Archive for the 'Supporting The Troops' Category

Jan 2011
6

JCB WINS MAJOR ORDER FROM SWEDISH MILITARY FOR HIGH-SPEED MACHINES

JCB has won a multi-million dollar order for its Savannah built high-speed military backhoe from the Swedish Army.

The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (“FMV”) is procuring on behalf of the Swedish Armed Forces 10 High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEEs), which will be delivered by the end of next year in readiness to go into service in 2012. The units are currently in production at JCB’s Savannah facility.

The JCB HMEE is a high speed military backhoe produced in Savannah, GA

The deal signals another major success for the unique machine which went into production at JCB’s Savannah factory when, in 2005, the company won its largest ever military order  – worth a total of $230 million  – for up to 800 HMEEs from the United States Army.

John Patterson, Chairman and CEO of JCB Inc. says: “The HMEE is already in use for a number of armed forces around the world, including those in the US and the UK, so we’re delighted to have won another substantial order for this unique machine, which is exclusively manufactured here in Savannah. A number of other nations are also expressing strong interest in the HMEE so we are confident we will win more business in the future.”

In 2008, the British Army placed a $10.5 million order for HMEEs, which are now in service in Afghanistan.

Full production of HMEEs began in 2007 at JCB Inc in Savannah, Georgia. The machine combines the capabilities of the world-renowned JCB backhoe loader and the innovative high-speed JCB Fastrac agricultural tractor, which is the only tractor to have full suspension and anti-lock brakes. The objective of the HMEE concept is to have a machine capable of traveling at military convoy speed without the need for transportation by a truck and low-loader trailer. The top speed of the HMEE is 60mph (88kph).

The 17.5-ton machine has a 6.7- liter diesel engine, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer, lift more than two tons and dig to a depth of almost thirteen feet. It is designed to be air-transportable by Hercules C-130 aircraft. Added to this, a theater proven crew protection package makes the HMEE a new force within military engineering.

Over almost 30 years, JCB has supplied 45 different military organizations across the world with more than 3400 JCB machines.

Tags: 3CX, 4CX, ARMY, Backhoe, Backhoe Loader, Construction Equipment, crew protection, Excavator, JCB, JCBNA, John Patterson, Military, military vehicle, Route Clearance, Savannah
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Jun 2010
17

HMEE Working In Afghanistan

With the globalization of the military theater, the JCB HMEE is designed to meet a variety of transportation requirements, whether it be by land, sea or air. The HMEE has equal weight distribution on all axles which allows it to be transported on a C-130, the turboprop military transport aircraft. Never before has a military construction vehicle met on road regulations and safety standards, allowing the HMEE to travel on civilian roads without the need for a trailer. This unit also meets global rail specifications and has roll-on, roll-off capabilities allowing the HMEE to load itself on and off of a ship. This unmatched transportability means no job site is out of reach for the JCB HMEE.

The all-terrain HMEE is armor-plated for crew protection, has significant towing capacity and most importantly and can maintain “convoy speed”. The HMEE has a life span of 25 years, more than double that of a civilian construction machine, and is capable of achieving more than 60 mph, again more than twice the typical 25 mph top speed of a commercial backhoe. This capability enables the HMEE to keep up with fast-moving military units and provide real-time combat engineering support. The HMEE provides strategic capabilities increasing: mobility — opening up roads; counter-mobility — creating obstacles for the enemy; and, survivability — providing water and supplies, building berms and laying electrical lines.

Tags: 3CX, 4CX, ARMY, Backhoe, Backhoe Loader, Construction Equipment, crew protection, Excavator, JCB, JCBNA, John Patterson, Military, military vehicle, Route Clearance, Savannah, 166 Engineer Company, AFB, Afghanistan, Airforce, Backhoe, Backhoe Loader, Bagram, C130, Charleston, convoy, digger, HMEE, JCB, JCB Military, JCBNA, Michael Jordon
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Jan 2010
6

JCB HMEE’s Are The Newest Recruits Of The Royal New Zealand Army

Brand New HMEE's waiting to be shipped to New Zealand.

JCB HMEE’s are the newest recruits of the Royal New Zealand Army. Six green HMEE’s recently rolled down the Savannah line to fulfill an order placed by the Royal New Zealand Army. The machines represent the first HMEE’s ordered by the NZ Army and as such, the nation sent three officials to inspect and receive the machines.

