JCB Hosts Inaugural Roadshow At Savannah Factory
Contractors and other industry representatives from throughout the region converged on the JCB factory in Savannah for the first of several JCB Roadshows scheduled for various locations.
By Steve Hudson -- Associated Construction Publications, 5/5/2008
Contractors, industry representatives and other guests recently participated in the inaugural running of the JCB Road Show on Wednesday, April 30, at the JCB North American headquarters and factory in Savannah, Ga. Hosted by JCB and by Low Country Machinery, the Savannah-based JCB dealer, the event was the first of several such events to be held around the country.
Larry Ashley, dealer network development, national business manager, JCB, opened the event with a look at JCB’s history and market position.
During the event, participants had the opportunity to see the JCB production facility in action and also to learn about the latest improvements to the JCB line. Among the featured machines was the JCB 4CX backhoe loader. Improvements for 2008 to the JCB 4CX backhoe loader were highlighted in a multimedia presentation at the Savannah facility’s JCB Theater.
Other machines in the spotlight included new JCB Loadall models, introduced recently at ConExpo, as well as numerous other machines from the JCB line.
Another highlight of the event was an appearance by the JCB Dancing Diggers. During the show, operators orchestrated four JCB 4CX backhoes in a carefully choreographed performance accompanied by a medley of rock and roll tunes.
Making an appearance at the Savannah Road Show was the JCB Military HMEE (High Mobility Engineering Excavator), produced by JCB for the U.S. Army. The machine, with a top speed of 60 miles per hour, features a low-profile cab that allows it to be driven onto a C130 transport plane without modification. It also features integral lifting, recovery and tie down points, full suspension, an ABS braking system, and wheels and tires with run-flat capability.
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is manufactured for the U.S. Army. During the event, Dylan Bryant, grandson of Dennis Morris, president and owner of Lakeside
Water Co., Inc., checked out the JCB HMEE.
The crowd also got to see the JCB GT, the world’s fastest backhoe loader, in action.
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The Savannah road show also featured a backhoe loader operator’s competition, which gave operators a chance to test their skills for a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize. Competing on JCB backhoe loaders, contestants manipulating the machines’ buckets to lift keys from atop orange cones and then place the keys in buckets located on the far side of a fence.
First place honors and the $1,000 prize went to Chris Hodges of Southern Champion Construction, Savannah, Ga. Second place was captured by Wesley Shaw of ELP Arbor Care, Savannah, and third place went to Ryan Wills of Oetgen Excavation, Bloomingdale, Ga.
A second Roadshow was held in Jacksonville on Friday, May 2, and additional JCB Road Shows are planned for Orlando (May 6), Tampa (May 8), Atlanta (May 13), and Birmingham (May 15).
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