01.02.2017
JCB adds powered access
JCB has entered the powered access market with the launch of an all-new range of electric scissor lifts, soon to be followed by a full range of boom lifts.
The new division - JCB Access - is headed by 28 year JCB veteran Richard Butler with ex-Genie vice president Phil Graysmark as sales director.
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The two outdoor rated scissors are the S2046E and the S2646E
The initial product line designed by JCB comprises nine slab electric scissor lifts in three families ranging from 15 to 45ft. The new range has apparently been in development since 2014 and comprises the 15ft S1530E and 19ft S1930E, the 20ft S2032E /S2046E, 26ft S2632E/S2646E, 32ft S3246E, 40ft S4046E and finally the 45ft S4550E.
All units have a standard 900mm roll-out deck extension, while two models - the S2046E and the S2646E - are rated for indoor and outdoor use, while the rest are rated indoor only.
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The 15ft S1530E is the smallest in the nine model JCB slab scissor range
The new electric scissors use classic American nomenclature and specifications. The two ‘elevator’ models - the S1530E and S1930E - have an overall width of 762mm, an overall length of 1.78 metres, height with folded guardrails of 1,840mm and 1860mm and platform capacities of 280 and 230kg respectively.
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The 20ft S2046E and the 26ft S2646E
The 20 and 26ft models are available in narrow (810mm) or wide (1.15m) overall widths with capacities ranging from 250 to 550kg. The higher S3246E and S4046E have the wider 1.15 metre chassis and lift mechanism and both offer a 320kg platform capacity. All six of these models have an overall length of 2.39 metres.
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Access steps and gate arrangement
The new product line is topped by the more unusual 45ft/1.25 metre wide S4550E with an overall length of 2.76 metres, 227kg platform capacity and gross weight of 3,366kg. The maximum working height is 15.8 metres.
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The fold down guardrails provide a minimum height of 1.83 metres
The new scissors are typical of the type with traditional hydraulic front wheel drive and steer, 25 percent gradeability (30 percent for the S1530E), swing-out battery and hydraulic trays, standard power to the platform and a hinged gate. Other features include six harness points, electrophoretic paint and encapsulated scissor pivot pins. JCB’s LiveLink telematic system will be optional on the scissors but standard on all boom lifts.
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The entry gate handle
The company says that it has set up a dedicated production line in an existing factory in China run by its own dedicated management team, that it owns the intellectual property rights and is in the process of entering into a partnership with the company that is manufacturing the new range. It is remaining exceptionally tight lipped over the identity of the supplier and would not confirm or deny our information in this area. However its notified body TÜV did put out a bulletin stating that the uints were built for JCB by Sinoboom.
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The 26ft S2646E has a 450kg capacity and 2.39m overall length
JCB will launch the new scissor lift range and possibly a boom lift at Conexpo in Las Vegas next month, adding further models by the end of the year. These will include three diesel scissor lifts, one electric articulated boom lift - the 45ft AJ45E - four Rough Terrain diesel articulated boom lifts and 10 telescopic booms ranging from 67 to 136ft - 27 models in all. Capacities on the booms are 227kg and 250kg.
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The 20ft S2046E has a 550kg capacity
JCB says that its dealers have been undergoing full sales and service training in order to provide the back-up for the product range, which will initially be marketed in the UK, France, Germany and North America with deliveries beginning at the end of March. All machines have been CE certified by TUV and comply with the latest ANSI and CSA standards.
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The swing out battery tray
JCB chief innovation and growth officer Tim Burnhope said: “The access market is a truly global market and offers immense opportunities for growth for JCB. It’s a market that is ripe for a new supplier with the ability to offer industry leading, round-the clock-product support. JCB’s 770 dealers with 2,200 depots can deliver the back-up that global customers expect. Why have we entered this sector? Customers asked us to be here, many saying they wanted a creditable alternative to the existing access companies.”
“Customers in this industry now have a highly credible alternative with a range of products built and certified to a higher standard. We are very excited about the opportunities this offers rental customers that we already know very well.”
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The foot pedal for the roll-out deck extension release
Vertikal Comment
JCB has been sniffing around the access market for as many years as we can remember, after a few attempts to acquire an established European manufacturer and following much deliberation the company has clearly decided that designing its own range and subcontracting the manufacturing to a Chinese supplier was the best way in.