Major Theo Alexopoulos, an officer in the Logistics regiment, was chosen by the NZ Army as project manager in charge of securing and introducing the HMEE to the New Zealand forces. Major Alexopoulos had not seen a HMEE prior to his trip to Savannah but was familiar with JCB’s world leading 4CX. The NZ Army currently uses the military version of the 4CX and they have been very happy with the performance. Hearing of all the increased capabilities the HMEE offers, the group was excited to experience the machine first hand. “The HMEE gives us a huge range of options that we didn’t have before. The combination of the crew protection and the speed will enable us to keep up with our striker company group, which is something we have never been able to do”, says Alexopoulos.

John Webb, Major Theo Alexopoulos, and WOI Bruce Allen

The group was very impressed with their new machines, but felt there was one thing missing. Major Alexopoulos asked if JCB would be able to customize the machines and make them distinctive to New Zealand. JCB was happy to comply and tattooed Kiwis on the hoods of the 6 machines.

“JCB is a world class organization. I came here with a good impression of JCB and after meeting with the team and seeing the operation in action, I have even greater respect for JCB,” says Major Alexopoulos. The green HMEEs emblazoned with Kiwis are scheduled to deploy down-under in January.

Tags: 3CX, 4CX, ARMY, Backhoe, Backhoe Loader, Construction Equipment, crew protection, Excavator, JCB, JCBNA, John Patterson, Military, military vehicle, Route Clearance, Savannah, 166 Engineer Company, AFB, Afghanistan, Airforce, Backhoe, Backhoe Loader, Bagram, C130, Charleston, convoy, digger, HMEE, JCB, JCB Military, JCBNA, Michael Jordon, Backhoe, Backhoe Loader, Construction Equipment, HMEE, JCB, JCBNA, jOHN Webb, Kiwi, Major Theo Alexopoulos, New Zealand, New Zealand Army, Savannah, WOI Bruce Allen
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Aug 2009
19

JCB HMEE Saves Soldiers Life

The JCB HMEE that Smith walked away from.

The JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator [HMEE] saved the life of Staff Sgt. Adam Smith Jr., 9th Engineer Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade, when an anti-tank mine exploded as Smith dug a culvert trench near South Balad Ruz, Iraq, May 29.

The device exploded and immobilized the JCB HMEE, the Army’s replacement to the Small Emplacement Excavator [SEE]. Impressively, Smith walked away from the wreckage.

“I’m thankful I was in the HMEE and not the SEE,” Smith said.

“I am extremely happy with the blast protection offered by the HMEE; it saved my Soldier’s life,” said Capt. Andrew Maxa, Company B, 9th Engineer Battalion commander.

The biggest improvement in the JCB HMEE, is that it puts armor around a backhoe. A SEE has no armor, and wasn’t meant for work as a combat vehicle, Maxa said.

Co. B deployed to Iraq in January, and has been working with other units, in a variety of humanitarian functions including clearing routes for and restoring infrastructure for the Iraqi people.

“Our unit was initially focused on clearing the routes. Now that they are largely cleared, we continue to clear them, but we are providing general engineering support as well. A lot of support has come from the 5th Engr. Bn., a great help to the task force’s efforts — using heavy equipment to improve local canal routes, and emplacing culverts, which is what we were doing with the HMEE,” Maxa said.

“Since January, we have cleared 50 mines and IEDs from the South Balad Ruz area. The area is now largely freely traveled by coalition forces,” Maxa said.

When Smith dug up the mine, he was installing culverts to create canal-crossing points, Maxa said. Iraqi farmers rely on canals for irrigation.

Smith’s life was saved by the armor of the HMEE, and there is one less threat to the Iraqi farmers, Maxa said.

JCB deployed the first units to Iraq and Afghanistan in September of last year. Today, JCB has nearly 70 HMEEs in theater with more units throughout the United States. All of the HMEEs are being produced at the Savannah facility.

The vehicle is a big improvement in many ways, Maxa said. “It’s a great combination of mobility, survivability and capability.”

Maxa’s unit has already replaced the damaged HMEE and continues to provide support to Coalition Forces and the IA.

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Aug 2009
18

JCB North America launches JCB Dirt – The social side of JCB

Welcome to JCB North America’s home for insider perspectives on the machines that help you get the job done. We will be regularly updating our blog content to keep you informed about events, support, launches and a few entertaining stories. These updates will be catergorized on the right side of the main page. The Toolbox section provides you with maintenance tips generic to any make of machine. To get updates and news on JCB’s groundbreaking 60mph High Mobility Engineer Excavator, you can check the JCB and the Military section. And finally, the JCB Pros section shows exactly what our machines are capabale of through precision control, strength and agility. You’re guaranteed to be amazed by this but please… don’t try this at home!

Aptly titled, The Dirt is where you can truly connect with JCB beneath the surface.

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