World’s Best Selling Backhoe Loader Gets Even Better

JCB’s world leading range of backhoe loaders today moves further ahead of the competition with the unveiling of a new generation of machines which offer customers more versatility, productivity, cost efficiency and comfort.

JCB’s proven past in backhoe loaders stretches back to 1953 when the company first pioneered the machine. Over those six decades the company has pushed the boundaries in backhoe development and now two in every five of these machines sold anywhere in the world are made by JCB.

At Bauma the wraps came off the most efficient JCB backhoe loader ever, offering customers average fuel savings ranging from six to 16% at typical daily work rates, largely achieved through the introduction of a new EcoDig system incorporating three hydraulic pumps.

Users will be hit immediately by the striking new design of the machine, which exudes ruggedness and strength thanks to a re-styled counterweight and new vertical grille design offering an even more aggressive feel.  The sharper lines on the excavator and loader profiles contribute to the robust look, while the sloping hood retains excellent forward visibility.

In addition, the machines benefit from a host of new features including:

• Improved cab for greater comfort
• Power brakes providing proportional braking and fuel economy improvements

Optional features:

• New heated front windshield – an industry first for backhoe loaders
• An in-cab hot beverage machine
• Combined hammer and bi-directional circuit for excellent versatility in attachment use
• A nine metre factory-fitted hose reel for improved productivity and versatility

JCB Group Managing Director for Product Development and Commercial Operations

Tim Burnhope said: “JCB has been at the forefront of backhoe design for almost 60 years and through innovation we continue to raise the bar and offer our customers machines which have superior performance and are more cost efficient and comfortable to operate.

“The new generation of JCB backhoe loaders represent a significant investment and the result is JCB’s most efficient backhoe loader ever which has been designed with fuel economy firmly in mind.  Whether loading, roading or digging JCB’s latest generation of backhoe offers the customer a machine that works harder but uses less fuel.

“We believe the new JCB backhoe will cement our position as the world’s best selling brand in a market which we expect to grow significantly over the next five years.”

Increased Productivity

The biggest changes are under the skin. A new EcoDig hydraulic system now utilizes three hydraulic pumps to provide the same hydraulic output but at lower engine speeds, itself delivering average fuel savings of up to 15 per cent. Operators are able to select from two working modes, either Eco mode or low flow, to optimise productivity and improve machine control.

A secondary benefit of the three pump design is faster performance of the extradig extending dipper stick, further boosting productivity. The new hydraulic system and lower engine speeds also contribute to a cut in exhaust emissions and a reduction in overall machine noise levels, both inside the cab and externally.

The new backhoes come with the existing EcoRoad options of Smooth Ride System (SRS) and TorqueLock to help boost productivity further. TorqueLock reduces fuel consumption by up to 25% while increasing speed by up to 10 % and the Smooth Ride System maximizes load retention around the job site for increased productivity and operator comfort.

Power brakes are to be introduced on both 3CX and 4CX models. The system provides proportional braking throughout the pedal travel, providing operators with improved braking and reduced effort.

JCB has also redesigned the pedal position in the backhoe loader cab, with an automotive style position which improves ergonomics. The power brake design ensures that there is full brake pad release when the driver comes off the pedal. This enables operators to better maintain roading speeds and contributes to a further one per cent saving in fuel consumption.

By using the machine’s hydraulic system to supply oil for the power brakes, there is no requirement for separate brake reservoirs. This simplifies service and reduces the number of daily checks for the operator.

JCB’s EcoLoad package of options add to the enhanced productivity. The return-to-dig feature automatically resets the shovel to dig position, saving time and effort; the transmission disconnect diverts hydraulic power to the loader for faster lifting. In addition, high engine torque at low revs provides excellent pushing and hill climbing performance and limited slip differentials (LSD) provide extra traction in challenging conditions.

