JCB dealers and guests converged on the North American Headquarters of JCB, Savannah, Ga., on March 7 for “The Skid Steer Revolution.” In all, 33 countries were represented at this event which was the official unveiling of the new generation of small platform skid steer and compact track loaders completely designed, developed, engineered and manufactured in North America for global distribution.

Deputy Chairman of the JCB Group, John Patterson, stated, “The Skid Steer Revolution represents a significant investment for JCB in both product development and manufacturing technology.”

The small platform machines include the 135, 155, 175, 190 and 205 model skid steer loaders and the 150T, 190T and 205T compact track loaders, ranging from 1,350 lb. (612 kg) capacity up to 2,050 lb. (930 kg) capacity machines. With the nine large platform machines that were introduced last year, the total range of skid steer and compact track loaders is 17 models and “the complete range” as stated by Patterson.

This event was the completion of what was started just over one year ago. During the opening presentation, Arjun Mirdha, JCB’s executive vice president of sales and marketing stated, “The spark was ignited with the launch of the nine large platform machines at ConExpo.”

During the morning’s events, dealers listened to goals and initiatives of the executive team, enjoyed a theater presentation of the new small platform machines and were given a complete factory tour. The afternoon was spent on a “safari” on the trolley car bus from one demo station to another on the grounds of the JCB campus to see real world working applications of the entire range of skid steer loaders, compact track loaders using JCB attachments.

The day was capped off by a parade of the entire line of machines. When the new small platform skid steer and compact track loaders were introduced, JCB representatives pointed out five compelling aspects of the machines:

1. Safety — single arm power boom-side entry and 270-degree visibility.

2. Comfort — 46 percent larger cab

3. Serviceability — touted as 21 percent better serviceability than the competition.

4. Productivity — 31 families of JCB attachments and 21 percent more productive than the competition.

5. Total value — 16 percent better fuel economy than the competition.

The event concluded with a gala dinner in Savannah’s famed Forsyth Park.

Look to upcoming issues of Construction Equipment Guide and www.constructionequipmentguide.com for the official JCB product release of the small platform skid steer and compact track loaders, or take a sneak peek now at www.jcbvision.com.

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