UK giant JCB saw its sales increase to $3.2 billion in 2010, an increase of $1.06 million from 2009.
The company sold 51,600 machines last year compared with 36,000 in 2009. Its workforce grew by 1,000 in just four months in the UK, taking its total number of employees in the country to 5,000.
Hailing the results, Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB called the year a “tremendous achievement”.
“Last year saw a welcome return to growth for JCB, with an increase in our worldwide sales of almost 50%,” he said. “This is a tremendous achievement in a very competitive market.”
JCB’s best year to date was 2007 when sales hit $3.68 billion but after a couple of relatively sluggish years, it has begun to pick up momentum.
It has been looking to expand its global footprint and has pumped $200 million into a new factory in Brazil for backhoe loader and excavator production and it has also invested in a new $65 million engine plant in India.
It also revamped its backhoe range last year, and unveiled its strongest telehandler yet – the 512-56, a 5.5 tonnes, 17m high boom machine – and four skid steer and three new compact track loaders at Conexpo.
Although the official launch of the smaller machines isn’t until July, JCB told PMV earlier this that it expected 260 machines to arrive in the Middle East in April.
