JCB has launched a brand‑new backhoe loader designed to boost the market and give the next generation of business owners an affordable way to get started – and all for £55,000.

Key features of the machine include:

• JCB 3.0 Litre Stage V, 55kW (74hp) engine, no requirement for DEF (Adblue)
• 0 cu.m. 6-in-1 shovel with integrated forks
• Sideshift with extending dipper
• Seat mounted servo excavator controls
• Single servo loader controls with de-bog functionality
• Return to Dig loader functionality
• Air conditioning and LED work lights
• Livelink for maximum security and maintenance monitoring

When JCB launched the world’s first backhoe loader in 1953, it heralded the beginning of thousands of one-man firms around the world, mechanising tasks previously done by hand.

Now a brand new 3CX Sitemaster with a price tag of £55,000 – or from £271 per week through JCB Finance  – is being launched to give today’s start-up owners a new solution to set up in business, as well as offering hire companies an attractive, cost-effective addition to their fleets.

The 55kW/74hp machine will come in one fixed high specification, with a comfortable cab and servo controls. With no requirement DEF (Adblue) it provides a highly fuel-efficient machine positioned alongside JCB’s popular 3CX Plus and 3CX Pro models, which come with an 81kW/109hp engine, six speed auto shift transmission and Torquelock. Dual Drive is also standard on the PRO models saving machine repositioning time and operator effort.

For increased flexibility of the excavator, the new 3CX  has single and double acting auxiliary hydraulic circuits fitted as standard, to operate attachment such as breakers and tilting grading buckets.

JCB Sales Managing Director Tim Burnhope said: “JCB’s backhoe loader range is already very well accepted around the world, which is the reason why we have remained the global market leader for this product for more than 30 years.

“The launch of the new 3CX Sitemaster is another milestone in the development of the JCB backhoe range because it offers a cost-effective alternative that will deliver an exceptional return on investment and open up new market opportunities in the UK and Europe.

“The new JCB 3CX Sitemaster will be particularly appealing to customers who currently operate an eight-tonne excavator and a dumper, because the new 3CX Sitemaster can replace multiple machines with one highly versatile solution. Its comfort, ease of maintenance and fantastic return on investment also make the new JCB 3CX Sitemaster a perfect solution for rental companies.

“One of the other exciting prospects for this machine is the opportunity it offers people to start their own business by investing in a backhoe loader.”

New 3CX Sitemaster

The new machine boasts a single, high specification, providing customers with a comfortable air-conditioned cab, a six-in-one shovel with forks, an extending dipper arm, a return-to-dig function and JCB’s Smooth Ride System (SRS), delivering loader arm suspension for improved ride and load retention when driving at higher speeds. The 3CX Sitemasater has servo controls as standard, with the transmission control in the front loader lever for ease of use, making it familiar to operators using wheeled loaders.

The machine is powered by JCB’s proven 3.0-litre 55kW/74hp diesel engine, delivering 440Nm of torque and meeting the EU Stage V emissions standards with no requirement for DEF (Adblue). This drives through a four-speed manual gearbox, offering a maximum travel speed of up to 40kph. The combination offers reduced service and maintenance costs, with easy access for daily checks and to all filters and fill points, cutting downtime and total cost of ownership for customers.

The new 3CX delivers the ideal specification for new entrants to the market, keen to maximise the potential of this multi-purpose excavator, loader and tool carrier. It also provides a cost-effective replacement machine for existing fleets and for smaller businesses operating older backhoe loader models.

The 3CX Plus

Those companies looking for additional performance, productivity and operator comfort will turn to the popular 3CX Plus. Powered by an 81kW/109hp, 4.8-litre JCB DieselMax engine, the machine directs 516Nm of torque through a six-speed Autoshift transmission with a Torque Lock facility, delivering a maximum travel speed of 40kph.

The 3CX Plus is available with a choice of manual or servo controls and customers can tailor the machine to their individual requirements. A premium cab incorporates various automated functions, to reduce operator effort and improve productivity. The backhoe loader is offered with a choice of tyres and can be specified with optional hose reel, EasyForks and hydraulic quick hitches.

