JCB to invest £100m updating Midlands HQ

DIGGER GIANT 'BACKING BRITAIN' AS IT CELEBRATES 80TH ANNIVERSARY

- ANNA WISE News Reporter

King Charles is shown how to refuel JCB's recently-developed hydrogen-powered combustion engine during a visit to the company's headquarters in February

MIDLAND digger giant JCB has unveiled plans to plug £100 million into modernising its Staffordshire head office “backing Britain” in the face of concerns about future tax rises and steel tariffs.

The maker of equipment including tractors and machinery says the investment shows its commitment to being based in the UK, despite it currently expanding in the US.

Manufacturing facilities will be modernised, including new machining centres, new friction welding and cylinder boring machines and £60 million to fully automate a powder paint plant.

Anthony Bamford, JCB's chairman and the late founder's son, said: "It makes perfect sense to invest heavily in our British factories and the £100 million we are investing now will put us at the forefront of our industry.