More than 750 delegates from 86 countries, representing several hundred JCB dealers from around the world, have descended on JCB HQ for an international conference.

JCB sales managing director Françoise Rausch said the conference's objective was to review sales goals and discuss ways of growing the business.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to share JCB's aims and aspirations for the future. There is huge potential out there for growth and the conference is an important forum for us all to share ideas on generating additional sales," he said.

JCB also honoured dealers' achievements. Gunn JCB, which has bases in Stoke-on-Trent, Altrincham, Preston, Ruthin, West Bromwich, Shrewsbury, Warwick, Hereford and Isle of Man, received an award in recognition of substantial growth in the past two years.

The conference, timed to coincide with IMHX 2004, concludes this week.

Meanwhile, JCB has added a 3.5-tonne version of its Teletruk to its existing 2.5-tonne and three-tonne models.