The 3CX Pro

The ultimate 3CX experience can be found in the 3CX Pro Dual Drive. Designed for users that demand maximum productivity and those operators looking for the highest level of comfort and controllability, the 3CX Pro is also powered by the 81kW/109hp diesel engine, driving through a six-speed Autoshift transmission with Torque Lock. Maximum speed is raised to 50kph, for ultimate roading capability, reducing time between job sites.

Servo controls are standard and the 3CX Pro is the only model to be offered with JCB’s innovative Dual Drive system. Dual Drive allows the operator to rotate the seat and to drive the machine while facing to the rear, simplifying repositioning when trenching and earthmoving like using a wheeled excavator, reducing fatigue for the operator.

The 3CX Pro has JCB’s Premium cab, that can be personalised further, with the option of premium tyres and a range of additional equipment, such as Hose Reels, EasyForks and hydraulic quick hitches.

Quick Specifications:

 For more information on the JCB 3CX Sitemaster visit JCB Home | JCB Machines & Equipment | JCB

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One of JCB’s DualDrive backhoe loaders is slashing the time spent on tasks for a Barnsley-based groundworks company.

The JCB 4CX Pro DualDrive model is making short work of a range of tasks including ditching and repositioning on large groundworks projects for Jack Elliott Groundworks Ltd.

Supplied by JCB dealer TC Harrison, the new machine was chosen for its flexibility, versatility and cost effectiveness on site and has already boosted productivity.

Jack Elliott Groundworks Ltd Director, Jack Elliott said: “JCB DualDrive adds value on site in a number of ways. Certainly less fatigue for the operator and a reduction in the amount of time required to do a set task. Repositioning now can be done in a matter of seconds, whereas before you’d be lifting your bucket, spinning your seat around, lifting your stabilisers, driving forward. Now all this operation can be done simultaneously, with 2 or 3 actions happening at the same.

“DualDrive certainly makes the job easier and faster. It has made a great machine even better, bringing time savings, greater comfort and efficiencies across our business. We won’t get another backhoe loader without it.”

Established in 2007, Jack Elliott Groundworks Ltd began with one JCB mini excavator and now operates 12 JCB machines. It offers manned plant hire across South Yorkshire from its company headquarters in Barnsley.

For more information on JCB visit www.jcb.com

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Celebrating a 25th anniversary usually calls for a party – but for DAB Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd, the milestone was marked with an order for three JCB X Series excavators.

The Leicester‑-based contractor reached 25 years in business at the end of 2025 and chose to celebrate the occasion by further strengthening its long‑-standing relationship with JCB.

Supplied by Watling JCB, the 140X tracked excavators join a fleet that has been dominated by JCB machines for a quarter of a century.

DAB has operated JCB 140X models for the past three years, deploying them across housebuilding, commercial groundworks and large infrastructure projects.

Owner/Director Dan Doherty said: “We choose JCB because of the consistent innovation of its products and their build quality. They are user friendly and we only receive positive feedback from our operators. We receive excellent service from Watling JCB and we are happy to partner with another Leicester-based company.”

Owner/Director Mick Merrigan added: “We have run 140X models for three years now and have had nothing but positive comments. Operators have praised the machine in terms of cab comfort, stability, smooth control and power. It was a simple decision to buy three more.”

Established in 2000, DAB Civil Engineering Contractors Ltd, supported by DAB Plant Hire & Sales Ltd, specialises in civil engineering and groundworks across the UK construction sector.

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PHPD hears from Meynell Plant Hire on how its JCB backhoe fleet has been supporting Jelson Holdings housebuilding activity since 1956.

On construction sites across the East Midlands, one machine has become a symbol of versatility, reliability and sheer staying power – the JCB backhoe loader, which has been a tireless workhorse for six decades for leading rental firm Meynell Plant Hire.

Meynell’s latest addition, a new 4CX Pro DualDrive model, brings the story right up to date. Featuring JCB’s latest innovations in productivity, comfort and control, it’s a modern evolution of a machine, the JCB 3C, that first arrived on the company’s sites in 1965 and has been ever present since.

