JCB unveils new excavators and site dumper

JCB has revealed three new mini excavators, a 15-tonne reduced tail swing excavator and a revolutionary concept site dumper at its headquarters in Staffordshire, UK.

With operating weights of 1.6 to 1.8 tonnes, the new mini excavator line-up comprises the 16C-1, a conventional tailswing model designed specifically for the rental market, the 18Z-1, the company’s first zero tailswing model at 1.7 tonnes, and a high-performance 19C-1 model, aimed primarily at contractors.

All three models feature steel bodywork, enhanced design to better protect hydraulic rams and hoses, 500-hour greasing intervals and an innovative swing-out counterweight, giving easy access to service points.

At the launch, Tim Burnhope, Chief Innovation & Growth Officer, said the machines had been “designed in conjunction with the customer…with a completely new and totally consistent DNA throughout the range.”

Matt Fears, MD, JCB Compact Products, said it was the right time for JCB to turn its attention to opportunities below 4 tonnes.

Looking at the global market, he said, “Of the 200,000 [excavator] units sold in 2016, 40,000 were in the 6 to 12 tonne category, and 55,000 were in the 4 to 6 tonne category. This leaves 105,000 units, over half the market, in the 1 to 4 tonne category. This is a high-volume market and a growing market, particularly in rental.”

Revealing JCB’s new prototype concept site dumper, Tim Burnhope said that, while researching issues with site dumpers – specifically safety issues, which are significant in modern construction work – three challenges became clear: visibility, stability and operator protection.

In tackling these challenge, JCB extended the dumper’s wheel base, simultaneously lowering its centre of gravity and bringing down the height of the skip.

With the addition of a ROPS/FOPS Level II cab for greater operator protection, the firm claims to have revolutionised the segment with its new Hi-Viz Site Dumper concept machine.

The dumper is set to go into production at JCB’s headquarters in Staffordshire at the end of the year.

During the multiple launch, JCB also introduced its new reduced tailswing T4F 15 tonne crawler excavator, which promises fuel savings of up to 20% over the JZ140 model.