Big plans at JCB
JCB has for decades produced a vast array of agricultural and plant equipment.
Despite designing and producing almost all of the major components for its vehicles, including transmissions and axles, it did not produce engines. Instead, these were bought in from specialised engine producers such as Cummins and Perkins.
In 2004 this all changed and the first JCB engine rolled off the production line in the UK at JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire.
This represented years of development and an £80m investment by the firm.
Since then the firm has produced over 200,000 JCB engines with 170,000 of these built at JCB Power Systems and 30,000 in India, where manufacturing began in April last year.
The firm also launched its latest emissionised version, which is capable of meeting the latest round of emission regulations without any exhaust after treatment, either AdBlue (SCR) or Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
Director of engine programmes Alan Tolley said that the Dieselmax engine had earned an unrivalled reputation for reliability and durability in the off-highway sector.
"It has also given JCB complete control over its destiny in powertrain technology," he said.
In 2006, two slightly modified Dieselmax engines powered the JCB Dieselmax car to a diesel land speed record of 350mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA -- a record that still stands today.
JCB says that its engines are now fitted into more than 70pc of the machines JCB manufactures as well as substantial numbers of third-party products (including Cross Engineering's mobile beet wash and chopping plant). JCB Power Systems employs around 250 people.
Combine harvesters shipped to Georgia in first stage of huge export order for New Holland
New Holland Agriculture, through distributors GT Group, recently delivered 12 combine harvesters to the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture as part of a larger purchase programme. Georgia, once part of the Soviet Union, borders Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Black Sea.
New Holland will ultimately supply the Georgian Ministry with a total of 92 tractors and 25 combine harvesters. The deal also includes 50 grain and maize headers, 25 sunflower header kits and 22 dozer blades.
The first 12 TC5070 combine harvesters fitted with 17-foot grain headers were handed over to Meqanizatori LLC, the Ministry of Agriculture's farming mechanisation service provider.
The machines, built at New Holland's manufacturing plant in Plock, Poland, are the first units of the entire programme to be delivered, and according to New Holland, are ready to start harvesting around the country.
These first units will be joined by 13 more combines and 67 T6000 Series units from the New Holland plant in Basildon, UK, which will supply the majority of the tractors.
Twenty-two TK4060 crawler tractors built in New Holland's specialty tractor plant in Jesi, Italy, and three high-horsepower T8.390 tractors made in Racine, USA, will also be provided.
Gormley's growth success story continues with appointment as a main dealer for Landini tractors
Gormley Equipment has recently been appointed a main dealer for the Landini range of tractors. Gormley will serve the needs of new and existing Landini customers in the north Wexford, south Wicklow and Carlow areas.
Established by Paschal and Marie Gormley in 1988, the business has grown steadily and built up a considerable base of customers, most noticeably from selling JCB equipment.
With a staff of 10, today the business operates from a modern, purpose-built dealership in Gorey, Co Wexford.
Paschal heads up the sales team, the service team is managed by Edward, while Paraic Gormley is in charge of the parts division.
The firm is located two minutes off the M11 Courtown exit and is open from 9am-6pm Monday to Friday and from 9.30am-1pm on Saturday.
Source: irishindependent