JCB launches new 3DX backhoe loader with ecoMax engine

June 20, 2012: Construction equipment (CE) major JCB India has rolled out its latest offering of the new JCB 3DX backhoe loader with an on-road price of Rs 20 lakh. Targeted at the infrastructure and construction industry, the latest earthmoving machine fitted with a loader at one end and an excavator at the other is powered by a 75 hp ecoMax engine. The company claims this engine offers fuel savings of about 20 percent over other engines in excavation activities, an improved performance due to its 16 valves and easy steerability due to the presence of a twin-ram steering.

Vipin Sondhi, managing director and CEO (pictured), maintains that the ecoMax engine is one of the best of its kind in the CE industry, resulting in fuel savings of Rs 2.25 lakh per annum at current diesel prices for the user.

In addition, the 3DX machine comes with a new brake linkage to ease the braking effort by the operator. The machine has a new JCB transmission and offers 20 percent more cabin space for the operator that, according to Sondhi, will be spacious and comfortable. Further, the new bonnet with better service access also enables the operator to carry out daily maintenance checks.

The 3DX backhoe loader will be manufactured at the company’s Ballabgarh plant which has a production capacity of 100 machines per day. JCB plans to focus on the domestic market initially, especially the rural areas. Exports will take off later.

JCB currently holds a 50 percent market share in the construction and earthmoving sector that is currently experiencing flat growth. However, company officials are optimistic of the sector growing at 15 to 20 percent during the year, spearheaded by an upsurge in infrastructure projects.

Sondhi says that the government needs to create institutional mechanisms including environmental laws, land acquisition legislation and roll out 20 to 30 off-the-shelf large projects of national importance with inter-ministerial coordination to shave off the downturn being faced by the sector over the past 6 to 8 months.

The Rs 6,000 crore company sold 27,000 machines last year, of which 85 percent were backhoe loaders. It expects to end 2012 with similar figures. South India is an important market for JCB and contributes around 20 to 25 percent to total revenues.

SHOBHA MATHUR