Construction equipment and earth moving major, JCB is upbeat on India with buoyancy in the infrastructure sector. It plans to further expand its product lines.
The Indian arm of the UK-based company on Wednesday organised a ‘Made in Rajasthan’ event at its large Greenfield Jaipur facility set up in 2014.
Vasundhara Raje, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, who took part in the event hosted at the plant site, assured the company of the Government’s continued support as they expand their manufacturing capacity and increase the product lines. She lauded the effort of the company to employ women even on the shop floor. A third of its workforce in the factory are women.
Lord Bamford, Chairman, JCB Group said, “Our operations in India started in 1979 and for nearly four decades, JCB has been contributing to building India’s infrastructure. The opportunities for growth which India presents are significant and thus, we remain committed not just to building machines, but also in making a positive difference in the lives of the people and communities whom we work closely with.”
JCB’s Jaipur plant is spread over 115 acres and was inaugurated in November 2014. Apart from being committed to providing skills to its employees, it is also facilitating the development of a manufacturing ecosystem in Rajasthan.
Graeme Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer, JCB Group said, “We are in the midst of growth in the Construction Equipment sector globally. This demand is being driven by countries like India. With key reforms having being undertaken and a business friendly environment, especially in states such as Rajasthan, India continues to be a priority for us.”
With the Government’s increased focus towards building of world-class infrastructure in India, JCB is uniquely positioned to contribute to India’s growth. It is a full range infrastructure equipment partner, with its machines being used in several sectors like Roads and Highways, Urban Rejuvenation, Irrigation and Railways.
Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, JCB India, “JCB’s Jaipur Facility, in a little over three years of its inauguration, is playing a critical role in our growth plans in India. Our diverse team of young people, where women represent a quarter of the workforce is building world class products not only for Rajasthan but also for over 50 countries where they are exported to. The conducive investment environment has further made our journey in Rajasthan exciting.”
JCB is also providing education and employable skills to communities near its Jaipur plant through the Lady Bamford Charitable Trust. The Trust is also contributing to the spirit of Rajasthan through its efforts to revive and preserve the art of Indigo dyeing in the state.
The Trust also extends support to 54 Government schools and nine vocational training centres around its five factories in Delhi-NCR, Pune and Jaipur, which benefits about 16,000 students and trainees.
JCB India, part of J C Bamford Excavators, United Kingdom, has five manufacturing facilities in India, and manufactures over 50 products in 8 product lines. These are not only sold in India, but have been exported to more than 90 countries. JCB has a dealer network of over 60 dealers and 650 outlets spread throughout India and continues to expand.