HRH The Duke of Gloucester today honoured the JCB company providing parts and service back-up to thousands of customers around the world when he presented a Queen's Award marking export achievement.
JCB Service – based at the World Parts Centre in Uttoxeter – received the Queen's Award for Enterprise from the Royal visitor after increasing overseas sales by more than 36 per cent between 2004 and 2006.
The Award – in the International Trade category – was presented to Group CEO Matthew Taylor at a ceremony at the World Parts Centre attended by many of the employees who contributed to the success.
HM Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire, Mr James Hawley, told the ceremony: "In recent years awards for export achievement have declined and this makes today's award even more special. It shows the enormous commitment that JCB have to supporting their customers all over the globe.
"We in Staffordshire are very proud of you all and you and your products are great ambassadors for the County. I, like so many others when abroad, am always thrilled to see one of your yellow machines beavering away and feel a real glow of pride when we think that it probably started life here in Uttoxeter and is kept going by efficient and speedy supply of spare parts and replacements.
"Unlike personal honours, The Queen's Awards are given to the company as a whole and therefore to all employees working as a team. You have all played your part and I hope that you all feel proud of your achievement and that your company will continue to prosper in the future."
Matthew Taylor said: "JCB Service is very proud to have been chosen for this Queen's Award, which is the 23rd for the JCB Group. It is well-deserved recognition of the achievement of the people gathered here today and their colleagues around the world. It is a fitting tribute to all their hard work.
"The World Parts Centre is at the heart of our worldwide dealer and customer support network – which includes facilities in Paris, Madrid, Singapore, Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Savannah in the USA and India. Very shortly, our new Moscow warehouse will be fully operational - and next on our list are the Czech Republic and United Arab Emirates – evidence of our ongoing investment in service support."
During the visit The Duke toured the World Parts Centre and met a large number of employees who explained the processes involved in delivering world-class customer support.
JCB Service provides aftermarket support to JCB's global customers via its dealer network and the World Parts Centre employs more than 300 people in a 24 hour operation which dispatches around one million parts every week around the world.
JCB Service sells parts for the full range of JCB construction and agricultural machines as well as providing field and office-based technical product support for dealers and end users worldwide. JCB dealers provide a 24-hour on-site breakdown service supported by 12 parts warehouses around the world, carrying 150,000 parts for the 300 different JCB products. These facilities are capable of supplying the correct parts within 24 hours to most areas of the world.