JCB Germany today announced the biggest single investment ever in its business as the company prepares to celebrate 50 years of trading in the important market.
The company is to build a brand new €25 million headquarters for JCB Germany on a site which is double the size of its existing facility in Cologne. Work on the new premises will begin later this year and the new HQ will open in 2015 – just as JCB Germany marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation in 1965.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said today: “Germany is Europe’s biggest single construction equipment market and the fifth largest in the world. JCB continues to make good progress in Germany with both construction and agricultural machinery sales. We have big ambitions to grow our business globally over the next few years and Germany will play an important role in delivering that growth. The time is now right to invest heavily in this vitally important market.”
JCB Germany Managing Director Frank Zander added: “This is fantastic news for the German market and JCB’s customers. It will enable us to take the sales and service support we offer in Germany to completely new levels and help ensure we grow the business.
The new German HQ - which will cover more than 51,000 m² - will remain in Cologne and will be located at the junction of the A1 and A4 to the west of the city. The location provides excellent access to the centre of Cologne and the city’s airport.
It will incorporate modern office space as well as training and workshop facilities for JCB Germany’s network of construction and agricultural dealers. The new facility will also host customer visits and include a showroom displaying new JCB models.