JCB Marks 80 Years of Engineering Innovation

In 2025, JCB, a globally renowned construction machinery manufacturer, celebrated its 80th anniversary, which also coincided with the 80th birthday of its chairman, Lord Bamford. This double - celebration event was filled with highlights, commemorating this significant moment.

JCB was founded by Sir Joseph Cyril Bamford (Mr. JCB) on October 23, 1945, in a rented garage measuring 12 by 15 feet (approximately 16.72 square meters) in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. This day also happened to be the birthday of Lord Anthony Bamford.

The 80th - anniversary celebration kicked off with a return to the roots. Lord Bamford unveiled a blue heritage plaque at the original garage site on Uttoxeter High Street. Looking back at 1945, Lord Bamford's father rented this dilapidated garage without water or electricity for 30 shillings a week and manufactured the first product there - a farm trailer made from wartime scrap metal, which was sold for 45 pounds in the Uttoxeter market, thus starting JCB's great business. Mr. JCB worked in this garage for 18 months but was later forced to move out due to the landlord's opposition to his working on Sundays. He then relocated to a stable yard in Crakemarsh, a few miles north of the town.

When unveiling the plaque at Uttoxeter Hollydene House, Lord Bamford said, "My earliest memories of the company are of playing in my father's workshop. Apart from my school days and the time I spent as an apprentice in another company in France, I have grown up with the company. Over the years, we have achieved great leaps in the company and its products. Developing products with an excellent team of engineers is perhaps one of my greatest pleasures. As we celebrate JCB's 80th birthday, it is very rewarding to be back at the starting point of our dream and set up this special blue plaque. We are honored to remember JCB's original aspiration in this way and highlight the importance of our hometown, Staffordshire, to the JCB Group."

The deputy mayor of Uttoxeter, Aaron Mansfield, added during the ceremony, "Uttoxeter is proud to be the birthplace of one of the UK's most successful manufacturing enterprises. We are very glad to mark this starting point of entrepreneurship on the occasion of JCB's 80th anniversary."

After that, Lord Bamford returned to the global headquarters in Rocester and was greeted by about 3,500 employees lining the factory road by the lake, celebrating both his and JCB's birthdays. A spectacular machinery parade then kicked off, showcasing a variety of milestone products launched since Lord Bamford became the group chairman in 1975.

The parade lineup included the first Loadall telescopic handler in 1977, the classic 3CX backhoe loader, the JCB GT backhoe loader that broke the Guinness speed record, the revolutionary Fastrac tractor in 1991, the tractor that broke the Guinness speed record in 2019, the award - winning 19C - 1E electric mini - excavator, as well as the industry - leading road repair equipment Pothole Pro and the disruptive hydrogen - powered backhoe loader and hydrogen - powered Loadall telescopic handler.

There were also 8 representatives of JCB Academy graduates in the parade, who have started successful careers in JCB. The establishment of the JCB Academy reflects Lord Bamford's vision. Founded in 2010, the JCB Academy aims to cultivate future engineers and business leaders. Through cooperation with well - known enterprises such as Rolls - Royce, Toyota, and Hex, the academy has provided education for more than 3,500 students in Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and all graduates have either found employment or continued their studies.

The audience also witnessed the unveiling of a special - edition JCB 3CX gift - boxed backhoe loader. This 3CX Sitemaster backhoe loader, in a 1:32 scale, was stunningly presented in the way of a JCB model developed by the British toy manufacturer Britains. This exhibit will be on display at the JCB Lakeside until January 2026, open to the public.

After the parade, JCB's CEO, Graeme Macdonald, paid tribute to Lord Bamford: "When Lord Bamford took over as chairman in 1975, this was JCB's only factory. Now JCB has 22 factories globally and more than 19,000 employees. During the global expansion in the past 50 years, Lord Bamford has always firmly supported British manufacturing and continued to invest in the UK. In fact, JCB has built nine new factories in the UK, in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham. JCB has always had the UK at its heart since 1945 - and it is Lord Bamford's leadership that has injected new vitality into this commitment! Today, we pay tribute to Lord Bamford's excellent leadership."

Lord Bamford told the employees on - site, "My father would be very proud if he could see JCB's 80th birthday. We have excellent products and a great team that can change the world, always adhering to the beliefs he put forward of 'never being content' and 'always striving for improvement'. My father retired at the age of 59, and tomorrow I will be 80 with JCB - I'm still here."

The celebration finally ended with an official dinner for Lord Bamford at JCB's global headquarters, attended by more than 100 special guests, including dozens of retired colleagues who had worked with him for many years.

At the same time, 19,000 JCB employees in 22 factories around the world were given an extra day off on Friday, October 24, in recognition of their contributions to the company's achievements in its 80 - year history.