The JCB Loadall telescopic handler has passed a major milestone – the production of the 200,000th machine.
First manufactured in 1977, the handler transformed lifting and loading tasks on building sites.
On farm, the purpose-built machine boosted productivity, stacking bales, loading muck and shovelling grain, replacing rudimentary tractor mounted hydraulic loaders.
The first JCB Loadall – the JCB 520 model – was produced at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire, on October 3, 1977 and in the first full year of production less than 300 machines were made by just a handful of employees.
Today, JCB produces thousands of Loadalls every year and the business producing them employs around 800 people.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said that from very small beginnings, the JCB Loadall has become a very important machine for JCB and for the construction and agricultural industries.
Revolutionary is often a word that is over-used, but in the case of the Loadall it is a perfect description.
“The way loads are handled on building sites and farms has never been the same since we introduced the Loadall in 1977.
“The JCB team involved in manufacturing and selling the Loadall is to be congratulated on reaching the production milestone of 200,000 machines.”
It took almost 30 years for JCB to sell the first 100,000 Loadalls but it has taken less than 10 for the next 100,000 to be sold, according to the company.
When the original 520 model was launched, it offered users a rough terrain machine with reach and performance way beyond the capabilities of conventional rough terrain forklifts.
As the machine evolved, its use widened to all areas of the construction sector and the concept quickly spread to agriculture where it is used for a vast variety of tasks from loading grain, stacking bales and towing trailers.
JCB today manufactures a total of 90 different Loadall models, 88 of which are manufactured at the World HQ for global markets and two of which are made in India for the domestic market.
JCB maintains that one of the major the innovations over the past 39 years has been the introduction of a range of machines with an engine on the side rather than in the centre which enabled the boom to be lowered, improving visibility for operators by 390mm.
Moving forward and in 2008 JCB introduced the Hi-Viz range, which lowered the boom even further meaning visibility improvements took another huge leap forward.
JCB’s latest step in the Loadall product development is the introduction of the Loadall AGRI Pro.
This model combines hydrostatic and powershift drives in the DualTech VT variable transmission delivering more control, performance and productivity, and a positive driver experience.
