JCB Vibromax atest

Following Jcb's Acquisition of German compaction equipment manufacturer Vibromax in September last year, a new range of reversible plate compactors has been introduced and the roll-out of the rebranded equipment has begun. JCB Vibromax now offers more than 60 soil and asphalt compactors.

The JCB dealer network started to sell the equipment in January, with the roll-out beginning in the UK. According to JCB Vibromax managing director Steve Gardener, “The Vibromax acquisition provided an entirely complementary product range – there was nothing that Vibromax made that JCB also produced and vice versa. It therefore provided a great opportunity to get into the compaction market without the trials and tribulations of developing our own product. Secondly, it gave us the chance to expand our footprint into Europe. But more than anything else, it gives us the chance to use the JCB dealer network to sell Vibromax compaction products.”

He continued, “Vibromax has been very successful with it's US and German distribution, but has not sold as well in other European countries. Using the 700-plus JCB dealers around the world gives us the opportunity to really expand.”

Mr Gardener went on to say that during the last four months, the emphasis has been on integrating the Vibromax range but more importantly, on increasing manufacturing capacity.

“We have increased capacity by over 50%, particularly on the large soil compactors. The previous owners had fallen behind somewhat on supplying the market quickly, so we had some catching up to do. We have recruited additional personnel and instituted a second shift, and in some places a third shift, as well as a little subcontracting on a short term basis to get the volumes up.”

Current annual production is in the region of 2500 units and with a speeded up delivery time and increased capacity, JCB Vibromax hopes to sell 3500 machines in 2006.

New Products

The first new models developed under JCB ownership is a line of reversible plate compactors launched in December. It is made up of seven models ranging in weight from 80 to 635 kg, with working widths from 325 to 600 mm to allow them to be used in almost every site application. Designed as low maintenance units with a self-adjusting centrifugal clutch, they provide very low hand/arm vibration levels.