An award-winning JCB business set up to sell in-house manufactured components to external customers is celebrating a milestone birthday.
JCB Drivetrain Systems is marking 40 years in business and to commemorate the landmark invited one of its largest and longest-standing customers - Canada-based family business Sellick Equipment - to join in the celebrations.
During the visit, the team from Ontario-based Sellick, which manufactures rough terrain forklifts and attachments, was presented with a mounted model of an axle component by JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford to recognise four decades of partnership.
JCB began manufacturing axles and transmissions in Wrexham in 1978 as part of a strategy to make more major components itself. In 1985, International Transmissions Limited (ITL) was founded and began selling those same high-quality axles and transmissions – originally developed for JCB’s own machines – to other equipment manufacturers.
Lord Bamford | JCB Chairman
Now trading as JCB Drivetrain Systems, the business has grown into a global leader, providing drivetrain components to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers in more than 150 countries.
JCB Drivetrain Systems Ltd supplies complete, fully integrated powertrain solutions – from engines and axles to transmissions, cooling packages and hydraulics – to leading OEMs in construction, agriculture and materials handling.
In 1985, the first of JCB’s OEM customers benefitted from simple synchromesh transmissions and axles. Today JCB Drivetrain Systems offers a full range of 8-speed powershift transmissions with lock up torque convertors and DualTech options which provide customers with hydraulic drive, low speed, high torque manoeuvrability while retaining the characteristics of a mechanical transmission for maximum roading capabilities.