JCB Brazil held a virtual press conference this week to announce the launch of four new teams for the Latin American market. They are three loaders and one excavator adapted for the forestry segment.

The launches are part of the investment cycle announced some months ago by the British brand's branch in Brazil, which is equivalent to 100 million reais (about US$ 20 million at today's exchange rate).

As a result, JCB's Brazilian engineers conceived the 426ZX, 427ZX and 437ZX models of loaders, and the JS220F model of excavator dedicated to the forest extraction sector.

The expansion of its loader portfolio is significant, as previously the brand offered only the 422ZX loader, which has a maximum load capacity in the class of 7,199 kilograms. Now, the 426ZX and 427ZX models are placed in the intermediate load capacity class (maximum load 8,499 kilograms), and with the 437ZX model JCB enters the loader class with a maximum load of 10,999 kilograms. According to the company, its equipment now covers 90% of the entire loader market in Brazil.

José Luis Gonçalves, president of JCB Brazil, reported that loaders are 25% of the entire yellow line market in Brazil. Therefore, if this year the country's market should remain around 20,000 units, the loaders will be about 5,000.

Forest excavator

The launch of the JS220F excavator, which is intended for the forestry market, was also announced. This machine is an improved adaptation of the JS220LC (construction) model for the forestry segment. Among the main changes, is the fact that the machine is made to work 24 hours a day, without interruptions.

To achieve this capacity, the machine received an additional fuel tank, which increased its total diesel load to 590 litres. In addition, the model has a set of LED lights, new filters and more powerful radiator, structural reinforcement in the cab, on the chassis, on the main body and under the running gear. All to withstand the severity of the forest industry's tree-cutting environment.

Its arm is prepared to attach tree cutting attachments of any brand. JCB has also arranged for the LiveLink, its telemetry system for heavy equipment, to be present on the JS220F forestry excavator.

Market

JCB Brazil executives are optimistic about the country's market. Although the pandemic has caused problems for the entire economy, the construction equipment sector will not stop growing this year.

"The Brazilian market should grow by 20% this year, and JCB should grow between 10% and 15% by 2019," José Luis said.