12.12.2007

Construction begins on JCB support centre

Construction has started on JCB’s new 18,500 square metre (200,000 sq.ft) North American service and support centre in Savannah Georgia.

John Patterson, chief executive of JCB Worldwide, and Graeme MacDonald, president of JCB Inc, broke ground simultaneously with JCB backhoe loaders..

Patterson said.“This is a very significant day for JCB and its North American Operations. The JCB Customer Support Centre will serve as a global distribution center for North America, South America and the Pacific Rim. But, at the same time, it will stand as visible proof of our commitment to customer support, particularly for our North American customers.”

While the World Parts Centre at JCB headquarters in the UK is the company’s main parts distribution centre, the new facility will serve as the principle distribution point for parts sourced in America.

Construction of the building should be complete by the fourth quarter of 2008, when open it will free up about 7,500 square metres (80,000 sq ft) of space in the manufacturing plant that will be used to increase capacity.

The new support centre will be run by newly appointed vice president of customer support, Mike Werner.

Werner began his career with an International Harvester dealer, moving to the manufacturer after five years in a training and product support role. He left to join JCB in 1986 as the North American service manager. In this role he was responsible for quality control as well as field and technical service operations for the company.

He then moved to Volvo as a regional vice president for a period and has returned to JCB to spearhead the construction of the new centre and head up customer support operations in North America.