ExEcutivE REPORt Bobcat eyes the future
We had a quick Q&A with Bobcat Regional Sales Director John Christofides, who discusses new machinery launches and future product developments.
W
e have seen some first reviews on the new Bobcat E60 MEX, how do you
plan to leverage this model in the UK market?
“Since 2018 we have been launching our new, R-Series MEX, as a first step in the 2 to 3t class, then soon after in the 3 to 4t class. With the E50z/E55z/E60 we are now ramping up into the 5/6t class. The R-Series models mean we now have an excellent offering from our 1t E10z all the way through to the 8.5t E85.
of these new models, which really do speak for themselves. In short I’d say we are offering a capable range of machines which maximise uptime, have low fuel consumption and can easily be mastered so making the ideal rental offering.”
What should we expect next from Bobcat – new sectors, new product lines?
“We have recently added small articulated loaders, compact wheel loaders and a comprehensive light compaction range. We are close to releasing our plans to increase presence in agriculture and ground care, with the launch of several further product lines.
Bobcat's E10Z micro excavator.
“Our previous offerings in the 5/6t range, whilst being capable machines, did not have the kind of performance advantages to make non Bobcat customers switch allegiances, but with these new R-Series machines our dealers will be knocking on doors to provide demos and allow the machines to speak for themselves.”
Bobcat has recently launched a new R- Series of telehandlers too. How do you plan to convert customers in this area?
“The Bobcat Telehandler range is the one I believe has the greatest scope. Our stage IV offering allowed us to continue our increased growth in the UK. Now, with our new Stage V R-Series machines, we have raised the bar even higher.
“We continue to grow our Agricultural range with a 5-year strategy, which addressed key improvement areas, and we will be doing the same with our construction/rental machines. Our dealers will demonstrate the capabilities
“We have high ambitions of increasing our stature as a global player in compact equipment, and will continue on our current path of continuous product development and acquisitions of commercial agreements with other premium brands. This will allow our dealers to increase penetration in exciting
sectors as well as entering new ones they could not previously access.”
We know about Bobcat’s history with skid- steer loaders. What is the future for these machines in the wake of your new product lines?
“We run tool carrier events to showcase our loader attachments and share with customers what solutions we can offer, as well as continuing to develop our loader ranges with our Stage V 400/500 series and the R-Series models in the 600 series.
“There is a niche market for those renting out loaders with an array of specialised attachments. These are often filled by our own dealers or long term partners, who only use Bobcat products. They provide the significant added value of advising the most effective combination of tool/attachment. This may seem banal, but when one considers the broad loader offering we have, and the 200+ attachments, and then the vast
combinations of loader/attachment, this needs professional consultation.
Finally, what vision of the future can you give our readers to look forward to?
“Let’s start with our electric vehicles. We are currently delivering our E10e machine, the world's first 1 tonne battery-powered MEX. I can’t reveal too much, but I can tell you that we have further MEX we are working on. Our EV solutions will be scalable, such that we can use the technology across different product ranges.
“We then have Bobcat ‘MaxControl’ launching very soon, which basically allows the operation of a loader remotely using a smartphone. This will decouple the operator from the machine, meaning they can be at a safe distance from a hazardous environment or location. Our Innovations Team also have solutions for object avoidance and site mapping. Then how about a diagnostic element that through a clever algorithm pre- empts a fault code signal, measuring parameters that tell you you’re going to have a fault before you do?
“Lastly how about this vision of the future – a fully camera’d up machine that eliminates the need for an operator area, and which can be controlled remotely from where the operator chooses? All these features would make Bobcat machinery the safest and easiest to use, as well as the most productive!” n
The new Stage V R-Series telehandler.
40 Executive Hire News - Nov/Dec 2021
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