Tradition meets technology

Meynell Plant Hire, part of Leicestershirebased Jelson Holdings, has been supporting the group’s housebuilding and development activities since 1956. Today, its JCB backhoe fleet stands at 16-strong, deployed daily across Jelson Homes’ traditionally-built new developments and industrial projects.

Through constant evolution, JCB has become synonymous with the concept of a wheeled machine, with a bucket at one end and a shovel at the other. Over 73  years, the backhoe loader has been the very cornerstone of construction and plant hire businesses across the world.

Depot Manager at Meynell Plant Hire, Mark Stone said: “We’ve always stuck with JCB. They’ve supported us well, and the machines do exactly what we need. Backhoes especially – they’re the Swiss army knife on site. We’d be lost without them.”

More for less

Meynell’s backhoe loaders are used for a huge variety of tasks ranging from site clearance, trenching and foundation excavation to drainage, roading, lifting and materials handling. Each machine can replace several others – reducing site congestion, fuel use and emissions in the process.

Mark Stone said: “They dig, load, lift and move. They’re involved in nearly every job from start to finish. And we’re not just talking about minor tasks, they do the real heavy lifting too.”

Raising the bar

Meynell’s latest acquisition, the 4CX Pro, marks a continued evolution of the backhoe loader concept which JCB pioneered in 1953. It is fitted with JCB’s innovative DualDrive system, which allows the operator to reposition it while still seated at the rear-facing excavator controls – ideal for trenching, grading and working in tight spaces.

Mark Stone said: “On confined sites, JCB’s DualDrive feature is a gamechanger. You can just reverse or reposition without leaving the seat. It’s safer, quicker and far more efficient.”

Additional upgrades on the latest JCB backhoe loader models include:

• A new single loader lever for shovel and transmission control
• Return-to-grade function for faster, accurate levelling
• Mounting points for 2D laser level systems
• Upgraded fork carriage for improved load stability
• Autoshift transmission with TorqueLock, improving travel speed and reducing fuel use

In independent trials, the 4CX delivered 63% faster cycle times and used 73% less fuel than a 13-tonne tracked excavator when moving 50 tonnes of stone. Compared to an eight-tonne excavator and site dumper working together, it was 25% faster and used 50% less fuel.

Built for building

Joiner and shopfitter James Jelley first set up in business in Leicester in 1889, laying the foundations for Jelson Holdings. Still a family-run business, the company manufactures its own windows, joinery and internal block walls, alongside the housebuilding developments with many trades employed directly through the Jelson Holdings group.

That same in-house ethos applies to its plant operations. Meynell Plant Hire not only specifies equipment carefully for every job but also involves operators directly in the procurement process.

Mark Stone said: “Our operators are key to what we buy. They know what works in the real world. Comfort, capability, ease of use – the 4CX Pro ticks all the boxes.”

Beyond the backhoe, Meynell’s JCB fleet includes tracked excavators, Loadalls, compact excavators, compaction rollers and a pair of 220X crawler excavators equipped with mulching head attachments. Each is supplied by dealer Watling JCB, in a proven partnership that dates back to 1976.

Fuel of the future

While clean diesel machines still dominate site operations, Meynell has shown a keen interest in what comes next – and that includes hydrogen. The company recently took part in a customer evaluation of JCB’s hydrogen-powered backhoe loader, trialling the machine alongside its diesel counterparts.

Used for typical on-site tasks such as loading brick packs on to scaffolding, transporting materials and digging footings, the hydrogen backhoe performed seamlessly. Mark Stone said: “There was no drop in power, and the operators couldn’t tell it apart from the diesel model. We were genuinely impressed.”

The backhoe is powered by a hydrogen internal combustion engine developed in-house by JCB. It delivers identical power, torque and performance to its diesel equivalent, but with zero carbon emissions at the tailpipe – just water vapour and steam.

This development forms part of JCB’s £100 million investment into hydrogen power – a programme personally led by Chairman, Anthony Bamford. Over 50,000 hours of testing have been logged across various hydrogen-powered machines, including backhoe loaders, Loadalls and generators.

