It is entering the sector for the first time with the launch of a brand new range that it has been developing and engineering in secret for the past two years.
The company has taken the wraps off an initial nine all-new electric scissor models, and by the end of 2017 the newly-launched JCB Access business says will be offering a total of 27 new platforms, including scissors, articulated booms and telescopic boom machines.
The move is geared to grab a slice of a market where 130,000 units/year are sold.
The scissor lifts weigh between 1,330kg-3,366kg, and the two smallest models (S1530e and S1930e) have platforms measuring 1.64m long by 0.76m wide, while all larger models use a 2.5m long platform, apart from the largest S4550E model which has a 2.64m long working area.
The machines are rated for basket capacity from 227kg to a maximum of 550kg.
The electric scissors are powered by four 6V or 12V batteries, with hydraulic drive, and three diesel models will be introduced later in 2017.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: “The access market is a truly global market and offers immense opportunities for growth for JCB. It’s a market that is ripe for a new supplier with the ability to offer industry leading, round-the clock-product support. JCB’s 770 dealers with 2,200 depots can deliver the back-up that global customers expect.”
A range of ten diesel-powered telescopic booms will also be added throughout 2017. These will offer platform heights from 20.6m-45.6m.
