Heavy equipment maker JCB will invest more than $265 million to build its second US manufacturing facility in San Antonio, the UK-based company said. announced on Monday.
Construction on the 720,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin early next year and will create more than 1,500 jobs over the next five years, according to the release.
The upcoming San Antonio facility will be JCB’s second manufacturing plant in North America. The company’s North American headquarters and first US facility are located in Savannah, Georgia. The plant produces 18 models of JCB side door entry skid steers and compact track loaders, according to the company’s website.
“North America is integral to the growth and success of JCB’s business going forward and now is the right time for JCB to expand its manufacturing presence there,” CEO Graeme Macdonald said in a statement.
The San Antonio facility will manufacture machines for customers predominantly in North America. Information on what the next site will produce will be released at a later date, JCB said in the statement.
The company chose San Antonio as its next location because of its easy access to nearby ports and other transportation hubs. The location is also close to US and Mexican interstate highways and rail services.
The new facility adds to the machinery manufacturer’s global presence. The company operates 22 factories worldwide, including 11 in the UK and others in India, Brazil and China.
“The growth we’ve experienced in recent years in North America has been extensive and demand for our products continues to grow,” JCB North America President and CEO Richard Fox-Marrs said in a statement.
