Company Report: JCB
JCB Military orders have boosted JCB's growth and brand awareness in the USA as its core civil markets struggle through the credit squeeze

Christmas, and the President of JCB Inc. Graeme Macdonald is looking forward to spending the holiday with his family in the UK. He can look back over a fantastic year for the company in the Americas, and in particular the North American operation, which has contributed to a record year for the family owned global manufacturer of backhoe loaders, telescopic transporters and other construction equipment.

But it hasn't been easy. Construction, and consequently construction equipment, has been hit by the credit squeeze following last summer's sub-prime crisis, and all the manufacturers have had to cope with that. But JCB is less exposed than its competitors. It is a fast-growing newcomer, with at present around four percent of the North American construction equipment market, a market dominated by Caterpillar and John Deere.

Uncertain markets
Starting from a relatively low market share gives JCB huge opportunities to grow, no matter what the market conditions are, explains Macdonald. "A key focus for our North American management team this year has been to grow and re-engage our dealer network. We are not aiming to copy John Deere or Caterpillar

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