JCB promises more models

It plans to make India the export hub to SAARC nations.

Construction and excavation equipment company JCB today launched three machines to raise its portfolio to 18 machines in India, and said it would be introducing 4-5 new models in the next two years.

JCB also announced plans to make India the export hub to supply buyers in neighbouring SAARC countries.

The second phase of JCB's Pune plant would start production by November this year, said Vipin Sondhi, managing director of the company.

The company recently completed expansion of its Ballabhgarh unit with an outlay of Rs 100 crore.

It invested about Rs 300 crore in two plants in Pune to double capacity.

"We would step up exports from India once the plants are operational from next month," he added.

The MD said that the company last year reported revenue of Rs 2,000 crore and expected a growth of about 25 per cent this fiscal.

"With the launch of these three machines our endeavour is to offer a wide choice of machines, which are high in performance reliability and safety," he added.

JCB India was a fully owned subsidiary of the UK based construction equipment major JC Bamford Excavators Ltd.

In India it sold five product types - backhole loaders, loading shovels, tracked excavators, skid steer loaders and telehandlers.