Innovative Bobcat Technology

In a sign of the times we are all living in, Bobcat recently launched several new machines during an online event, billed as 'Next is Now'. The Digger Man Blog is naturally keen to showcase some of these products and the developments on our platform.

The virtual event was one of Bobcat's largest ever product launches, cram packed with new innovations in a large number of product categories for various industries. The manufacturer also set out the company's vision for now and the future in markets throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and took the opportunity to talk about some stunning technologies that are coming through.

Bobcat released details of three new 5- to 6-tonne mini-excavators which join the R2 Series range – due to go into full production early in 2021. The 5-tonne E50z and the 5.4-tonne E55z models are true zero house swing (ZHS) designs, where all of the upper-structure remains within the width of the tracks. This includes its front corners, the boom swing offset cylinder, handles, lights and the door, in both open and closed positions, during a full 360-degree rotation.

Bobcat is probably most famous for its skid steer loader product and during this event they announced the European availability of its new R Series skid-steer loaders and compact tracked loaders.  

Bobcat state that this new series is the most significant redesign of their core product in the past 60 years. The first for models are the wheeled 3.3-tonne S66 and the 4.0-tonne S76 models, together with the 4.3-tonne T66 and 4.9-tonne T76 tracked machines.

This came as no surprise to those of us who had seen examples at the Conexpo show in Las Vegas earlier this year, but the big news was that Bobcat Europe is entering the compact wheel loader market, with both conventional and small articulated models. Such machines are not that common on UK sites, but they are very popular in Continental Europe, where they are often used in a similar way to how we use small site dumpers in this country carrying materials around the jobs.

Bobcat also announced that they are entering the compaction equipment sector with products developed in conjunction with Ammann. This agreement will see a range of vibratory rammers, vibratory forward plates, reversible vibratory plates, hydrostatic plates, walk-behind rollers, trench rollers and tandem rollers being offered under the Bobcat brand.

But the most amazing news was the amazing technology announced. In the video below, which was first broadcast live last week, our friends over at Diggers & Dozers (Mark Anthony) and Content with Media’s (Peter Haddock) talk about this new technology and present a series of videos on the developments.