The U.K.-based equipment manufacturer JC Bamford Excavators Ltd. (JCB) has announced significant progress on its $500 million manufacturing plant in San Antonio, Texas, marking a key milestone in one of the company’s most ambitious global expansions to date.
The Savannah, Georgia-headquartered JCB North America division said in an Oct. 21 update that site development, grading, and utility installations are well underway, putting the project firmly on schedule for production to begin in mid-2026.
Once operational, the 1 million-square-foot facility will produce JCB telehandlers and mobile elevating work platforms, serving both the construction and agricultural sectors. The new plant, located on a 400-acre site, will eventually employ around 1,500 workers, boosting Texas’ industrial manufacturing footprint.
JCB has described the San Antonio facility as the largest single investment in the company’s 80-year history, underscoring its long-term strategy to localize production and strengthen its North American operations.
“This expansion highlights our long-term commitment to U.S. manufacturing,” said Richard Fox-Marrs, CEO of JCB North America. “The decision to grow our presence in San Antonio is not only about bricks and mortar. It’s about delivering value to our customers, strengthening our supply chain and investing in the future of American industry.”
The plant’s expansion, first announced in April 2025, increased the facility’s total footprint to 1 million square feet. According to JCB, the move reflects a broader strategy to bring production closer to customers, improve delivery timelines, and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities — lessons reinforced by the disruptions of the past few years.
Since breaking ground in June 2024, the company has moved more than 1 million tons of dirt and 119,000 tons of select fill, while installing nearly 19,300 linear feet of sewer, water, and storm lines. These early infrastructure achievements have laid the groundwork for the next major phase — vertical construction, which is now in progress.
“The efficiency and expertise demonstrated by our site development teams have been outstanding,” said David Carver, operations director for JCB in San Antonio. “Their work has built a strong foundation for what will be a world-class manufacturing facility.”
Local firms have played a prominent role in the project. San Antonio-based RVK Architecture is leading the architectural design, while R&S Excavation Ltd. of Boerne handled grading and Ella Contracting, also based in San Antonio, oversaw utility installation.
The vertical construction phase is being led by Joeris General Contractors, another San Antonio-based company, which has begun work on the production and office structures.
“Joeris is proud to partner with JCB on a project that powerfully reflects our mission of transforming people and places,” said Burton Hackney, president of Joeris General Contractors. “This facility is more than just a building—it’s a sign of what’s possible for San Antonio’s future.”
JCB’s Texas facility represents not only a major economic boost for the region, but also a pivotal step in the company’s evolution as it seeks to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing resilience.
With demand for construction and agricultural equipment continuing to grow across North America, the San Antonio plant is poised to become a key production and logistics hub, allowing JCB to better serve its dealer network and customers throughout the hemisphere.
The company also plans to use the new facility to support innovation in electrification and sustainable equipment design, part of JCB’s global push toward low-emission technologies.
As vertical construction continues through 2025, hiring for the initial workforce is expected to begin later this year, bringing hundreds of skilled jobs to the region.
The project is also expected to stimulate the local supply chain through partnerships with Texas-based contractors, logistics firms, and materials suppliers — reinforcing JCB’s goal to integrate more deeply into the U.S. industrial ecosystem.
“This is more than just a construction milestone,” Fox-Marrs added. “It’s an investment in people, in technology, and in the long-term growth of American manufacturing.”
When completed in 2026, the facility will stand as a centerpiece of JCB’s North American operations, advancing the company’s reputation for engineering excellence while cementing Texas’ growing status as a hub for advanced manufacturing and heavy equipment production.
Originally reported by Brian Taylor, Senior Editor in CD Recycler.
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