JCB is previewing its largest wheeled loaders to date at Hillhead 2026 this week.
The 480 and 490 – both engineered to meet EU Stage V and Tier 4 Final emissions standards – will deliver payloads of 8,000kg and 9,000kg respectively.
By offering two payload variants, each with standard or long arms, JCB revealed it can tailor the machine to meet the exact requirements of a diverse range of customers and sites.
Built for heavy-duty applications in quarrying, waste handling, ports and construction applications, the models feature Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) as standard and fully programmable electro-hydraulic controls.
The 480 and 490 boast a patented loader arm design described as blending the high breakout performance of a traditional Z-bar linkage, with the precision and visibility of a tool carrier arm design.
Compact bucket link packaging, without the forward protruding Z-link, allows for the use of oversized low-density buckets. JCB added that wide angle, high-torque bucket rotation is maintained across the complete working height, providing ‘excellent’ levels of material discharge when tipping off steep loading ramps.
Standard and high-lift loader arms are offered, with a pin height ranging from 4,445mm to 5,000mm at maximum lift. The loader arms feature sealed and lubricated pins and bushes, in heavy-duty castings, to ensure longevity on site.
The machines are powered by a Stage V/Tier 4 Final-compliant Cummins X12 diesel engine, delivering 250kW. This is backed by up to 1,695Nm of torque at 1,400rpm.
Operators benefit from the new ‘single pedal control’ transmission, which controls machine travel speed and torque. Meanwhile, the intelligent hydraulic boost function is designed to meet the constantly changing hydraulic demand from the loader’s front end by automatically adjusting engine output.
The transmission has four virtual gear modes and features hill-hold and automatic park brake settings. There is an integrated transmission brake, with automatic engine exhaust braking, to reduce axle brake wear.
In the cab, JCB’s Command Driving Position is featured, which comes electro-hydraulic (EH) controls mounted in the air suspension seat frame. The seat features heating and cooling functionality, along with electrically adjustable lumbar support and adjustable dampers.
The cab also features JCB’s UX user interface, with a 10” full colour touchscreen. The roof has flush-mounted beacons on each corner, to provide warnings to other machines and operators from all sides. The 480 and 490 also benefit from an object detection system, with auto-braking, to prevent accidental impact on site.