A new design and a new cab

The best-selling 3CX and 4CX ranges benefit from a striking redesign, incorporating sharper lines in the counterweight, grille and hood, and making best use of JCB’s bold new machine branding. The cab adopts a similar style to the JCB Fastrac, with improved run-off channels to prevent rain water collecting on the roof. The machines also benefit from independently adjustable working lights at the front and rear of the roof, providing improved visibility all around the working area in poor light conditions.

The cab is refreshed internally too, with a move to a black interior in the lower half of the cab, including the seat, which has new material to provide increased comfort and less wear. The pillars and roof lining adopt a lighter grey color, making the cab feel even more light and spacious.

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JCB engineers looked for innovation in every detail in the cab, and have found a new material to cover the redesigned steering wheel, offering improved grip for the driver. The backhoes also benefit from new high quality switches, activating consoles which provide excellent light definition. The high quality switches have laser etched images that are clearly backlit, enabling clear visibility of switches at night.

JCB will be taking a lead from the automotive industry with the option of an innovative automatic heated front windshield on all 3CX and 4CX models later this year. Available in time for winter 2010, the heated windshield rapidly clears ice and misting in cold conditions, allowing the operator to get to work without delay in the morning.

Attachment Availability

A new combined hammer and bidirectional auxiliary circuit makes the fitting of attachment power circuits easier. The circuit has been designed to provide low flow and high flow across all 3CX and 4CX models, including all fixed and extending dipper variants. This greatly increases versatility for the customer as the machines are compatible with an increased number of optional attachments.

There is also the option of a new 29ft hose reel on the Hand Held Tool Circuit, that allows contractors to use hydraulic power tools alongside the backhoe loader, removing the need for separate power packs.

Taking A Break

JCB has always been at the forefront of backhoe loader design and production, leading the world in innovation and machine performance. Yet sometimes it is the small things that matter most to the operator.

In the 1970’s JCB took the time to think of the operator first, supplying a kettle as an option with each machine so that the driver could make a hot drink even when away from the site facilities.

Now JCB is to revive this link with the past. All 3CX and 4CX models will be available with an optional hot beverage machine, capable of producing tea or coffee, that will lock securely into an area at the side of the cab. The machine uses the 12V supply directly from the machine and has been designed to fit into the existing cab layout.

JCB Embarks on Coast-to-Coast Fundraising Road Trip to Help Rebuild Haiti

The World’s Greatest Earthmover – a.k.a.: a bright yellow JCB 3CX backhoe loader – has hit the road on a 26-day, coast-to-coast fundraising “road trip” to help rebuild Haiti. JCB, one of the word’s largest manufacturers of construction equipment, hopes the “Backhoe Across America” cross-country campaign will both remind Americans that Haiti’s long road to recovery is only just beginning, and encourage them to show their continued support – either by visiting one of the 11 featured route stops or by visiting http://www.JCBForHaiti.com to make a donation. JCB aims to help raise $1 million for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

No Ordinary Road Trip

The JCB 3CX backhoe loader will begin its coast-to-coast trek from the beach at Tybee Island, Ga., on Friday, March 26, 2010. The backhoe then will travel more than 3,000 miles across the U.S., making fundraising “pit stops” at JCB dealerships in nine cities along the way, before reaching its final destination – the beach at California’s Santa Monica Pier – on April 20, 2010.

“Haiti’s road to recovery will be long and difficult,” said John Patterson, chairman and CEO, JCB Inc. “On behalf of everyone at JCB, we hope that the miles traveled and donations secured during Backhoe Across America will help ease the burden of the journey that lies ahead for this devastated nation.”

No Ordinary Backhoe

On a recent episode of the National Geographic and Discovery Channel show, ‘Greatest Ever’, the JCB backhoe was ranked number-one on a list of the “Greatest Ever Earthmovers.” With the Backhoe Across America campaign, JCB will put the Worlds Greatest Earthmover to an even greater test to see just how far a bucketful of charity can go to help the Haitian people rebuild their lives.