This latest move has been rumoured for months, with most of the details widely known but kept just about secret enough to prevent open publication. Now that the initial details are out it is hard to comment one way or the other. The new models use a traditional design, build and drive train which indicates the company is playing it cautious and going for the simple and rugged, rather than innovative approach. It is certainly a formula that has worked well for companies like Skyjack, but will JCB be as cost effective and as easy to deal with?
Then there is resale value. The JCB name has a strong reputation in some sectors, such as backhoe loaders and telehandlers, but JCB work platforms are an unknown quantity, especially when produced by a third party which is a relatively small player in the market. Buyers already have a very wide product and supplier choice from some first rate manufacturers with decades of hard won experience. It is hard to see why they would take the risk of a switch to an unknown product.
It will be very interesting indeed to see how it goes, JCB is not a company to be underestimated, so current suppliers need to make sure that they have no chinks in their armour. Meanwhile it is quite possible that the addition of another major manufacturer to the sector could help spur further growth and market penetration for powered access?
Looks like a Sinoboom scissor lift to me and has identical specifications. Sinoboom uses the Deltatech CAN-I/O and UCU, which is the GEN 5 op system that Genie used before going to their current GEN 6 system. Looks like a winner to me.
A project that started 2 years ago. Doubt their crystal ball could see the current Admin in the White House. Imports from China to the U. S. could be making a few people in the Ivory tower at JCB a little nervous.
louis hughes
So you can order Genies now in CAT black and yellow with out being a CAT dealer. How innovative.
Scott McCall
JCB are an excellent manufacturer, loyal to their dealers and will certainly add some positives to the market.
However, as mentioned below there are a significant number of rental companies dependent on JCB Finance and their rather accomodating finance products. What happens if JCB remove funding for other makes? Rental companies have structured their procurement around the cashflow enhancing funding options that are not widely offered by others!
Also JCB pledge to have an engineer on site the same day, in other markets it is common for rental companies to minimise overheads and utlise JCB for support...this has had a negative effect on rental rates for these products. Will the same happen with some new entrants to access rental?
Many have stated that current manufacturers will need to step up, for some they will probably respond with price reductions (and yes JCB know everybodys prices) which in turn opens up the chance for rental rate reductions.
Maybe I am wrong but I see a lot of new kit in the market with lower rental rates, and if Loxam go through with the Lavendon acquisition there may be a few well connected, experienced people looking to start up on their own?
A positive step for JCB, a huge challenge for most others!
Very interesting...
I'm with Jim on this - its already a difficult and overpopulated market in which to survive as an independent specialist.
Sorry Grumpy - I do hope you're right though.
For specialists in the UK the end of the beginning
...or the beginning of the end?
jim-longstaff
God-bless you Grumpy.
I like your thinking and I hope you are right.
Grumpy
Fear not Jim.
Why should you be fearful of builder’s merchants? Surely your customers are not that naive that they think a builder’s merchant would be able to compete with or outperform an access specialist such as Clements.
Neither do I believe that JCB’s sales policies will be such that builder’s merchants will be daft enough into being tempted into thinking that they should include scissor lift hire amongst their sand and cement offerings. Surely if that’s what they want to do they would have done it before now, JCB or no JCB. And if JCB are that good at selling why aren’t the builders merchants already offering other JCB products for hire?
Hewden was a unique case. A disaster of its own making and cannot be compared to the general market.
Relax Jim.
Mike Smith
Fantastic oportunity to by a world renowned brand that is trusted, reliable and versatile with 1st class service. Very exciting
Don't forget that many of the UK's access platform fleets have been financed through JCB Finance. So they already know who has got what kit, how much they paid for it and when it's term is up!!
jim-longstaff
Another player for an already overcrowded market.
My concern is the sales policies employed by JCB. Watch every major builders merchant have access platforms in their fleet next! These are testing times. Keep your eyes peeled folks. Hewdens failure could be the tip of an iceberg in the UK market! There are already too many machines chasing too little work and JCB won't accept anything other than volumes. There will be casualties mark my words.
Makes you wonder if or when Liebherr will ever join in making MEWPS - that would be lovely kit !
Emperors new clothes
WOW, JCB, Just Chinese Built.
Interesting times! It should force the other suppliers to up their game, especially on product support. The finance support could be a major key in market penetration. Buckle up gents, going to be a busy year!!
Hmmm, nice, wondered how long it would be before we saw JCB Access equipment, Good luck to them.