Construction equipment giant JCB has fought off fierce international competition to secure an order to supply more than 230 machines to the British Army.
The Staffordshire-based company said the order - the largest to the British Army in the firm’s 65-year history - would see it supply 138 backhoe loaders and 98 wheeled loading shovels by the end of January 2011.
MoD service provider ALC, a joint venture between Amey and Babcock International Group, awarded the contract to JCB after extensive trials.
The backhoe loaders are made at JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, while the other vehicles are built at JCB Earthmovers in nearby Cheadle.
JCB chief executive officer Alan Blake said of the deal: “JCB has now become the primary supplier of plant and mechanical handling equipment to the British Army.
“As a British company it is fantastic that we have been awarded the opportunity to support our armed forces in this way and help ensure they are successful on operations, training and in their many other tasks around the world.”
