JCB Breaks Ground on Its Largest Midwest Parts Distribution Facility
Plainfield, Illinois Will Serve as JCB’s New Logistics Hub for the Americas
JCB has started construction on its largest Midwest parts distribution facility, located in Plainfield, Illinois. The project marks another step in the company’s growing investment in North America, following the $500 million San Antonio factory groundbreaking last year. The new facility sits in one of the busiest logistics corridors in the country. It provides direct access to I-55, I-80, I-90 and I-94, and lies less than 40 miles from O’Hare International Airport. This location will help JCB move parts faster to dealers and customers across the Americas. From the press release:
“This groundbreaking represents more than just a building. It is a continuation of our commitment to support customers with fast, reliable parts and service,” said Clyde Shepherd, North American Parts Operations General Manager, JCB North America. “Whether it’s a replacement part for a Teleskid on a construction site or hydraulic components for a tractor in the field, being closer to a major logistics hub means faster fulfillment and shipping. We’re positioning ourselves closer to where our machines work so our customers can stay productive.”
Facility Details
The Plainfield site spans 804,000 sq ft in total. That includes:
- 740,000 sq ft of warehouse floor space
- A 43,725-sq-ft mezzanine
- 22,268 sq ft of office space
The building will feature 75 dock doors, three drive-in doors and 40-ft ceilings. It is built for high-volume operations and can support e-commerce fulfillment, returns management, kitting and relabeling. JCB will occupy 275,000 sq ft of the facility, replacing its current operations in Aurora. The company’s share of the site will serve as its primary Midwest logistics hub.
Partnership With DSV
The new distribution center will be owned and operated by DSV, a global logistics firm that manages multi-client facilities. JCB’s operations will run inside that network, benefiting from DSV’s existing freight and supply chain services. From the press release:
“At DSV, we take pride in offering flexible, reliable supply chain solutions.,” said Josh Summers, president of DSV Contract Logistics North America. ” Providing the space for this project reflects the strength of our relationship with JCB and our shared focus on operational excellence.”
Faster Parts, Less Downtime
The expanded hub will stock more inventory and process shipments more efficiently. JCB says the goal is to minimize machine downtime by cutting wait times for replacement parts. The Plainfield location joins JCB’s other distribution hubs in Miami, Ontario, California and Grimsby, Canada. Together they form a network aimed at keeping machines in the field.
Another Step in U.S. Growth
This distribution investment follows JCB’s record $500 million commitment to build a new factory in San Antonio, Texas. That 720,000-sq-ft plant is expected to open in 2026 and create 1,500 jobs. It will manufacture Loadall telescopic handlers and aerial access equipment, further expanding JCB’s U.S. footprint.
Watch Our Machine Heads Video
Compact Equipment sat down with JCB North America CEO Richard Fox-Marrs to discuss these expansion plans in detail. Watch our Machine Heads video interview above to learn how JCB is scaling its manufacturing and distribution presence across the United States. Then surf over to our YouTube channel and subscribe to see equally awesome video content.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
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