Bobcat is entering the European wheel loader market for compact wheel loaders (CWLs) and small articulated loaders (SALs).
The move comes in an effort to “expand the company’s loader product portfolio and to strengthen the company’s position”, Bobcat says.
The company is expanding its loader portfolio to provide customers with more choice of Bobcat products, with optimised characteristics for specific applications in construction, rental, agriculture, landscaping, road works, material handling and many other industries.
Bobcat is entering the CWL market with two models: the L65; and L85 CWLs. These have been designed and built by Bobcat at the company’s campus in Dobris in the Czech Republic.
In terms of the specs, the L65 has a bucket capacity of 0.6-1.0m³, a tipping load of 2.6t and an operating weight of 4.5t.
It is kitted out with a 55hp (41kW) engine and offers a maximum travel speed of 30kph.
Moving to the slightly larger Bobcat L85, this machine has a bucket capacity of 0.8-1.2m³, a tipping load of 3.1t and an operating weight of 4.8t.
It has a more powerful 68hp (51kW) engine and the same maximum travel speed of 30kph.
The L28 SAL in action
Bobcat is also entering the SAL market with two models, the L23 and L28, designed and built by the company in Bismarck in North Dakota, US.
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”, the company claims.
The SALs apparently cause minimal ground disturbance with their use of an articulated joint, which enables the rear tyres to match the front tyre path when turning. In addition, the turf-safe mode limits wheel slippage.
The L23 SAL
This, Bobcat says, means its SALs are well-suited for landscaping, light construction, agriculture and maintenance projects where space is tight and lower ground contact is needed.
Turning to dimensions and power, the L23 has a bucket capacity of 0.2-0.4m³, a tipping load of 1.3t and an operating weight of 1.7t. It’s powered with a 25hp (18kW) engine and a maximum travel speed of 13kph.
The L28, meanwhile, has a bucket capacity of 0.3-0.5m³, a tipping load of 1.4t and an operating weight of 1.9t. It has a matching engine power and top speed of 25hp and 13kph respectively.
The L28 SAL
