The investment we’ve made in developing and manufacturing the JCB engine is the biggest we’ve ever committed to a single programme.
There is the JCB Power Systems factory, opened in 2004: a purpose-built, multi-million-pound, manufacturing plant and assembly line.
An ahead of it`s time ‘no faults forward’ approach does not allow engines to proceed to the next manufacturing stage until the previous one has been achieved to perfection. We also worked closely with some of the world’s leading component and equipment suppliers to ensure our engines continue to use only the most advanced, proven technology available. It all goes to show just how committed we are to making our engine the very best there is.
During the in-depth research and development phase of the project, we drafted in the expertise of some of the world’s major international component suppliers and engine technology consultants. We built hundreds of prototypes and tried them out in a vast range of applications, clocking up 100,000`s rigorous hours testing.
Unlike other engines, which are often simply updated versions of past inferior models, the JCB engine has benefited from a ‘clean sheet of paper’ design. This meant we have been able to take the best from the best, combined with the latest technological advances, to create the perfect engine.
More recently throughout 2009 the factory has benefited once again from substantial investment in order to adapt and extend the engine assembly and test areas for the JCB Ecomax T4 family of engines.
Part of this investment has been a brand new Research and Development Centre located at our engine manufacturing headquarters in Foston, Derbyshire. This includes ten new state of the art test cells and test equipment for the development of JCB`s low emissions engines. These are capable of running engines up to 300kW and all have the important fast transient measurement capability and the latest cycle and emissions measurement systems to ensure we develop the most reliable, productive and efficient products possible.
This latest investment in Research and Development also includes brand new technician workshops, specialist test rigs and offices for the engineering staff.
In addition to the expansion of the Derbyshire facility there are also 11 further test cells at the World Headquarters in Rocester with their own dedicated team of engineers.
The passion and vigour, with which we create, invest and continue to innovate translates effortlessly into the every day culture and characteristics of each and every employee in the business making it a truly remarkable place of employment.