- Home
- News & Media
- Press Releases
- Bobcat - Creating The Best Match of Carriers & Attachments
Bobcat - Creating The Best Match of Carriers & Attachments
Posted on: 18 September 2024
Bobcat is dedicated to enabling its customers to carry out all their work quickly and efficiently. That is why the company offers not only an ever-growing selection of compact machines, all of which are intended as tool carriers, but also an extensive and continuously developing range of attachments to be used on these machines.
The power available, coupling systems, hydraulics and the Attachment Control Device (ACD) on Bobcat machines are all designed to facilitate the quick change of attachments and to allow customers to perform a wide range of tasks with the same machine. Working with attachments is an attractive choice from an investment point of view, especially for multidisciplinary companies.
“We supply one of the most extensive programs of attachments, with which you can carry out all common activities in construction, landscaping, agriculture, demolition, recycling and material handling. That is why all of our compact machines have been developed as tool carriers,” explains Katinka Kincses, Product Manager Attachments at Bobcat EMEA.
“Yet it is important to choose the right products from Bobcat. For example, a skid-steer loader is strong and agile, but for use on sensitive terrain where you do not want to disturb the soil too much, it is better to use a compact track loader. Power also plays a role. If you want to use a forestry mulcher, a wheel saw or a snow plough, you will need to purchase a heavy-duty machine. If you want to work at a high driving speed, a skid-steer loader is not suitable and it is better to use a compact wheel loader. If lifting height and reach are important, a compact wheel loader or a telehandler are the more obvious choices. Compact wheel loaders also have the advantage that the driver sits higher and has a better view of the work area.”
Kincses believes that a customer should only purchase a specialist machine if they do the same, specialist work all day long. “For golf course maintenance, a ride-on mower from Bobcat is a great investment, but in most other cases a multi-purpose tool carrier is a wiser investment, because you can carry out more work and projects, work all year round and therefore use the machine more intensively. You often see that a new customer buys a machine with three or four attachments and gradually adds another three or four attachments, so that they can do as much work as possible with the same machine.”
More than 120 Attachments to Choose From
Once customers have made their choice of machine, they can choose from more than 120 attachments on offer from Bobcat, many of which are intercompatible between different Bobcat tool carriers. For convenience, Bobcat has subdivided the attachments based on activity: including demolition, construction, roadworks, landscaping, forestry, agriculture and material handling.
The range is particularly wide, especially for landscaping and road construction, but many attachments can be used for general work: such as buckets, grabs, clamps, pallet forks, roller brushes, dozer blades, graders, rakes, flail mowers, trenchers, drills and demolition hammers. In addition, there are specialist attachments such as vibrating rollers, concrete mixers, concrete buckets, planers, high-pressure water cleaners, work platforms, woodchippers and even a tree transplanter.
Attachment Control Device
Bobcat has integrated a lot of functionality into the machines and attachments to enhance their connectivity and operation. The company’s Bob-Tach system for connecting attachments is the industry standard, but since (the early 2000s) the Power Bob-Tach system has also been available, which allows the operator to connect and disconnect non-hydraulic attachments without the need to leave the cab. Another useful feature is the speed management system which allows adjustment of the travel speed independently from the engine speed, allowing for higher productivity.
The ACD is built into the attachment. It is a CANbus system that controls the communication between the machine and the attachment. Thanks to the ACD, the machine recognizes the attachment and automatically adjusts the settings of, among other things, the joystick controls and the hydraulics.
The driver can adjust the settings on the display in the machine and receive an overview of the operating hours, performance and status of the attachment. If an operator uses remote control to work their machine, all functions for controlling the attachment are also automatically available.
Bobcat with Bobcat
Katinka Kincses advises customers to use Bobcat attachments on their Bobcat carriers: “Our machines and attachments are optimally matched and tested. For example, you can be sure that the attachment’s software is always up to date and functions works optimally through controls available in the cab; that the hydraulic system is suitable for its tasks and that you can use all functions of the attachment. If there are technical problems, Bobcat can solve them within the warranty period and you are not stuck between two suppliers pointing fingers at each other.”
“A good example of the adaptation of machine and attachment is the combination of the new FRC 200XT forestry cutter and the S86 or T86 top-of-the-range loaders. To work with powerful tools like this, these machines have the option of a high-flow function and a super-flow function, which increases the standard flow of the auxiliary hydraulics from 87 l/min to 138 l/min or 159 l/min. To use the forestry cutter, a special ready-to-use forestry kit must also be installed on the loader, which protects the engine, machine, couplings and operator.”
