JCB will showcase a range of new machines and technology developments at Hillhead 2026
JCB is set to unveil its biggest-ever X Series excavator at Hillhead 2026 as the machinery giant ramps up investment in the quarrying, aggregates and recycling sectors.
Taking centre stage at the show will be the new 520X crawler excavator — a 50-tonne machine that becomes the largest and most powerful model in JCB’s X Series range to date.
The heavy-duty excavator has been designed for demanding applications and marks a major expansion of the company’s Heavyline portfolio.
JCB said the 520X has been built to tackle some of the toughest jobs in the industry, including mass excavation, aggregate extraction, demolition and crusher loading.
The new model will be joined by the 40-tonne class 420X crawler excavator, another addition to the firm’s growing Heavyline range.
Building on the success of the existing 370X model, the company said the latest machines had been developed to meet increasing demand for high-capacity quarrying and construction equipment.
JCB will also use Hillhead to showcase additions to its compaction equipment line-up, including the new VM138D single drum soil compactor.
The manufacturer said the machine had been designed to strengthen its presence in the compaction market while targeting heavy-duty groundworks and infrastructure applications.
Elsewhere on the stand, JCB’s 9T Dual Drive site dumper will demonstrate the company’s latest developments in dumper safety, visibility and operator productivity.
The machine uses technology already seen on JCB’s Dual Drive backhoe loaders, allowing operators to rotate the seat and controls so they always face the direction of travel.
JCB said the system was designed to improve visibility and site safety while helping reduce operator fatigue during long shifts.
The company will also preview its new 715 articulated dump truck at the exhibition.
The compact two-axle machine offers a payload of 12,750kg and has been engineered to deliver high productivity and rapid cycle times in off-road hauling applications.
Alongside the machine launches and live demonstrations, JCB’s Aftersales team will showcase the latest developments to its LiveLink telematics platform and the company’s new Parts Online e-commerce system.
The platform gives customers access to more than 50,000 genuine JCB parts and attachments through an online ordering service available around the clock.
Hillhead 2026 is expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the quarrying, construction and recycling industries, with manufacturers using the event to unveil major machinery launches and technology developments.