JCB wheeled loaders, skid-steer loaders and Loadall telescopic handlers are a familiar sight on livestock and arable farms tackling a wide range of materials handling duties.

But for County Down farmer Robert Malcolmson, it’s a JCB 4CX backhoe-loader – a machine more commonly seen on construction projects – that provides a versatile handling, loading and digging machine for his 65-acre cattle farm.

He is so convinced of the machine’s usefulness and versatility that he has just taken delivery of a brand new 4CX PRO, the latest model with Stage V emissions compliance, and put it straight to work on a range of duties; it is the first example of this new model in Northern Ireland.

Mr Malcolmson said: “I’ve been driving JCB machines for over 40 years and have owned several of my own. The latest JCB Stage V 4CX PRO is a very, very good machine.

“I’ll be using it for all my farming work: feeding cattle, lifting bales, erecting fencing and silage handling using a range of different attachments. It’s performing well, is easy to move between sites and it suits me down to the ground.”

Supplied by Templepatrick-based Dennison JCB, longstanding JCB customer Robert Malcolmson is set to capitalise on a machine which brings lower emissions, better off road performance, greater fuel efficiency and faster travel times.

Launched earlier this year, the JCB Stage V 4CX PRO boasts all-wheel steer for increased all-terrain performance, new JCB Automate features which make it easier to use and boost productivity and a new six-speed ECOROAD powertrain that can cut travel time and fuel use by up to 25% – perfect for operators that spend a lot of time on the road.

The JCB Stage V 4CX PRO’s Auto Drive feature allows the operator to automatically maintain a set engine speed when roading. The PRO range also features the ECOROAD six-speed Autoshift transmission that can cut travel time and fuel use by up to 25%, for operators that spend a lot of time on the road. All powershift transmissions are now standard with JCB’s TorqueLock direct drive system.

A host of new standard features have been integrated into the PRO backhoe loaders, including rear light guards, front bumpers, return to dig, shovel clam ram guards, high-flow loader auxiliary pipework and the loader Auto Smooth Ride System arm suspension system.