Mark Stone said: “We’re definitely interested when they become available to buy. If you can get zero emissions without compromising on performance or uptime, why wouldn’t you?”

The best of the best

Meynell’s relationship with JCB spans 60 years and continues to evolve. With the 4CX Pro DualDrive, the company has added a machine that’s modern, multi-functional and operator approved.

Mark Stone said: “We’ve had a lot of backhoes over the years and every single one has earned its place. The new 4CX Pro with DualDrive is the best yet.”

More information on JCB

More on Meynell Plant Hire

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JCB has expanded its Next Generation line of mini and midi excavators, with the launch of two 2.5-tonne models. The 25Z-1 is a zero tailswing machine, while the 26C-1 offers the benefits of a conventional tailswing. That said, both machines have the option of a further 120kg bolt-on counterweight section, that increases tailswing by around 100mm, if the customer prefers. This aids stability if the machine is regularly used for heavy lifting.

Both models weigh in at around 2.5- tonnes, with the 26C-1 the heaviest at 2,675kg. That means that either of these mini machines can easily be carried, with three buckets and a mechanical quickhitch, on a 3.5-tonne trailer behind a large van or a 4×4.

Despite the zero tailswing layout of the 25Z-1, both machines share the same spacious Next Generation cab. Constructed of robust steel panels and easy to replace flat glazing, the cab door can be locked open within the profile of the machine, reducing the risk of damage. Equipped with a cab heater, the ROPS/TOPS structure will be available with an air conditioning option later this year. Alternatively, either model can be specified with a canopy if preferred.

The minis use a completely new dig end, that has been produced in response to customer input. All of the hydraulic hoses pass through the main boom, reducing the risk of catching and the colour-coded hoses have bulkhead couplings to make it easier to change a damaged hose if required. Having the hoses inside the boom, which is itself slimmer than on the previous model, also improves the view into the digging area. The LED work lights are also mounted inside the boom structure.

A factory-fit quick-hitch is available as an option and JCB has designed a new range of lightweight buckets for the machines. These use the same 35mm pin diameters as the outgoing model, allowing customers to upgrade without having to replace their attachments. A heavy-duty bushed kingpost further strengthens the dig end.

The main boom is 280mm longer on the 26C-1, as its conventional layout allows increased digging and lifting without compromising stability. Both machines are offered with a choice of 1,100mm or 1,300mm dipper lengths. A 48lpm high flow auxiliary hydraulic supply is standard, while a 25lpm low-flow circuit is available as an option. Main boom and dozer cylinder guards are standard and customers can opt for additional guards on dipper and bucket cylinders. A revised dozer blade delivers improved material rollover and there is the option of a 210mm longer dozer for those that like to dig to the blade.

New track motors deliver improved tractive effort and the machines are available with 300mm rubber tracks or optional 250mm rubber tracks. As with other Next Generation models, there are nine sturdy tie-down points around the machines, so there should be no need for transport drivers to throw chains or straps across the rubber tracks when moving the machines.

User-friendly
As mentioned, the upper structure uses sturdy steel panels and doors all round. The fixing bolts for all of the panels are the same, so service engineers only require one socket to remove any panel. Both models are powered by a Stage V Kohler diesel engine developing 18.4kW (24.7hp). The engine meets both EU Stage V and the Tier 4 Final emissions standards with no requirement for a Diesel Particulate Filter or any exhaust after-treatment.

The engine drives a variable displacement, load-sensing, electro proportional hydraulic system. A new valve block provides improved flow sharing for multi-tasking at lower rpm. Both the engine and the main valve block have been relocated for easier access and all filters and fill points are easy to get to on the right-hand side of the machines. The minis also have a removable floor plate that provides access to the valve block.

Once in the cab, both side windows can be opened, to suit operator preference. The lower windscreen section can be clipped inside the upper section, which can then be stored in the cab roof, providing an improved view to the digging area. The suspension seat is comfortable and it is possible to raise and lower the arm rests for improved comfort when working the proportional joysticks.

