JCB wins US$ 97 million Brazilian order

UK-based construction equipment manufacturer JCB has won a £ 60 million (US$ 97 million) order from the Brazilian government - one of the biggest single tenders in its history.

The company will supply 1016 3C backhoe loaders - all of which will be manufactured at its factory in Sao Paulo - by the end of June. The first 114 machines have already been delivered, and the entire fleet will be used to improve Brazil's roads.

JCB 3C backhoe loaders are 6.5 tonne class machines, powered by 63.4 kW diesel engines. Standard models provide a backhoe with a 3.2 m load height and 4.4 m dig depth, and a 0.96 m³ bucket capacity loader that can reach to 810 mm.

"The machines are being bought by the Brazilian Federal Government for use in more than 1000 municipalities across the country with populations over 50000 people. They will be deployed to improve and open up thousands of miles of secondary roads in communities heavily dependent on farming, ensuring food gets to its final market much quicker," JCB said.

The keys to one of the first machines were handed over by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to Cleri Camilotti, the Mayor of the city of Três Passos, in Rio Grande do Sul.

President Rousseff said, "The backhoes will solve the problem of the transit of goods."

Under the terms of the tender, JCB Brazil is also providing in-depth training on the machines for operators across the country.