Product Development
As Attachments Product Manager, Katinka Kincses is responsible for product development, marketing, additional services and training.
“I view my department as the voice of the customer. We map out their wishes and conduct field research to develop new attachments and new functions. We have two important principles.”
“The first is the fact that job sites are becoming smaller and that the demand for compact machines and compact attachments is increasing. In addition, ease of use is becoming increasingly important. Many companies are struggling with staff shortages, which means you need to offer alternatives to human labour.”
“Young and inexperienced employees must also be able to operate the machines and attachments without extensive training, so that productivity is still maintained. This can also be done through automation. For example, look at the modern grader. There is so much technology there that the machine can perform its work almost autonomously.”
From her position of responsibility for product development, Katinka Kincses does not want to say too much now about the latest attachment launches planned by Bobcat. She comments: “But we are working on interesting things that will see the light of day next year.”
READ MORE
View all- Doosan Bobcat Employees Give Back to Communities Across EMEA Through Volunteer Time
Doosan Bobcat Employees Give Back to Communities Across EMEA Through Volunteer Time
30 September 2024
In 2024, Doosan Bobcat employees around the world – including throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – are giving back by volunteering in their communities. - Bobcat - Creating The Best Match of Carriers & Attachments
Bobcat - Creating The Best Match of Carriers & Attachments
18 September 2024
Bobcat is dedicated to enabling its customers to carry out all their work quickly and efficiently. That is why the company offers not only an ever-growing selection of compact machines, all of which are intended as tool carriers, but also an extensive and continuously developing range of attachments to be used on these machines. - Bobcat Breaks Ground for Mexico Manufacturing Facility
Bobcat Breaks Ground for Mexico Manufacturing Facility
17 June 2024
Bobcat, a global equipment, innovation and worksite solutions brand, held a ceremonial groundbreaking on 13th June 2024 for its new 280-million EUR manufacturing facility in Mexico. - Bobcat Demo Days 2024 features more than 90 machines and innovations spanning manufacturer’s full equipment portfolio
Bobcat Demo Days 2024 features more than 90 machines and innovations spanning manufacturer’s full equipment portfolio
5 June 2024
More than 700 customers, dealers, suppliers and journalists from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are heading to Doosan Bobcat EMEA’s campus in Dobříš, Czechia for Bobcat Demo Days 2024. - Bobcat debuts electric telehandler concept at INTERMAT 2024, proving sustainability and performance can go hand in hand
Bobcat debuts electric telehandler concept at INTERMAT 2024, proving sustainability and performance can go hand in hand
24 April 2024
Bobcat is using INTERMAT 2024 as a launchpad for its TL25.60e electric telehandler concept. - Bobcat paves way for smarter, more sustainable and connected future with innovative INTERMAT 2024 equipment lineup
Bobcat paves way for smarter, more sustainable and connected future with innovative INTERMAT 2024 equipment lineup
24 April 2024
Bobcat is showing the international construction community how it is accelerating towards a smarter, more sustainable and connected future with its innovative lineup for INTERMAT 2024. - Bobcat Launches New Family of Rotary Telehandlers
Bobcat Launches New Family of Rotary Telehandlers
12 March 2024
Bobcat has launched a new range of Rotary Telehandlers for markets in Europe and the Middle East and Africa. - Bobcat Displays Extensive Material Handling Lineup at LogiMAT
Bobcat Displays Extensive Material Handling Lineup at LogiMAT
19 February 2024
LogiMAT 2024 will see the first showcasing of an extensive lineup of material handling products from Bobcat. - One Year Later: Doosan Bobcat Helped to Restore 553 Local Businesses in Earthquake-affected Turkey
One Year Later: Doosan Bobcat Helped to Restore 553 Local Businesses in Earthquake-affected Turkey
7 February 2024
Severe earthquakes that happened on 6 February 2023 in Turkey and Syria had a devastating consequence on more than 9 million people with over 240,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. - Bobcat to show RogueX2 Autonomous Loader Concept for the first time at Intermat 2024
Bobcat to show RogueX2 Autonomous Loader Concept for the first time at Intermat 2024
19 January 2024
The Bobcat stand at Intermat 2024 will give an insight into what the company is developing for the construction industry of the future, together with new and existing products that provide customers with fresh solutions and increased productivity today.