With the support from Investe SP, JCB inaugurates plant in Sorocaba to strengthen the companys expansion
The Governor of the State of São Paulo, the UK Prime Minister and the President of Investe SP attended the inauguration of the company on Thursday morning
“A large plant generating jobs and wealth and contributing to the country. This investment and the presence of the Prime Minister David Cameron will further strengthen the bonds between Great Britain and Brazil. We are partners of those who invest in São Paulo.” With these words, the Governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, greeted the inauguration of JCB plant last Thursday, September 27, in Sorocaba.
With a focus on emerging markets, JCB, a global leader in the manufacture of backhoe loaders and telescopic handlers, the world’s third largest manufacturer of construction equipment, inaugurated its new plant in the State of São Paulo aiming to keep expanding in Brazil and in the South American market. The company has 18 plants in four continents, including 11 in the UK and three in India. The others are located in the United States, Germany, Brazil and China.
The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron, and the President of Investe SP, Luciano Almeida. At the event, Alckmin also highlighted the importance of a new venture for the development of the region of Sorocaba. “This large industrial hub is very important, especially because it has a privileged geographical position and an extraordinary infrastructure,” said the governor.
Located at Km 86 of Castelo Branco highway, one of the most important highways of the country, the new plant has received an investment of US$ 100 million, invested in 33,000 m² of built area, and will have a production capacity of 10,000 units per year. “Investe SP provided support to the new plant with information on the sectoral, environmental, tax and infrastructure scopes,” said Luciano Almeida.
The new premises of JCB centralize the entire national production. At first, the plant is producing hydraulic backhoe loaders and excavators. “New machines such as compactor-rollers, telescopic handlers and wheel loaders should enter the production line of the new plant in 2013,” said Carlos Hernández, general director of JCB for Latin America.
Industry in expansion
According to Hernández, the national construction industry is rapidly expanding. “The positive growth prospects of the Brazilian economy led JCB to invest in the country. We are aware of this scenario and, as a result, we invest in new facilities that will provide the Brazilian and South American markets with products of high productivity, developed in a cost-effectively and sustainable manner,” says he. The company expects to reach its maximum production capacity within five years.
One of the great advantages of the new plant is the warehouse of parts, which is three times larger than the old one, which was in the municipality of Guarulhos, over 100 km away from Sorocaba. “With the warehouse of parts in the same location of the new plant, we will have greater inventory control and production optimization,” says Hernández. He revealed that by 2013, the area will be ready for painting parts, allowing the process to be made internally rather than outsourced, as it was performed until now. And it will be done through a dust process, considered more efficient against corrosion and environmentally friendly.
The architecture of the new JCB plant in Brazil follows the international standard of the company, from the greenish color of the painting that harmonizes with the landscape, the lake in front of the building, to the red color of the office chairs. The construction also includes many sustainable aspects that aim to reduce the environmental impact of the operations, such as: technology to reuse rainwater; solar energy system; exclusive area for the collection and separation of recyclable materials; modular system for air conditioning equipment that saves energy, among other factors.
Approximately 20% of the 200,000 m² of land will be reforested. The recovery and adaptation of the green area will include the planting of over 4,000 native species and grasses, which will enrich the forest in stage of regeneration and preserve nature.
About JCB
JCB manufactures more than 300 models of different machines, including: backhoe loaders; telescopic handlers; hydraulic crawler excavators and tires; wheel loaders; rough terrain forklifts; mini excavators; compact loaders; compactors; generators and mini vans. In addition, for the agricultural markets, JCB produces a line of telescopic handlers and the Fastrac agricultural tractor, and also manufactures forklifts with telescopic boom for the industrial sector - Teletruk.