The JCB 3CX T4i backhoe loader has proven a hit with the Toowoomba Regional Council
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TRC has maintained a fleet of JCB machines for nearly 30 years and wanted to stick with the brand when it came time to upgrade its backhoe loader.
“Each time we need to upgrade a machine, the council provides us with demos from multiple brands,’ TRC plant operator Barry Jones says.
“I find JCB machinery is a lot more stable and the controls are less complicated than most others on the market right now.”
The council ended up settling on a JCB 3CX T4i after being impressed by its low noise and the range of pre-set idle modes that cut fuel consumption.
“The 3CX T4i now has more horsepower but the machine itself is a lot quieter,” Jones says. “Currently we are using it to renew and upgrade the local water mains, sewers and storm water drains in Toowoomba, and it is proving (to be) powerful, safe and comfortable for operators to use all day.
“The upgraded auto throttle and cruise control make operating the machine very easy. We can be in these machines for long periods of time, so other than efficiency and power, the main thing is that they are comfortable and easy to use, and this machine delivers on all of that.”
The JCB 3CX T4i is driven by a 74.2kW Tier 4 Interim turbocharged JCB diesel. In loader mode, the 3CX can lift over 3 tonnes of material to a height of 2.34m.
The operator’s cab on the 3CX features a fully adjustable seat with lumbar support and the joystick controls have been positioned to minimise operator fatigue. It even has an in-cab hot drink machine to provide operators with a hot beverage where site facilities don’t exist.