JCB rolls out two new compact machines

JCB introduced two compact machines at The ARA Show 2026: the 250T compact track loader and the 25Z mini excavator. The machines are designed for rental companies and residential contractors working in compact equipment segments.

The 250T compact track loader brings JCB’s single-arm boom design to the compact track loader size class. The company said the machine is intended to provide lifting capacity, maneuverability and transportability for common construction and landscaping tasks.

“The 250T is built around how customers actually work,” said Lee Tice, senior product manager – compact equipment. “Rental houses need a machine that appeals to the widest range of users, and contractors need something that is easy to move between jobsites, easy to operate and capable of handling demanding applications. This machine delivers that balance while bringing our side-door entry and 270-degree visibility into the most popular compact track loader class.”

The 250T is powered by a 74-horsepower engine and has a rated operating capacity of 2,429 pounds (1,102 kilograms). The machine is designed for tasks such as loading trucks, handling palletized materials and general site work.

It has an operating weight of 9,870 pounds (4,477 kilograms), allowing it to be towed behind a three-quarter-ton pickup truck without requiring a commercial driver’s license, according to the company.

Tracks measuring 15.7 inches (400 millimeters) wide provide ground bearing pressure of less than 5 pounds per square inch. JCB said the configuration is intended to improve traction and stability while helping reduce surface disturbance on prepared areas. The loader also offers standard and high-flow hydraulic options to support a range of attachments.

Tice said the single-arm boom design allows operators to enter and exit through a side door rather than climbing over a front attachment.

“Our single-arm boom is about more than a different look,” Tice said. “It allows operators to enter and exit through a side door instead of climbing over a front attachment, which helps minimize one of the most common causes of skid steer injuries. Bringing that level of visibility and safety into this size class matters for the crews who operate these machines every day.”

Alongside the 250T, JCB also displayed the 25Z mini excavator, which enters the 2- to 3-ton class alongside models such as the 35Z-1. The zero-tailswing excavator is designed for work in confined spaces and has a compact footprint.

The machine weighs 5,621 pounds, which the company said allows it to be towed behind a half-ton pickup truck. JCB said the excavator is designed to deliver digging performance, maneuverability and durability for daily worksite use while maintaining intuitive controls.

JCB also said it plans to expand its compact equipment offerings with additional models, including the 290T compact track loader. The company said that machine will be powered by a 74-horsepower engine and designed to provide increased lift and breakout performance for higher-demand applications.

Additional compact equipment announcements are expected later in 2026, according to the company.