“Construction equipment manufacturers sell more than 300,000 machines every year in North America, making it the single largest market in the world,” said Lord Bamford, in a statement. “JCB has been growing its share of this important market steadily over the past few years, and the time is now right to invest in our manufacturing capacity in North America, where we already have one factory.
“JCB really has come a considerable way since we sold our first machine here 60 years ago, and it gives me immense pleasure to see how our business has grown in North America,” he said. “Today really is a milestone day in the history of our family company.”
Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, said in a statement:
“Texas was this year named as The Best State for Business for a record-breaking 20th year, and I am proud to welcome JCB as the newest business to call our great state home. Today's groundbreaking marks a major milestone in JCB’s journey that will create 1,500 good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans in Bexar County and bring hundreds of millions of new capital investment to San Antonio and beyond. ‘Made in Texas’ is truly a powerful global brand, and I look forward to celebrating JCB’s continuing success as we work together to build a bigger, better Texas for decades to come.”
Fox-Marrs concurred.
“Texas is an obvious choice for our new North American manufacturing facility, not least because the state is the largest consumer of construction equipment in the USA. San Antonio is also the logical choice as a location for our new factory because of its central location, proximity to the supply chain and great local labor force.”
