JCB today announced it had signed a long-term agreement to supply engines for a new range of rotating telescopic handlers to be launched by an Italian manufacturer.

MAGNI Telescopic Handlers, headed by Riccardo Magni, will produce up to 1,000 machines a year from a new 6,000m² production facility in Castelfranco Emilia, near Modena.

The agreement to supply the Ecomax engine to MAGNI TH is another significant milestone for JCB and follows a recently announced £3 million a year deal to provide Johnston Sweepers, the world’s leading manufacturer of street cleansing equipment, with the JCB Ecomax engine.

JCB CEO Alan Blake said: "As a family company, MAGNI TH shares the same core values as JCB and is driven by innovation. We are delighted to have secured an agreement to supply engines for this new product as it builds on the growing success we are experiencing with engine sales to third parties."

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The Magni Rotos will be powered by the fuel efficient JCB Ecomax Tier 4i engine, which offers fuel savings of up to 10%. There will be seven models in the range offering payloads of between four and six tonnes and with lift heights of between 18 and 30 metres. The models will be equipped with the JCB Ecomax Tier 4 interim engine for all the present and future power range on an exclusive basis. The first of the products go into production in the Spring and a number of the models will feature patented stabiliser technology exclusive to MAGNI TH design.

MAGNI TH President Riccardo Magni said: "JCB's innovative approach to Tier 4i engine development brings real fuel saving benefits to customers and my 30 years' experience in the design and production of rotos together with JCB Ecomax engines will be a great force to be reckoned with."

With the introduction of Tier 4 interim legislation, most engine manufacturers set out to meet the massive reductions in particulate emissions by incorporating a diesel particulate filter. JCB used the new laws as an opportunity to innovate and engineer a solution that meant no after-treatment and consequently lower running costs for the customer. One of the major benefits is on fuel consumption and the Ecomax engine, which has no DPF, achieves savings of up to 10% compared to its Tier 3 counterpart. In addition, there is a huge maintenance and service benefit with the Ecomax as it runs on standard engine oils, with no additional service requirements.