The BTEC Diploma in Engineering team of students, along with their tutor, Uel Little from South West College (SWC) Dungannon recently visited the JCB Headquarters in Staffordshire, England to find out more about the iconic global brand, renowned for its pioneering spirit and positioned as one of the world’s top 3 leading construction and agriculture machinery manufacturers.
The team heard about how JCB continues to innovate and push boundaries in research and development, in particular within the area of sustainability, where energy costs and emissions are becoming an increasingly important purchasing consideration.
The visit incorporated a tour of the JCB factory where students learned about the story of JCB and its hugely powerful brand values of strength, durability and reliability across its product range from 46 tonnes tracked excavators to children’s toys and DIY equipment. The team also viewed unique military models, an impressive awards cabinet and the latest range of ground-breaking ECO engines before being brought to the assembly line of the world famous Backhoe Loader machine where they witnessed JCB manufacturing in action – the delivery of sheet steel, profiling, laser cutting, welding, paint shop and assembly to result in the final product!
The visit also informed the students about the raft of career opportunities in engineering, ranging from sales, design, programming, machine operators and welders.