JCB invented the backhoe loader in 1953; today, the company is the world’s leading manufacturer of this versatile and reliable job-site solution, producing almost one out of every two backhoes sold worldwide. In keeping with the company’s long tradition of assisting disaster-relief efforts around the world, JCB already has donated two backhoe loaders in response to Haiti’s immediate recovery needs. And, most recently, JCB pledged to provide $100,000 worth of backhoe equipment for Chile’s earthquake victims.

No Ordinary Driver

JCB veteran employee Neil Smith will be the man behind the wheel as the backhoe makes its way across America. When Neil was growing up in Rocester, England, he walked by a large factory on his way to school each and every day. That factory was JCB’s World Headquarters. Not surprisingly, Neil dreamed of operating JCB’s signature bright yellow machines – but he had no way of knowing that the family-owned manufacturer would play a major role in his life for many years to come.

Now in his 37th year with JCB, Neil will operate the 3CX machine from start to finish, traveling at speeds up to 30 mph on secondary roads, which, by law, must be used throughout the trek due to the backhoe’s maximum speed limitations.

Tour Stops

March 26th…………………Tybee Island GA

March 30th…………………Atlanta, GA

April 1st……………………..Montgomery, AL

April 7th…………………….Baton Rouge, LA

April 9th…………………….Houston, TX

April 10th…………………..Dallas, TX

April 12th…………………..Lubbock, TX

April 16th…………………..Phoenix, AZ

April 19th…………………..Fontana, CA

April 20th…………………..Finish Line Party at the Santa Monica Pier

JCB 8065 Sets The new Benchmark In Six-Ton Excavator Performance

JCB 8065 Mini Excavator

Displayed in North America for the first time here at ICUEE, the new 8065 RTS (reduced tail swing) Excavator – launched earlier this year at Intermat – gives contractors and operators a more powerful, safer and versatile machine. Replacing the 8060, the new 8065 is JCB’s most productive six-ton machine ever.

JCB midi excavators are well known for their performance, controllability, serviceability and versatility. Like the 8055 launched late last year, the new 8065 model builds on these core strengths and also features a new cab for unrivalled operator comfort and visibility.

54.3hp, Tier III Isuzu Turbo engine.

Powering the 8065 is a new 54.3hp, Tier III Isuzu Turbo engine. This engine, along with a near five-inch reduction of the machine’s tail swing, makes the 8065 even more productive when operating in confined spaces.

The new excavator also features a heavy-duty dipper to give improved bucket and dipper breakout forces. Its maximum dig depth of 14’3” and dump height of 14’0” constitute a class-leading digging range. The improved bucket breakouts increase the 8065’s productivity, and ultimately, the customer’s return on investment. The single-piece wraparound dipper design reduces the need for weld points, increasing durability, and the easily accessible dig-end hoses are routed through the kingpost, protecting it from damage. The 8065 also features a new counterweight design that has further reduced the tail swing to seven inches.

The 8065 incorporates an improved undercarriage structure which includes upgraded track motors. With powerful dozing capability, excellent tracking performance and two-speed tracking, peaking at 3.3 mph, the JCB boasts improved mobility and approximately 17,500 lbf of tractive effort.

By combining automotive levels of comfort and styling with innovative new excavator design features and technology, the JCB 8065 exemplifies the very best in cab environments — a feature that’s become the hallmark of JCB equipment. As seen on the 8055, the deluxe cab is isolated from the swing frame, forming an isolated pod structure with benefits in terms of decreased cab noise and vibrations. The cab also includes a high-backed suspension seat and easy-to-use pilot-operated controls that move with the operator for a more effective working position and all-day comfort. The unusually large cab features a large-fold back door and well-positioned grab rails for easy entry and exit from the machine. Air-conditioning comes standard.

8065 Cab Interior

Dual pilot controls and proportional auxiliary flow deliver precision control, including low-flow and high-flow functions which improve the machine’s versatility. Electronic throttle control with auto idle function improves fuel economy and ease of use, while load-sensing hydraulics guarantee efficient and safe use of all functions.

