British equipment maker JCB will build a second manufacturing facility in the United States in San Antionio, Texas.

Construction of the  720,000 sq. ft. (66,890 sqm) facility will begin next year, with the expansion set to create 1,500 new jobs over five years.

JCB chief executive officer Graeme Macdonald says: “North America is integral to the growth and success of JCB’s business in the future and the time is now right for JCB to expand its manufacturing presence there.

“Texas is a vibrant and growing economy and the state offers great advantages in terms of a central location, as well as good highway and port access.

“The city of San Antonio also has a well-established skills base, which makes it a very attractive place to set up a factory.”

JCB opened its first North American manufacturing plant in Savannah, Georgia in 2001. The site employes around 1,000 people.

The equipment to be manufactured at JCB’s new plant, set on 400 acres (161 hectares), has not yet been announced.

JCB has 22 factories around the world, including in the United Kingdom, India, Brazil and China.

The sites manufacture a range of construction, agricultural and military equipment, including rough terrain forklifts, teletruck forklifts, rotating telehandlers, skid steer loaders and access platforms. 

“JCB has come a long way since selling its first machine to the US market in 1964,” says Lord Anthony Bamford, JCB chairman.