George Osbourne Visits JCB 3CX Transmission Factory

The Chancellor visited JCB's transmission factory in Wrexham, tying into JCB's announcements of a £14 million supply deal and a plan to recruit 22 more employees at the site. The factory manufactures axles and gearboxes for a range of JCB vehicles including the jcb 3cx and jcb telehandler range.

Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillian accompanied the Chancellor on his visit, where he commented optimistically on the future of the region.

Mr Osborne said: “Prices around the world are going up but the good news is that here in North Wales manufacturing is going well.

“Two years ago this factory was laying people off and now it is taking people on.”

The JCB Transmission is based on Wrexham Industrial Estate, and will manufacture axles and gearboxes for more than half of the products involved in the £14 million deal with H.E. Services, a plant hire firm based in Kent. H.E. Services has ordered a wide range of JCB equipment including excavators, jcb 3cx backhoe loaders, mini diggers and Loadall jcb telehandlers.

In addition to the new jobs in Wrexham, JCB will be recruiting up to 80 engineers across its sites in the UK, some of which will also he hired to work at JCB Transmission in Wrexham.

Alan Blake, JCB's chief executive said the company's recent big wins, including another £14 million deal with plant hire firm Hewden's, had been down to the company's innovative fuel efficiency features in its new vehicles.

“Not only does JCB produce a world-leading engine in terms of productivity, our transmissions manufactured here at Wrexham are the most efficient around," said Mr Blake.

He added: "This year has certainly got off to a flying start for JCB; our order books are in their healthiest position for four years and at this stage the outlook for the rest of 2011 is extremely promising.”

Clwyd South councillor Paul Rogers described the visit from MR Osbourne as “recognition of how important manufacturing is to the economy and the people of North East Wales”.

John Bell, Welsh Conservative Assembly candidate for Alyn and Deeside, also met Mr Osborne and said: “The news from JCB is a real shot in the arm for their staff and the economy of North Wales."