U.S. Army, Canadian Orders For JCB

JCB has received a pair of orders from the U.S. Army and another from the Canadian government. The Army order is a $21 million addition to its current contract with the U.S. Army to manufacture High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEEs). The contract modification ensures HMEE production at JCB North America headquarters near Savannah until 2021.JCB and the Department of Defense are also in discussions about a new multi-year contract that will further extend HMEE production into the middle of the next decade.

The HMEE is used by the U.S. Army and its allies to perform a range of military and disaster relief missions, including earthmoving, fortification construction and ground clearing. It has a top speed of 55 mph, allowing it to travel with Army convoys without need for an additional transport vehicle. It is available in various configurations including an armored specification.

JCB was awarded its first HMEE multi-year production contract in 2005. Subsequent contract extensions and international sales have boosted production to more than 1000 machines.

“This add-on to our existing contract means we’ll keep producing HMEEs while we finalize the next multi-year contract. It’s great news for the soldiers who depend on HMEEs for their important missions,” said John Kyler, general manager of Government & Defense at JCB North America. “

The second order are contracts with the Canadian Army, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Blanc Sablon Airport to deliver a total of 10 large excavators and wheel loading shovels valued at more than CAD $2.5 million. The Canadian Army has taken delivery of six JCB JS130 tracked excavators and two JCB 220X tracked excavators.  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has received one JCB 411HT wheel loading shovel and the Blanc Sablon Airport in Quebec has received a JCB 457ZX wheel loading shovel.

“After more than a decade of providing rugged construction machines for U.S. government applications, we’re excited to grow our relationship with the Government of Canada,” said Scott Whitehurst, government sales manager at JCB North America. “In addition to these recent orders, JCB is included in the Canadian Department of National Defense contract for backhoe loaders and skid steer loader purchases. And we’re working with Canadian officials to identify cost efficient solutions.”