Summer Introductions

Recently, a little bit of Bobcat history was inducted into the Smithsonian. Actually, 56 cu ft of records from Bobcat Co., the famous manufacturer of compact construction and agricultural equipment, was acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History — production, marketing and advertising material that showcases the company’s history of great manufacturing acumen.

“Bobcat Company of North Dakota represents the ingenuity and innovation of American business,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum. “These records contribute to the better understanding of American entrepreneurship.”

Bobcat knows a little something about the American business spirit. Even in this unstable economy, the pioneer of compact equipment, inventor of the skid steer and specialty manufacturer of tool carriers over the last 50 plus years, is releasing brand new products for landscapers, construction crews, rental lots and large acreage owners. Out on the beautifully flat plains of Bismarck, N.D., the company invited the media to watch, launch and demo its latest products — mainly the company’s new M-Series compact excavators and skid steers, as well as its two largest excavators to date — the E60 and E80 units.

Bobcat is quick to note it’s the only company that manufactures compact excavators in the United States, allowing it to bring homegrown innovation to its big lot of small dig machines with the introduction of the new M-Series excavators. Journalists were given a tour of the Bismarck facility where these new compact excavators are re-engineered to deliver increased performance in a lighter machine. The new E32 and E35 M-Series excavators are in the most popular 3-to-4-ton weight class. These two machines follow the introduction of the new M-Series E80, which is in the larger 6-to-8-ton weight class.

“The M-Series excavator redesign combines a pump and engine package that delivers increased performance in a lighter package, while improving fuel efficiency at the same time,” says Tom Connor, excavator product specialist at Bobcat. “Smoother controls and reduced noise levels also combine to help keep operators more comfortable and working more efficiently.”

The E32 is a conventional tail swing excavator, and the re-engineered house has reduced the overhang by 45 percent from previous excavators of comparable size. The E35 is a zero tail swing excavator that excels at working on space-constrained jobsites, such as next to buildings or other obstacles.

Bobcat’s largest excavators were introduced as well in the form the E60 and E80 machines — completely new designs in conjunction with parent company Doosan — aimed at setting a high standard by increasing service intervals, operator comfort and durability. Everything about the new excavators has been created to keep operators working longer, including a spacious cab and a top-of-the-line seat to keep operators working comfortably

Auto idle and electronic engine rpm control system help use fuel efficiently and the units’ in-track boom swing allows the operator to work in constricted conditions with confidence. The E60 has a dig depth of 13 ft, 7 in. and an operating weight of 13,556 lbs with rubber tracks, and E80 has a dig depth of 15 ft, 6 in. and an operating weight of 18,689 lbs with rubber tracks.

These big dig/small footprint excavators complement Bobcat’s new line of M-Series loaders. Since inventing the skid steer loader more than 50 years ago, Bobcat has constantly improved loader design to make operators more productive and comfortable. The new Bobcat M-Series skid steers and compact track loaders feature the most significant design changes ever undertaken by the company.

“One of the most noticeable differences on the M-Series machines is the new cab-forward design, which brings the operator closer to the attachment and provides greater overall visibility,” says Mike Fitzgerald, loader product specialist with Bobcat. “Operator comfort is also key to this new design, as today’s operators are asking for improved comfort options. The M-Series cab delivers this with reduced noise levels, improved seating options, a larger door and windows and a best-in-class pressurized cab.”

The first M-Series models are the S630 skid steer loader and the T630 compact track loader. The S650 and the T650 will be available in August and additional models will be available in the future. Productivity is the most important feature of any compact loader, which is why Bobcat has increased the performance of the hydraulics on M-Series loaders to enable them to efficiently accomplish more work. Hydraulic horsepower has been increased more than 15 percent and the standard auxiliary hydraulic flow is now 23 gpm at 3,500 psi and an optional high flow reaches 30.5 gpm for maximum attachment performance. Tractive effort on the M-Series loaders has also been increased 15 to 20 percent.

The unique cab-forward design not only makes the new loaders look different, it also serves the important purpose of moving the operator closer to the attachment and providing increasingly good visibility in all directions. Comfortable operators are more productive, and to create a better working environment, Bobcat increased the size of the cab by 10 percent, redesigned the interior to allow operators to adjust the environment to their individual preference and improved cab pressurization, replete with options like heat and air, selectable joystick controls, digital instrumentation and even radios. To see all of the new equipment and features released by Bobcat at the June product launch, visit us online at www.cebound.com to peruse the company’s latest compact machinery.

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment, based in Peninsula, Ohio.

Enter Great Bobcat Tractor Pull Contest

What Could You Accomplish with a New Bobcat Compact Tractor?

That’s what Bobcat Co. is asking in the Great Bobcat Tractor Pull contest, and thousands have already answered and been rewarded — hoping their story is compelling enough to snare the grand prize: a new Bobcat compact tractor and implements package. The contest kicked off in early March and runs through August 31, and each week, Bobcat selects five “weekly winners” and features their entries online. Entries are judged on creativity, quality, completeness and originality. From those weekly winners, 10 monthly winners are picked to receive a limited-edition “Tailgate” version of Bobcat: Fifty Years of Opportunity, authored by Marty Padgett.

All weekly and monthly winners qualify for the grand prize, a new Bobcat CT230 compact tractor and implements package. The second-place winner will be awarded a new Bobcat 2200 utility vehicle, and ten third-place winners will receive a Bobcat jacket. Anyone can enter the contest and see past weekly and monthly winners at www.bobcat.com/tractorpull.