JCB Factory tour

[Hitch]

Anyone else interested in having a look round the JCB factory in Staffordshire?
I think its been mentioned before, ages ago.
This forum has plenty of members that meet up with each other, so plenty of friends made here, that suggests to me a big forum meet might be good, and im sure some car sharing would be on the cards, to offset our carbon footprints
There was the meet at Matts that was postponed longterm due to a few reasons, but theres talk of it again in 2010.... I believe its not all that far from Lorch HQ, im thinking perhaps a combined event, so people travelling a fair distance, its even more worthwhile.


So any interest in a group factory tour, maybe spring time?

I see they do a tour with a fry up breakfast, that appeals to me
Group sizes for tours are a minimum of 10, unsure on the maximum.

Basic tour is £12, one with inclusive fry up is £17.50, arrive by 9am...quite early that.

If theres a lot of interest in both events, perhaps 2 groups staggered during the day between the two places....

Obviously this is just an idea, and a poll to gauge your thoughts on it.


Ah, Just re looked at the page, tours are only Monday to Thursday. The Lorch meeting was organised for a weekend last time, i gather if its being thought about again, its probably going to be a weekend, to maximise numbers.

 

[astro_al]

Ooh, sounds good to me!

As a skill-less Lorch owner and wannabe-tig-anorak, plus being generally interested in all things industrial / mechanical, its hard to picture a better day out!

Fry up you say? Hell yes, I'm in.

Al.

 

[scarecrow]

drove past that factory once drooling I have seen some pics of a John deer assembly-line absolutely awesome. so well wort a view in my book but im too far away

 

[stormin]

I'd like to be counted in please!

Although I think I'd prefer an afternoon visit if one is organised as well as the morning. M60 and M6 can be a nightmare in a morning so guaranteeing to arrive for 9am may be tough.

 

[Luke]

pretty local to me, being near Stoke, so I'm interested!

 

[zzr1200]

I'm interested, but that depends on when the tour is organised for......

So I'm in the "Dont Knows".... I'd also be willing to take others...

 

[TechnicAl]

Ive been round JCB quite a few times, Ive even done training courses for their welders in the past. Obvioulsy Im not interested in the visit but I can tell you its interesting. Im not sure how busy they are the moment.

They used to have a fleet of mercs with JCB number plates. I think they were managers cars but they were kept in a indoor car park next to the main entrance. I havent been for a few years so Im not sure if they still exist.

 

[Omniata]

Bit of a trek for me but I'm in...

Not had a good fry up in ages, to me it's always better when someone else cooks it in their kitchen

 

[paul_f]

Ive been round JCB quite a few times, Ive even done training courses for their welders in the past. Obvioulsy Im not interested in the visit but I can tell you its interesting. Im not sure how busy they are the moment.

They used to have a fleet of mercs with JCB number plates. I think they were managers cars but they were kept in a indoor car park next to the main entrance. I havent been for a few years so Im not sure if they still exist.

Last time I was there (about 5 years ago) it was a fleet of white Vectras with JCB numberplates

 

[TechnicAl]

Last time I was there (about 5 years ago) it was a fleet of white Vectras with JCB numberplates

Yes they had the vectras as well, I think they were for the underlings.

BTW their canteen is excellent. I used to go in whenever I was there. Did things like Liver & Onions in Gravy and Lemon Sponge & Custard.

Proper grub.

 

[paul_f]

The canteen was good, and they gave receipts so I could have them on expenses:-)

We didn't go on the official factory tour, but we did have a number of different tours and it was really interesting!

 

[snowcat]

I'm another who has been around it before and visited a few lines in the past so I wouldn't take the place of another, Its intesting to see, theres a pub about 5 minutes walk, which I remember well... If you've never seen that sort of production before Id recommend going....

 

[Iain Westland]

I voted yes, like to see big stuff, Nissan micra's are ok but every now and then ...

 

[stormin]

Put me down for two places please as I'm quite sure my Dad would like to go too. He's not an internet user so can't vote.

 

[bump]

I went when doing my Business Studies A Level, just after they had the fire there. Was pretty interesting. Also went to Ryton when that was still functioning.

I wouldn't want to take the place of another, but if you haven't been it's great to have a look round.

 

[matt1978]

Also went to Ryton when that was still functioning.

.

Ryton was a dump wasn't it

Through my work, I have also been lucky enough to visit the JCB facilities many times.

I have also been to Ryton, Finning Caterpiller, Caterpiller in Nottingham, Vauxhall (GM), Toyota, BMW, Honda etc etc. They are all very interesting in there own way, but the best factory tour I ever did was the Jaguar one at Browns lane, which has sadly since closed down.

On the tour you see every aspect of the car production, even down to the hand stiching of the leather for the seats, gear knobs etc. It was particulary nice, because all of the tour guides were unpaid volunteers, who were retired former employees, so to give up there time to show joe public round, shows the passion they had for the brand.

 

[astro_al]

Hitch - is this maybe happening?

Cheers, Al.

 

[malcolm]

the best factory tour I ever did was the Jaguar one at Browns lane, which has sadly since closed down.

I had a wander around there a year or two before it shut. For car fans the places I most enjoyed were the Rolls-Royce Factory tour pre-1995 when they were still making the boxy ones. Whole bunch of people soldering radiator grilles together, stitching the leather etc. Completely unnecessary attention to detail in the engine plant was brilliant too.

Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell was the best before the Vanquish. Scattered buildings and sheds, and real panel beating hand finishing the aluminium panels. I think they were superformed at that point but still needed plenty of finishing.

 

[tigler]

I'm well up for this , I just lurrrv industrial stuff !!

 

[caveman]

defo up for that, work with jakes all day long so it would be nice to see were they come from,have been round the aston martin factory at gaydon and newport pagnell and worked on both and there test track at gaydon that was a awsome job aston's flying past at 180 mental sound