JCB expands new Texas factory plans in response to April tariff hike
Since Donald Trump’s import tariff announcement, the world has been on a wild economic ride.
Despite Brexit being foreshadowed as a handbrake on Britain’s exports to Europe, it seems the future holds no fear for construction and farm machinery maker JCB, which has just released impressive year 2017 financial results.
The company produced 75,693 machines, up from 66,011 in 2016, resulting in a sales turnover increase of about 28% to GBP 3.35 billion (NZ$ 7.37b), up from GBP 2.62b.
Earnings rose by 19% to GBP 341 million (NZ$ 685m), and the company notes that since 1975 the average return on investment has always exceeded 30%.
The global market is said to have risen by 21% in 2017, but JCB was ahead of trend with growth up 28%, much of it derived from big gains in its Loadall telehandler product range.
It has 22 factories worldwide, including 11 in the UK, and about 15,000 employees (7600 in UK).
Production figures for the 2018 year are trending upward: daily production is 500 machines. This continued growth is said to be the stimulus for building a GBP 50m factory at the Uttoxeter base for cab production, scheduled for opening in 2019.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.