It’s hard to miss JCB’s North American headquarters as you drive along the nation’s busiest highway (I-95), toward Savannah, GA. Today nearly 600 JCB employees lived up to the city’s nickname, the ‘Hostess City of the South,’ welcoming the AEM Manufacturing Express.
The company was founded in 1945 in the United Kingdom by ‘Mr. JCB’ himself, Joseph Cyril Bamford, an engineer who released the company’s first piece of equipment, an agricultural tipping trailer. JCB has since become a global leader in industrial equipment, renowned for their reliability, durability, and innovation fit for a Queen (really, in 1982, JCB received a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, a testament to their commitment to quality). JCB’s influence is far-reaching in agriculture and construction: they are the world’s third-largest construction equipment manufacturer by volume.
In 2001, JCB expanded their footprint to the United States, selecting Savannah, Georgia, as the site of their first North American facility. The largest strategic investment in JCB’s history is a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, spanning 500,000 square feet. Today, this Savannah facility is home to over 850 dedicated team members—85% of JCB’s North American workforce. They produce more than 30,000 products annually—over half of JCB’s impressive 300+ global product catalog.
JCB has no intention of slowing down. In June, they broke ground on a new factory in San Antonio, Texas, their second facility in North America. The facility will cover more than 400 acres and will create more than 1,500 construction jobs. For JCB, this investment is more than an expansion of their footprint; it’s a renewal of their commitment to growing their brand and businesses in America—the single largest market for construction and agricultural equipment in the world. “We see such an opportunity to grow our product and brand in the United States, and what better place to grow our family than in Texas—a place that embodies the American spirit,” said VP of Commercial Operations, Ken Bianco.
What truly sets JCB apart is their unwavering commitment to their customers. “Many of our customers are small, family-owned businesses that rely on our products not just for business success, but to support their livelihoods,” Bianco noted. “That’s why we approach our work with a profound sense of respect and responsibility, ensuring we always put the customer first.” This philosophy echoes the life motto of JCB’s founder, “Jamais content,” meaning “never content.” Every JCB employee embraces this mindset, continuously striving to build and do better for customers and each other.
The Manufacturing Express visit this afternoon gave us some insight: It’s an exciting time to be a part of the JCB family. From the factory floor to the boardroom, their pioneering spirit is alive and thriving. The future of JCB is bright, and for those on the journey, the best is yet to come.
