Bobcat’s ‘Next is Now’ campaign heralds not just a raft of launches, but a move into entirely new machine classes. Construction Plant News examines the developments in the range.
With a 60-year pedigree Bobcat already holds a proud place as one of the pioneers of the use of compact equipment in the construction sector. That was then, and today its latest tag line, ‘Next is Now’ is looking ahead to what the industry will demand in the future, with a whole tranche of new introductions across multiple product categories. Those new arrivals represent significant diversifications for the company, as well as expansions into new markets. Connected technologies are already rapidly reshaping our world, and the way we work, and there is an emphasis on these tools as well. Fittingly, the platform to reveal these new solutions to the world’s plant professionals was via its largest ever virtual launch across Europe the Middle East and Africa.
“With Next is Now, Bobcat is empowering people to work more efficiently and to enable them to achieve more than ever before,” declares Gustavo Otero, President of Doosan Bobcat EMEA. “We are advancing more powerful, more efficient and smarter equipment and technologies in an expansion that offers an enhanced and much wider choice of products to increase opportunities for our customers.”
The manufacturer’s ambitious end game is to lead the entire compact equipment industry, and that means a wider product line, more frequent product updates and new designs and technologies. Roy Haaker, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Doosan Bobcat EMEA, reveals more: “Inspired by the Next is Now philosophy, Bobcat is launching an unprecedented number of new products and product categories. In this first phase, there will be launches in twelve different categories, covering 48 products in total and, as well as the product categories, we will be presenting new technologies.
• R-Series Skid-Steer and Compact Track Loaders
• R2-Series 5-6 tonne Mini-Excavators
• New Range of Compact Wheel Loaders and Small Articulated Loaders
• New Light Compaction Range
R-Series Stage V Compact Loaders
The new R-Series machines are the result of what is described as the most significant redesign of Bobcat compact loaders in 60 years and the company has begun deliveries of these units from October 2020. These additions include the company’s new R-Series Stage V compliant compact loaders, comprising the S66 and S76 skid-steer loaders, and the T66 and T76 compact track loaders.
The new loaders feature a variety of performance, comfort and visibility enhancements to help provide customers with increased productivity. As a result, many previous options are now built into the new R-Series loaders as standard features, and have been completely redesigned from the ground up with a focus on quality, reliability, durability and comfort.
R2-Series 5-6 tonne Mini-Excavators
Bobcat is also launching the company’s new R2-Series generation of 5-6 tonne Stage V compliant mini-excavators – the new E50z, E55z and E60 models. All these models offer a mix of high performance, stability and smooth controllability of the working functions. Delivery of the R2-Series excavators will begin in early 2021.
The E50z zero house swing (ZHS) model is the entry point to this new family of 5-6 tonne high productivity excavators. The E55z is a premium comfort and high performance ZHS machine offering what the manufacturer describes as outstanding stability. The new E60 is the flagship conventional swing model, featuring a more powerful engine, a larger cab and other unique features.
Wheel Loaders
To expand the company’s loader product portfolio, Bobcat is entering the European wheel loader market for compact wheel loaders (CWLs) and small articulated loaders (SALs). Europe continues to be amongst the most fertile ground for this class of equipment amongst manufacturers and Bobcat’s entry will offer end users an option from a well-established brand.
The company is expanding its loader portfolio to provide customers with more choice of its products, with optimised characteristics for specific applications in construction, rental, agriculture, landscaping, road works, material handling and many other industries.
The initial entry into the CWL market will be with two models: the L65 and L85, both of which will be designed and built at the company’s campus European home in Dobris in the Czech Republic, and are targeted at the construction and rental markets.
The company is also entering the small articulated loaders market with two models, the L23 and L28, designed and built by the company in Bismarck in North Dakota, USA. With the new Bobcat SALs, the traditional attributes of high performance in a compact size, agility and versatility are now complemented by a light touch on the ground and increased lift capacity for lower weight machines.
Light Compaction Range
Compaction applications are a required part of numerous industries, and no construction site is complete without a soil and asphalt compactor. As a result, Bobcat is expanding its product portfolio further to offer a full range of light compaction machinery, developed in collaboration with the Ammann Group.
The new Light Compaction Range covers seven different product families and 37 models in total, to meet work requirements on almost any construction job site, with an emphasis on comfort, safety and simplicity of use. The Bobcat Light Compaction Range includes:
• Vibratory rammers
• Vibratory forward plates
• Reversible vibratory plates
• Hydrostatic plates
• Walk behind rollers
• Trench rollers
• Tandem rollers
