The 28% rise in sales last year was driven mainly by demand from construction projects in China, where demand rose 73%, although most key markets including the UK performed well.

Total volume sales were up a fifth across the group, generating a 23% uplift in pre-tax profit to £203m.

The market rebound has continued strongly in 2018 which has pushed JCB global production levels to a record level of 500 machines per day.

To meet strong demand JCB is presently investing more than £50m in a new British plant to double production of cabs used on its machines.

McLaren Construction has started on the 350,000 sq ft factory for JCB Cab Systems adjacent to the A50 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, next to two existing JCB plants.

The hi-tech factory will have the capacity to produce around 100,000 cabs a year when it opens next year.

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: “The continued growth in global markets in 2018 has seen JCB production rates reach their highest in our history.

“Employment levels across our plants are also at record highs and we now employ more than 15,000 people.

“In the UK alone we have recruited almost 1,100 people this year, which is superb news for JCB and great news for British manufacturing.”