In the past year, Bobcat, under the umbrella of Doosan Bobcat, has made significant strides in advancing its mission to empower customers to achieve more.
In line with this, Bobcat appointed Gary Hornbacher as the President for the EMEA region, underscoring the manufacturer’s commitment to visionary leadership. With a diverse 36-year career at Doosan Bobcat, Hornbacher brings extensive experience in various domains, including sales and marketing, product management, strategy and total quality management. Based in the Czech Republic, his leadership is set to guide Bobcat towards even greater achievements.
Bobcat’s other notable accomplishments in the last 12 months include:
Game-changing GME range: Bobcat successfully launched its ground maintenance equipment (GME) range in the EMEA region, revolutionising the way ground maintenance tasks are executed through unmatched efficiency and precision.
Streamlined integration: Seamless integration of Doosan Industrial Vehicle (DIV) into the Bobcat brand, resulting in a cohesive customer experience across global markets. In addition, it also undertook a comprehensive rebranding initiative that transformed Doosan Portable Power into Bobcat, creating a unified identity that resonates with customers worldwide.
Evolving innovations: Bobcat continues to lead in innovation, introducing ground-breaking advancements such as the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, the S7X, as well as RogueX, its latest R&D conceptual project closely resembling a track loader at CONEXPO 2023, underlining the brand’s commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The B730 M-Series backhoe loader: On September 4, Bobcat unveiled its latest addition, the B730 M-Series Backhoe Loader for the MEA market. Crafted at its sophisticated manufacturing facility in Chennai, India, this new addition to Bobcat’s backhoe loader range aims to cater to the value market, meeting the evolving needs of customers in the MEA region.
Key market demands: Bobcat’s commitment to excellence translated into record-breaking sales within the Doosan Bobcat business of the Doosan Group (excluding industrial vehicles) last year. Robust demand from key markets propelled the compact equipment and portable power segments to impressive growth rates of 20% and 24%, respectively, compared to the previous year, showcasing the company’s resilience and appeal.
Speaking about Bobcat’s operations and ambitions in the Saudi market, Gaby Rhayem, Regional Director, Middle East-Africa-CIS at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, says: “Doosan Bobcat has been a strong player in Saudi Arabia for many years now and continues to be so. The company is ready to provide all the services and solutions it can for all projects, including the giga developments in the kingdom. We are closely following the schedule of all the prestigious Saudi developments – from Neom and the Line to all the cleaning and maintenance projects.
“We are ready to provide the necessary support to these projects, supplying machines and executing all support activities for those units with our dealers in Saudi Arabia. Today we distribute our products through a solid, experienced and professional dealer network in Saudi Arabia, with GTE as our Bobcat dealer, Saudi Diesel as our forklift and generators dealer and Tamgo as the dealer for our portable power and compressors range.
“With such strong representatives in the kingdom, we are ready to tackle all works and projects in the coming months and years. We have a very comprehensive package of products and services for our customers in Saudi Arabia, including the Bobcat range of compact equipment; a complete line of diesel, gas and electric forklifts from 2.5-25 ton, with an upcoming hydrogen range; plus a warehousing range of pallet and reach trucks, stackers and order pickers as well as diesel generators from 20-850 kV and an established range of portable compressor and lighting towers.”
An essential move within the company was the rebranding of DIV’s product line-up under the Bobcat umbrella. This transformation also extended to Doosan Portable Power (DPP), a globally recognised manufacturer of air compressors, mobile generators and light towers. This strategic shift and rebranding of the industrial vehicle and portable power equipment lines looks to enhance brand equity further, reinforce market recognition, and deliver a consistent customer experience, further expanding the organisation’s footprint.
Leading the electrification revolution
Bobcat’s commitment to sustainable innovation is evident through its electrification initiatives. The introduction of the E19e 2-tonne electric mini-excavator at Bauma 2022, coupled with ground-breaking creations such as the S7X and the RogueX, also reflects Bobcat’s leadership in transitioning the industry towards electric construction equipment. Moreover, these follow on from the 2022 release of the Bobcat T7X, the world’s first all-electric compact track loader.
The manufacturer also expects to continue its electrification journey and intends to go beyond just being a presence in this area by looking at developing further unique and innovative opportunities it can bring to its customers.
As Bobcat announces the launch of the new B730 M-Series Backhoe Loader, the brand’s ongoing electrification endeavours, leadership advancements, and strategic expansions are a testament to its enduring position as a trailblazer in the industry. Bobcat’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction continues to fuel its journey towards shaping the future of construction and material handling solutions.