JCB marked a major milestone with the production of its one millionth backhoe loader, a testament to the machine’s enduring global popularity since its debut in 1953.
The first JCB backhoe, the Mark One, introduced hydraulic power to construction equipment. Initially, only 35 units were built in 1954, with the first 50,000 taking over two decades to produce, according to a Jan. 30 JCB release. The company made half a million backhoes in 59 years, but the latest half million took just 13 years.