JCB Groundcare used IOG SALTEX to launch eight new products. Jo Bamford, director of JCB Groundcare, which was established in 2004, said, “IOG SALTEX is the biggest British show for the groundscare industry and we’re a major UK manufacturer of groundscare products. That’s why we’re here.”
The range of six new compact tractors will be ideal for use by grounds maintenance contractors, landscapers and green-keepers around the golf course, parks, sports and amenity grounds.
Jo Bamford said, “These machines are central to all groundsmen’s needs and will obviously strengthen our line up considerably. Compact tractors are an essential part of any groundcare product range and the JCB line-up will be available in the UK and also overseas where the compact tractor market continues to grow.”
Compact tractors are typically used for grass cutting – with a choice of mid-mounted or rear trailed decks. However, with numerous attachments available they prove real ‘workhorses’, adapting to many applications. With this in mind JCB has designed highly robust machines, built to perform in the most demanding conditions.
Aimed at the commercial market and estates, the JCB ZT20D Zero Turn Mower has the benefit of being powered by a 18hp diesel engine, giving multi-fleet customers the ability to use a single and safer fuel. The JCB mower has an extremely fast travel speed of 13mph making it the most productive type of grass cutting machinery – proven to be between 30 per cent and 50 per cent faster than alternative equipment.
The Saltex stand featured two variants of the ZT20D – one with a 48″ cutting deck and one with the 52″ side discharge/collect feature.
The new additions were joined on the stand by proven performers from the JCB Groundcare line-up including the 6×4 Groundhog utility vehicle – shown with and without cab, JCB’s class leading 1.5 tonne mini excavators and a range of hand tools and site support products.
The Groundhog utility vehicle was the unsung hero on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Tasked with manoeuvring the JCB DIESELMAX on the Salt Flats, a JCB Groundhog set about pushing the 27ft long, 2.7 tonne streamliner to the start line on a daily basis prior to the record breaking runs. Another JCB Groundhog was ready to push the streamliner several miles across the Salt Flats back to the pits after completing its high speed runs.
Jo Bamford said, “The Groundhogs were fantastic workhorses for the race team and pushing the JCB DIESELMAX across miles of Salt Flats in 40ºC heat proved their versatility beyond any doubt. “
Having achieved all they set out to do, the JCB DIESELMAX race team convinced the time keepers to participate in a spot of fun as team members Steve Lewis and Eoin Corrigan set about breaking a different type of record. Both vehicles were brought up to the flying mile and, with a 10ft run-up, Steve and Eoin took their machines on two way pass record runs. Eoin’s run was the fastest at 18.079mph for the mile.
Sales of the Groundhog, produced at JCB’s Cecilly Mills plant in Staffordshire, have increased over the last six months. Its ability to use attachments such as sprayers, feed and seed spreaders and harrowers has created an extremely versatile and practical machine.
JCB www.jcb.com
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