Barry Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Went to the JCB factory in Rocester yesterday for a look around, there were signs everywhere saying "no phtography" so i didn't take to many pictures They make the Back Hoe loaders, Skidsteers and Loadalls there, might be other things made there, didnt listen to the tour guide to much as i was looking around at other things when he was talking about stuff (he wasn't a very good tour guide!!!!!) Visitor entrance hall Cup of coffee first The JCB DieselMax car The pond out the front A 3CXin the front entrance Entering the factory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 The Loadall line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Watched a guy fold an arm thingy on a press, there are two of these presses, £330,000 each Starts as a sheet that was cut out with a "laser" (austin powers style) Then lifted with a crane with 4 magnets on (i think), lifted onto the press, the press moves the metal into postiton and calculates where to bend the sheet Two presses and out it comes These were being welded by hand, there are computorised welders too This was for the military, the guide said they generally have top spec on all there orders (air con etc) and additional steel welded to the outer side of the panelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hody21 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Well done with the pics mate. I went to Rocester with college about 8 years ago and it was really interesting. We met Mr acb ( jcbs son ) on our way out, we didnt know who he was untill our guide said he had just arrived by his own heliocopter.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 This is the outside test area, each machine undergoes 140 test (i think) on a test sheet, after each test, the driver ticks a box and moves onto the next test, things like steering, hydrolic performance, suspension and lifting capacity, the one in the middle is holding up thered weight for 10 minutes with the engine off to test the oil pressure. If it fails anything, it goes back to be checked over and sent out and tested from the star again. There is an on site doctor and dentist, and they bring in an optician regularly for the workers. An on site ambulance is parked up outside the doctors office, numberplate X999 JCB The quality control is very impressive, a couple of bloke check almost everything that is bought into the factory. If there is a box of 50 pipes, they will remove 6 random ones, test them, and if any are faulty, even if its one, the whole batch gets returned to the supplyer!!! The other impessive sight was the offices, about 200 people on two floors all with there own cubicles, the marketing guy was playing with a Loadall picture on a computer screen to make a new magazine advert, surrounded with enough magazines to restock a medium sized WHSmith!! If you get a chance to go, i do recommend it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Well done with the pics mate. I went to Rocester with college about 8 years ago and it was really interesting. We met Mr acb ( jcbs son ) on our way out, we didnt know who he was untill our guide said he had just arrived by his own heliocopter.. Yeah, we saw his helicopter land, he was coming in to meet some French guys who want about 50 JCBs.....so the guide said anyway!!! Walking around the factory, the guide was looking at the tags on the machines which tell you who the machine is for, there were 10 or 11 for France, 2 for China (even thought there is a factory in China!) Maldovia, Iceland and Georgia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 One thing i didnt realise was JCB make there own engines (old news to some of you!) After Perkins was bought by Cat, they didint want to pay there competitors anything, so started making there own, nice! Be nice if they could make a car engine so we could have a british made car again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffithsbros Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Yeah, we saw his helicopter land, he was coming in to meet some French guys who want about 50 JCBs.....so the guide said anyway!!! Walking around the factory, the guide was looking at the tags on the machines which tell you who the machine is for, there were 10 or 11 for France, 2 for China (even thought there is a factory in China!) Maldovia, Iceland and Georgia. i went a while back when they had a "family fun day" they make something else in china the factory at the rocester hq like you said make backhoes, loadalls and compact loadalls then the factory down the road makes the 360 excavators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Interesting pics Barry.. many thanks for sharing.. Did they have a shop as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi6920 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Nice pics barry That was the best thing about JD you were aloud to take pics but no videos, hence why i have around 400 pics of 2 factorys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Very nice pictures Barry. The jcb factory is good looking. Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 Interesting pics Barry.. many thanks for sharing.. Did they have a shop as well They do have a shop i nthe front entrance, lots of toys and a few models, not as much branded stuff than i thought they would have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdc Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 A good day out Barry I did that tour many year ago after I got the first JCB - I think things have changed a bit since then. We went out to their farm nearby to see the gear working in muck and cultivation as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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