JCB Backhoe in a Box goes on tour
In 2025, JCB celebrated its 80th anniversary, marking its growth from a small enterprise, building agricultural tipping trailers in 1945, into a global manufacturing force. To honour this milestone, JCB unveiled a special Backhoe in a Box by the Rocester lake and is now taking it on tour across the UK for everyone to join the 80th birthday celebrations.
Backhoe in a box: on tour
What is it?
The JCB 80th anniversary Backhoe in a Box is an eight-tonne JCB 3CX Sitemaster Backhoe Loader, packaged in the style of the iconic 1:32 scale models loved by collectors worldwide. It stands are nearly 15 feet high by nearly 25 feet wide and is lit at night, creating a fantastic display.
What is Backhoe in a Box for?
The JCB Backhoe in a Box on tour marks a milestone in JCB’s history: more than one million replica models of our backhoe machines have been produced under TOMY’s Britains brand, celebrating nearly 60 years of partnership between the two companies.
Celebrating JCB's 80th anniversary
The model has been on display at JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester, beside the JCB lake, for the whole of January – but throughout the year, you’ll have a chance to see it near you.
You can catch the display at:
February
Kings Cross Station
Discover the Backhoe in a box on tour at Kings Cross station between 14th - 22nd February 2026, and meet some our apprentices to find out more about what makes it so special
March
Cheltenham Racecourse
Join us at the Cheltenham races between the 10th - 13th March for the opportunity to take a look at the Backhoe in a box installation; a piece of JCB history.
June
Hillhead 2026
Join us at Hillhead 2026 from 23rd - 25th June, for a chance to see the iconic Backhoe in a box - as well as all our other machinery on display.
More locations to be confirmed
The history of JCB's Backhoe
The JCB Backhoe is an icon of global construction, and has shaped the industry since its creation in 1953. A revolutionary design that combined a front loader and a rear-mounted excavator on a tractor, our Backhoe Loader brought hydraulic power to construction for the first time.
Fast forward to today, JCB Backhoes are manufactured in the UK, India and Brazil, and are loved in 120 different countries. The unit that manufactures backhoes has previously won six Queen’s Awards, a prestigious UK honour that recognises outstanding excellence in the field.
Every day, we manufacture 500 machines, and we’re incredibly proud to have produced the one millionth backhoe loader in 2025 - cementing us a global leader in innovation.
Explore the JCB Backhoe range
The JCB Backhoe Loader is as iconic today as when it was first invented in 1953. Discover the full JCB Backhoe range today.
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Celebrate 80 years of innovation
Join us as we continue to support people who keep the world moving – on-site, on the farm and everywhere in between.
One million and counting as JCB marks major backhoe milestone
JCB today celebrated a major machine milestone with the production of its one millionth Backhoe Loader.