All service points are easily accessed for convenient daily and periodical checks. Serviceability is also enhanced by the longitudinal engine positioning, and service intervals are set at 500 hours. To maximize the machine’s earning potential, the 8065 is compatible with all existing JCB 8080 ZTS, 3CX and 4CX buckets along with a vast range of existing JCB attachments.

The new 8065 joins an unrivalled lineup of mini and midi excavators from JCB. From the ultra-compact 1,929 lbs Micro 8008 to the 18,960 pound 8080ZTS, JCB offers 10 models in total.
This broad spread of excavators includes six full zero-tail swing (ZTS) machines and a number of reduced-tail swing models, offering JCB customers a choice of weights and specifications to match their requirements. The range also includes the popular 8008, the 8018 mini, along with the 8025ZTS, 8030ZTS, 8035ZTS, 8040ZTS, 8045ZTS and 8055ZTS.

JCB Improves Two Backhoe Loader Models

JCB 3CX Backhoe Loader

SAVANNAH, GA ─ (October 7, 2009) ─ Already the world’s leading producer of backhoe loaders, JCB has made substantial improvements to 2 core models from its rugged backhoe loader product line—the 3CX and 4CX- in an effort to continue to grow its presence in North America.

The JCB 3CX and 4CX backhoe loaders have undergone some noteworthy changes designed to enhance both performance and operator experience. Perhaps the most significant of these changes is the implementation of JCB’s innovative EASYCONTROL seat-mounted servo control system. According to Jim Blower, senior product manager at JCB’s North American Headquarters, the EASYCONTROL system gives operators back all of the feel and speed of a traditional manual controlled machine with all the comfort and low fatigue levels of servo controlled systems. Essentially, EASYCONTROL gives operators the best of both worlds.

Interior shot of a 3CX Backhoe Loader. Notice the EASYCONTROLS.

JCB was the first manufacturer to offer seat mounted hydraulic over hydraulic servo controls I a backhoe loader. This feature allows a user to operate the backhoe in the standard rear facing position in addition to allowing the operator to dig at an angle, allowing him to look directly over his work site; a feature that is particularly useful for ditch work. This key feature, combined with the benefits of reduced operator fatigue, increased visibility, and excavator-like productivity, has been further enhanced with the new EASYCONTROL system.

Speed is improved in the backhoe operation by changing the excavator valve to a full-flow valve block rather than a flow-sharing valve block. “A flow-sharing valve block limits the amount of oil available to each cylinder,” Blower said. “Switching these machines to full-flow valve blocks allows them to distribute the maximum amount of oil available to any cylinder, making single service cycle time faster and giving the operator total control over the backhoe’s speed.”

The EASYCONTROL system also improves operator/joystick feedback by changing the hydraulic circuit in the backhoe from a “closed circuit” to an “open circuit.” With an open hydraulic circuit, neutral circuit oil flows through the valve-block any time the engine is running and turning the pumps, making hydraulic power available on demand. Lever movement determines the amount of power available at the bucket tooth, allowing the operator to control how much force is applied to a given obstacle in the ground.

In addition to the implementation of the EASYCONTROL system, the JCB 3CX and 4CX backhoe loader models now also feature a stronger, more durable fuel tank. Now made from a highly resistant composite material, the fuel tank is less susceptible to rust, minimizing the risk of costly repairs required when rust enters a backhoe loader’s fuel system. This composite material is also impact-resistant, enhancing the fuel tank’s resistance to damage that can occur on the job site. A steel tank guard protects the underside of the tank by deflecting any foreign objects that may come into contact with it, and the steps to enter or exit the machine are mounted to the backhoe loader’s frame—not to the fuel tank itself, further limiting the possibility of damage during day-to-day use.

Since introducing the backhoe loader to the world nearly 60 years ago, JCB has continued to perfect this invaluable machine. The company’s recent improvements to the JCB 3CX and 4CX models are prime examples of JCB’s continued dedication to helping its customers “get the job done.”