PRIME Minister David Cameron has joined JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford in Brazil to open the firm’s new £63 million factory in the country one of the biggest single investments in its history.
Mr Cameron, who was undertaking a trade mission to Brazil, spent an hour touring the 350,000sq ft plant in Sorocaba City in Sao Paulo State on Thursday.
He was given an insight into the processes involved in the production of backhoe loaders, tracked excavators, wheel loading shovels, loadall telescopic handlers and compaction equipment which the factory will manufacture.
He was shown around the plant by Rocester-based JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford and JCB Brazil managing director Carlos Hernandez, where he also met many of the plant’s 200 employees.
Mr Cameron said: “JCB’s expansion in Brazil shows how British companies can capitalise on the opportunities for growth in Brazil, creating new opportunities in JCB factories in Derbyshire and Wales.
“This is a great example of Britain’s engineering prowess and reflects that the UK is a world leader in innovation and technology.” Sir Anthony Bamford said that the expansion in Brazil will not threaten jobs in the UK and would benefit the UK economy.
He said: “South America represents a huge opportunity for growth for JCB and our investment in a new factory is critical to building on the success we already enjoy in this important market.
“There are £20 billion worth of infrastructure improvements scheduled in Brazil and JCB’s new factory will enable us to capitalise on those projects, including the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.
“JCB’s decision to invest is a big vote of confidence in the Brazilian economy and was driven by the excellent long-term growth opportunities both here and in Latin America.
“Our investment will also have a positive impact on the UK economy because at full capacity, the Brazilian plant will import £100 million of components annually from the UK including engines and transmissions.” At full capacity, the new JCB plant will have the capability to produce 10,000 machines a year.
The new factory replaces two smaller plants in Sorocaba, the first of which JCB opened in 2001 to produce backhoe loaders and the second in 2010 to produce tracked excavators.
In June JCB was awarded what it described as one of its ‘biggest single orders’ worth more than £60 million to build more than 1,000 backhoe loaders in the South American country.
The machines are being used to improve roads in Brazil.
