Bobcat reached a prestigious milestone when its one millionth loader rolled off the assembly line, making 2014 a landmark year for this global leader in quality compact equipment. To mark this achievement which has been generations in the making and to celebrate one of the best loaders every built, Bobcat is producing a special limited edition of the S650 and T650 skid-steer loaders.

There has been much development and innovation since the first Bobcat M60 loader came off the production line 56 years ago to the production of the latest M-Series. In 1960, the self-propelled M60 unit was joined by the first four-wheel skid-steer loader. Ten years later Bobcat introduced the first Hydrostatic drive loader and in 1971 the Bob-Tach attachment system became a standard. Bobcat followed the release of the innovative transverse-mounted engine in 1990, with the keyless start option in 1996. 2005 saw the industry’s first loader with a speed management option which contributed to the development of the M-Series loader in 2009.

From humble beginnings in North Dakota, USA, in 1947 as Melroe Manufacturing Company, the Bobcat Company is today a global leader in compact equipment. Members of the world-famous Bobcat family include skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, all-wheel steer loaders, compact excavators, utility work machines and utility vehicles, as well as over 90 job-matched attachments. Keeping up to date with the latest in technology and modern manufacturing techniques are fundamental to the company’s continued success. The introduction of computer numeric control and robotics as well as stringent quality and cost control processes have ensured that Bobcat maintains its highly competitive position in the global marketplace. While Bobcat Company and its products have made many adaptations to meet the global market’s ever-changing needs, two important aspects have not changed since 1947 and are still evident in every machine that rolls off the production line: Compactness, which has always been kept at the core of the business, and commitment to outstanding quality and workmanship.

“Bobcat has enjoyed similar successes in South Africa,” says Michael Burns, National Sales & Marketing Manager of Bobcat Equipment South Africa (Pty) Ltd, part of the Goscor Group of Companies and the Imperial Group. “Since the first Bobcat units were introduced to the South African market in 1987 (through Consolidated Rock Machinery), the compact, versatile and reliable features of these high performance machines have found wide acceptance across diverse local industries. Our expansive customer base spans Southern African mining, construction, road building, agriculture and landscaping market segments.”

The fact that Bobcat has produced one million loaders is undeniable proof of this machine’s remarkable success; it is the perfect machine for the job. It signifies Bobcat’s commitment to maintaining the industries’ best loaders for any job and is a symbol of all that Bobcat customers all around the world have helped to do – from road building and materials handing to land forming and ground maintenance.

Bobcat has launched a competition to win a limited edition skid-steer or compact track loader as well as other great prizes. Competition, entry and registration details are available on www.bobcat.com