Webasto selected for JCB’s record Army order

YORKSHIRE commercial vehicle climate control specialist Webasto has been chosen by mechanical engineering firm JCB to supply engine and interior heating systems on machines as part of its largest order from the British Army for more than 25 years.

ALC, a joint venture between contractor Amey and Babcock International Group, which is the service provider to the Ministry of Defence for plant and mechanical handling equipment for the British Army, awarded the contract for 138 backhoe loaders and 98 wheel loading shovels.

Each are complete with modifications such as Nato green livery, personal weapons storage inside the cab, convoy lighting and increased wading capacity.

Twenty two of the wheel loading shovels and four backhoe loaders are additionally equipped with engineered winterisation kits based on Webasto’s Thermo 90 water heating system.

The system provides initial engine heating via the fuel system, coolant circuit and battery to enable the engine to start in extremely low temperatures.

These Webasto heating systems, powered by the machine’s on-board diesel, are quiet and efficient and operate whether the machine’s engine is running or not.

Webasto engineers carried out the initial installation on a pre-production machine and supported JCB with climate chamber testing.

Greg Oregland of Webasto said: “Webasto has been pleased to be selected to supply “winterised” equipment for previous JCB contracts, but we are delighted to help support our armed forces by providing a key element in JCB’s second largest military order, which was beaten only by a £144m order from the US army in 2005.

“The British Army is called upon to carry out operations, training and many other tasks in every type of climate, but at least the troops operating these machines can be confident that their duties won’t be compromised by the effects of extreme cold.”