Bobcat Demo Days 2024: A Day Full of Attractive Innovations and Equipment Tryouts

More than 700 invited customers, dealers, suppliers and journalists gathered in Dobříš near Prague, where the Doosan Bobcat EMEA headquarters is located, to experience the true "Bobcat Experience": to see the new machines and the latest technical innovations, to take a tour of the factory, but most importantly to try out the machines personally. This year, for the first time, LECTURA was among the invited guests, represented on 25 May by its editor Patrik Eder.

The event was kicked off with a short company presentation given by Václav Krátký, Direction of Marketing at Doosan Bobcat EMEA. Did you know that Doosan originally started as a grocery store? After a brief company history, we discovered the entire product portfolio and especially new models and innovations that we were going to see during the day. It is important to note that Doosan Bobcat is also partially changing its branding strategy and from the new year, outside the Korea region, the branding of forklifts, air compressors and generators has changed from Doosan to Bobcat.

Factory Tour - Where the Magic Happens
 

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We then embarked on a factory tour which was guided by Jürgen Gremez, Training Director at Doosan Bobcat EMEA. We learned, for example, that 200 sheets of metal are processed every day in the factory using the laser cutting technology. During the production of each component, the quality of each piece is checked by comparison with a blueprint from the engineers. In addition, a Bento box system or colour coding of employees' T-shirts is used to make it clear at a glance who is working on which type of machine.

At full capacity, the Bobcat lines in Dobris are capable of producing about 999 machines per month, which is equivalent to 3 units per day. Currently, about 50% of the production capacity in Dobris is dedicated to the production of mini excavators and the remaining 50% to other types of machines.

Technical Innovations - Future Game Changers?
 

After the factory visit, we had a tour of the latest technological innovations, which are currently being tested on Bobcat machines and are considered for further development or deployment in series production. Several members of the Bobcat Innovation Lead team were available to explain everything and answer our tricky questions.

We were gradually introduced to the Digital Access software, which allows digital control of access to each machine and also to specific features and applications, or the Bobcat Operator Presence system, which uses 3D camera technology, gestures or virtual reality to track the movements and presence of the operator in the cab to prevent unwanted actions and thus increase safety and minimise the risk of accidents. Bobcat also introduced the Pedestrian Detection system, which uses cameras and AI evaluation to alert the operator of movement around the machine and eventually provide a warning of a possible collision.

Finally, the highlight was the opportunity to drive a prototype of the new TL25.60e (R-series) electric telehandler. This is essentially an electric alternative to the diesel TL25.60 model with the same productivity, 2.5 ton capacity and features. However, the advantage is the quiet operation and zero emissions, making the TL25.60e ideal for work in urban areas. Currently, this concept is able to work for about 3.5 hours on a single charge, with the aim of increasing the battery capacity to 7 hours of continuous work and upgrading from 96V to 400V battery.

Bobcat Campus Testing Area - A Sandbox for Adults
 

Playing with machines is the cherry on the top for men of any age. Bobcat knows this well and we were able to experience a large part of the product portfolio, including the latest models, in practice. There was a range of skid steer machines on display, including the new M-Series S630 and S650 Stage V models, as well as several mini excavators and crawler excavators, including the E10e electric mini excavator. These machines were also available with attachments such as hydraulic breakers, crushers or heavy-duty buckets.

Other highlights included a new range of rotary telehandlers, PG40 and PG50 generators and a PA12.7v compressor with FlexAir system. For those interested, there was also a demonstration of the T86 track loader working with a special drum mulcher attachment and forestry kit. This machine is able to clear smaller trees and mill stumps in seconds. The flow rate of this forestry cutter is 160 litres per minute.

RogueX2 - A Peek Into the Future
 

At the very end of the day, Bobcat prepared a one last surprise for the visitors of the Bobcat Demo Days 2024 and showcased the RogueX2, the futuristic concept of an autonomous wheel loader. RogueX2 is a cab-free machine designed for remote operation. The loader is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, electric drive system and features no hydraulics. RogueX2 is designed to incorporate advanced lift and tilt kinematics for smooth movement. The concept is being introduced to the public on major industry events and Bobcat is currently gathering the feedback for future development.

I would like to thank to all the Bobcat guides, who walked me through the wide portfolio of Doosan Bobcat EMEA and made my day as comfortable as possible, especially to: David Frodl – Senior Marketing Communication Manager EMEA, Jiří Karmazín – Product Manager Loaders and Lukáš Jungbauer  – Communications Lead Bobcat EMEA.

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