Friday, 30 October 2026 11:55

JCB Lifts Investment After Hydrogen Engine Milestone

Written by Mark Daniel

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JCB joint chairman, Lord Bamford and his son, George

Following the record-breaking success of its hydrogen-powered Hydromax, JCB is ramping up its investment in the business, key to the first major change at the executive level of the business, with George Bamford stepping up to the post of joint chairman, alongside his father Lord Bamford.

£100 million of the investment is centred around the company’s headquarters in Staffordshire, UK, including £60 million for a new powder paint system and improvements across the shop floor, which will help secure the future of an extensive workforce that exceeds more than 8000 personnel.

Across the Atlantic, JCB has also established a new US$1 billion factory in San Antonio, Texas, covering an area of around 21 acres, making it JCB’s largest factory in the world. Scheduled to open in November, the facility will build Loadall telescopic handlers and a range of access equipment for North America – said to be the world’s biggest construction equipment market.

Elsewhere within the business, hydrogen-powered machines are now in production following JCB’s previous £100 million programme to develop hydrogen combustion technology. This makes it the first construction equipment company in the world to deliver a fully approved hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine to market.

The JCB Academy had 708 applications for 314 places available in September. Since its inception in 2010, the programme has educated around 3750 young people and boasts a 100% record of leavers progressing into employment or further education.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford says, in 2025 JCB celebrated its 80th birthday.

“As we look ahead, we are investing heavily in the future of the business. That includes the transformation of our Staffordshire headquarters, pioneering hydrogen technology and our new factory in Texas. I’m delighted that my son George will become joint chairman of JCB and, as a company that never stands still, our investments will ensure we are well placed to seize the opportunities ahead.”

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald says while 2025 was a challenging year with mixed market conditions around the world, JCB delivered a robust performance overall. “Although machine sales were down by around 5%, our turnover remained broadly stable due to a more favourable market and product mix.”

www.jcb.co.nz

Published in Machinery & Products

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