Construction equipment manufacturer, JCB, has ploughed £20m into
developing a new range of diggers to help improve driver comfort and
increase productivity.
Following research with customers across the UK into working practices,
JCB discovered having the ability to make hot drinks easily on freezing
cold days was of importance to operators. This led to the new range of
fuel efficient diggers being designed complete with an in-cab hot water
dispenser.
Diggers from the range are now starting to go into the field -
particularly timely as forecasters are predicting we are in for the
coldest winter Britain has seen in the last 100 years.
JCB's Tim Burnhope, group managing director for product development
and commercial operations, said: "Driver comfort is paramount and we
are always looking at new, innovative ways to improve things. We have a
proud tradition of product innovation and being first to introduce the
latest technology and this is just another example, in fact, we believe
this product is a world first."
He continues: "We continually challenge ourselves to raise the bar to
provide operators with a comfortable working environment. In preparation
for a cold winter, our team of engineers looked for innovation inside
the cab, the place where operators spend the majority of their time.
"We all know that a happy operator is a more productive operator and
so we felt everyone wins with our new innovation."
All JCB 3CX and 4CX Eco backhoe loader models are now available with an
optional hot water dispenser, capable of producing tea, coffee or soup,
which locks securely into an area at the side of the cab. The machine
uses the 12V supply directly from the machine and has been designed to
fit into the existing cab layout.
However, in addition to the hot water dispenser, the new backhoe range
also features a whole host of environmental and performance-enhancing
benefits.
The new JCB EcoDig hydraulic system, which utilises three hydraulic
pumps, can help cut fuel costs by up to 16 per cent, saving customers up
to £3,536 over three years, and also boasts enhanced performance to
further boost productivity. The models also come with JCB EcoRoad
options of Smooth Ride System (SRS) and TorqueLock which can reduce fuel
consumption by up to 25 per cent whilst increasing speed by up to ten
per cent. Power brakes provide proportional braking, resulting in
reduced effort, and the redesigned pedal box, with improved ergonomics,
helps operators maintain roading speeds, contributing to a further one
per cent saving in fuel consumption.
Tim concludes: "The new backhoe loader range is our most efficient.
It has been designed with the environment, and productivity, in mind and
ultimately the machines work harder, yet require less fuel and driver
effort."