The 2.5-tonners use the same 4” main screen as the larger 3.5-tonne models, with a rotary controller providing movement through the menus. The screen can also be used to set hydraulic pressures and the percentage of hydraulic flow for up to 10 powered attachments. Service engineers can access diagnostic information through the screen’s menus during regular maintenance too.

The 25Z-1 and 26C-1 are an important addition to the Next Generation line-up for JCB, filling the final gap in that revised range other than the ultra-compact Micro. More importantly, for those customers looking to tow a mini excavator to and from site, the two machines offer the largest capacity that can be carried behind a van or 4×4, making them a popular choice in many industry sectors. With a robust build quality and an impressive specification, JCB’s 25Z-1 and 26C-1 offer a big step forward from their 8025 ZTS and 8026 CTS predecessors.

For further information on the JCB 25Z-1 or the 26C-1 

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Four former employees were treated to a VIP visit to JCB to mark the 60^th anniversary of their recruitment as the company’s first ever apprentices.

A total of nine 15-year-old boys started as Craft Apprentices at the Rocester plant in 1964 and yesterday four of them – Chris Carnwell, Nigel Heinich, Mick Higgs, and Keith Hepden – retraced their footsteps to the factory to mark the diamond anniversary of the JCB apprenticeship programme. They were welcomed by JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who also started work at JCB in 1964.

The quartet were trailblazers for JCB’s apprenticeship scheme, which currently has around 300 apprentices on scheme and in the last 12 years alone has seen JCB recruit 1,500 apprentices. When they started work, they were earning £3 a week. During their visit they were given a tour of the Story of JCB exhibition, met some of JCB’s newest apprentices and were given a special VIP lunch.

Lord Bamford, who served an engineering apprenticeship in France before joining JCB in 1964, said: “The recruitment of our first apprentices 60 years ago laid very firm foundations for the future. We have recruited hundreds of apprentices since those early days and many of them have gone on to senior positions in the company. It really is a fantastic way to start a career.”

Chris Carnwell, now 75, of Tean, near Cheadle, Staffordshire, retired from JCB in 2008 after nearly 45 years with the company.  He qualified as a tool maker after his apprenticeship and ended his career as a senior engineer. He said:  “When I was at school, I was always very good at woodwork and metalwork and used to come top of the class in that field. I wanted to do something to use those practical skills and enquired about getting a position at JCB which, in 1964, was still an up-and-coming company. I had two interviews and was lucky enough to be selected for an apprenticeship along with two others, Billy Brighouse, and John Millward. I’m very proud of the fact that my apprenticeship indentures were signed by JCB’s founder Joseph Cyril Bamford and I still have them to this day. My apprenticeship really was superb and set me up for life.”

class of 1964 pictured left to right: John Smith, Mick Higgs, Nigel Heinich, Geoff Mellor, Keith Hepden, Chris Carnwell, Don Rushton, Johnny Millward, Billy Brighouse, and JCB Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford.

Six other apprentices then joined JCB throughout 1964: John Smith, Mick Higgs, Geoff Mellor, Keith Hepden, Don Rushton, and Nigel Heinich. Nigel, 75, of Uttoxeter, joined JCB on August 31^st, 1964 said: “Mr Bamford was very proud of that first apprentice intake and he paid particular interest in our progress.  For most of us, out of our first wage packet, we had to buy our first pair of steel-capped, toe-tector boots, which we had to wear in the college workshops or the factory. To identify that we were apprentices, we all had to wear white overalls emblazoned with a large  red JCB logo on the back, with another on the pocket. I also remember were given a book of one-shilling daily tickets (five pence in today’s money) towards our canteen lunch. This covered half the cost of a main course and a pudding. I went on to work for JCB for more than 35 years in many different roles including service technical clerk, training instructor, service supervisor. Sixty years on, it’s a route I’d highly recommend any young person to follow. It sets you up for life.”

Mick Higgs, 75, of Wetley Rocks, Stoke-on-Trent, went on to work for JCB 38 years and rose to the position of Director and worked for several years for JCB in India.  He said: “Starting an apprenticeship at JCB really did lay some fantastic foundations for my career and opened up a world of opportunity for me including working for the company in both India and Germany. Apprenticeships are a route I would recommend to any young person without any hesitation.”

Keith Hepden, 75, of Foxt, near Cheadle, said: “When I started work at JCB there were around 500 people working there and we all knew one another. One of my favourite memories of those early days was actually a time when I was off ill and my mother spotted Mr JCB’s Cadillac coming up the drive and it turned out to be one of the company’s chauffeurs delivering my wages which were paid in cash those days!”

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Designed to work indoors and in emissions and noise-sensitive areas, the 3TE electric three tonne swivel tip dumper from JCB is a durable, compact machine with a full steel skip and heavy-duty articulated chassis.

It is equipped with two electric motors. A 22.3kW electric motor connects to a drop box to provide full-time all-wheel drive, while a second 16.1kW electric motor powers the machine’s standard hydraulic circuit, for steering and skip lift, via a hydraulic pump.

The power is supplied by a 20kWh lithium-ion battery pack, capable of providing full shift operation in normal use. The batteries can be recharged from conventional site electrical supplies, with either 110V and 230V cables, or charged rapidly using the JCB universal charger for extended operation.

A ROPS frame is standard, along with LED amber and green lap-belt beacons. In low light conditions, powerful LED working lights provide maximum visibility when working, and additional lighting at the operator station allows him or her to leave the machine safely.

The machine offers a maximum payload of 3,000kg and a maximum load over height of 1,566mm.

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The CT380-130 and CT430-140 tandem vibratory rollers from JCB are 3.8 and 4.3 tonne machines that are powered by the EU Stage V JCB by Kohler diesel engine, providing 36.5kW (49.6hp).

The CT380-130 has an operating weight of 4.1-tonnes, generating an operating linear load of 15.8kg/cm. With a centrifugal force of 41-59kN, the machine has a vibrating frequency of 50-60Hz and an amplitude of 0.50mm. The drums can be offset to either side by up to 80mm and the roller is capable of 30% gradeability with vibration operating, or 40% when not compacting.

The larger CT430-140 weighs in at 4.5-tonnes and offers a linear load of 16.4kg/cm. With the same frequency of 50-60Hz and a 0.50mm amplitude, the heavier machine delivers a centrifugal force of 44-63kN. The roller has the same drum offset capability and gradeability as its smaller stablemate. Both models have a maximum working speed of 10km/h.

There are steps to both sides of the machine, providing easy access to a sliding operator seat with arm rests, a safety switch in the seat and a seat belt monitoring system. A compact metal dashboard provides a clear view of operating data and machine health and there are working lights to the front and rear of the machine for maximum visibility in poor light conditions.

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JCB’s smallest ever Loadall telescopic handler is making a big impact on a series of housebuilding projects on the doorstep of the factory where it was built.

Abbott Property Developments Ltd – based in Leek, just 15 miles from JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester – builds commercial and residential properties across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.

It is already putting the brand new JCB 514-40 Loadall telescopic handler through its paces. The first role for the small but mighty machine was to lift 10,000 tiles and roofing materials on to the loading platform at a new build property in The Rookery, near Kidsgrove, Staffordshire. The 514-40’s next assignment is to transport building materials to another local renovation project which conventional grab lorries are too big to access.

Abbott Property Developments Ltd’s Managing Director, Julian Abbott said: “We buy JCB Loadall telescopic handlers because they are the best on the market and this new 514-40 model continues that tradition. We purchased the JCB 514-40 because it is so compact, and we can tow it between sites. It is performing brilliantly so far. The operators find it really easy to use so we are really pleased with the machine.”

Supplied by dealer Midlands JCB, the JCB 514-40 – JCB’s latest and smallest ever Loadall – offers greater manoeuvrability enabling work on the smallest sites and is the most compact and towable telehandler available. It boasts the largest cab in its class, an extra 200mm wider than its competitors, meaning there is no compromise on cab comfort or safety.

Established in 2004, Abbott Property Developments Ltd is one of Staffordshire’s premier building firms offering the full range of building services from simple alterations, to building bespoke prestige homes and commercial buildings.

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