In 2012, bobcats celebrated 25 years of success in the mini excavator. It was an important diversification for lynx, initially a major manufacturer of slide steering loaders, but over the past 25 years the company has evolved into one of the world’s leading mini excavator manufacturers, and claims to be the world leader in mini construction equipment.
The mini excavator story begins in 1987, when the brand first appeared on machines purchased under an OEM agreement. Demand was so strong, especially in Europe, that it was decided to design and build the company’s own line of excavators. In October 1988, the company debuted its first mini excavator in partnership with a Japanese manufacturer and introduced it to European distributors in Da Balaia, Portugal. In 1989, Lynx began producing its own mini excavator at a plant in Otto von Bismarck, North Dakota.
Throughout the 1990s, Lynx has added larger models to its range of excavators. In the spring of 1998,5 t 337 and 341 long arm variants were added to the production line, with 337 exhibited for the first time in Bauma in 1998. This allowed the mini excavator to expand its range to four core models: 320,325,331 and 337.
On the sampler in 1999, the lynx excavator product line reached another important milestone with the introduction of the first excavator model 322 with an expandable chassis.
Another significant development during the 2002 season was the addition of 7.5 tons of type 442 excavators. The 442 represents an important extension not only in terms of operating weight and depth of excavation, but also the first bobcat excavator with zero tail swing.
With the addition of 4.5 tons of 435 and 435 fast track models in 2003, the range of Bobcat zero-tail wagging excavators was expanded and smaller 3.5 tons of 430 and 430 fast track zero-tail wagging excavators were introduced in 2004.
The expansion of the production line continued in 2007 with the introduction of smaller models 425 and 428, with operating weights ranging from 2 to 3 tons. All of these excavator models blend hydraulic control with speed and excavation force height response to provide superior productivity.
Recently, as a complement to the launch of new products, China is determined to design and produce products that meet the needs of its customers in the local market. Launched in early 2006, the 1.4-ton 319 excavator is the first product designed and manufactured to meet the needs of Lynx customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, it shows the importance that people attach to listening to their customers’voices, says mini excavator, an associate professor of business administration at the University of California, San Diego.
In 2001, LYNX ACQUIRED SUPERSTAV S. R. O. A small loader factory in the Czech Republic. The acquisition is a key stepping stone to building mini excavator, small loader and accessory manufacturing capacity in Europe. Initially, only selected high-capacity accessories such as buckets and backhoes were manufactured. However, in 2004, the loader-forklift production line was halted, freeing up capacity for the production of mini equipment. Production of the 553 loader began in late 2004, and mini excavator began more than a year later.
In order to meet the rapidly growing demand from local markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, a brand-new Greenfield plant was built in Dobris and a new training facility was built near the plant, provide product, sales, after-sales service and other types of training to distributors and key customers in Europe, Africa and Africa. Work on these facilities was completed in the summer of 2007 and the new plant and training facilities were inaugurated in September 2007.
In early 2008, Bobcat introduced the first model of the e series excavators: The E08 and E10 mini excavators, designed and built at the Dobris plant. Easy to transport, the E08 and E10 mini excavators are the smallest in the bobcat family.
At the other end of the range, bobcat introduced the new E60, the company’s first 6-ton model, the E80, a new 8-ton model and the first 5.5-ton e55w wheeled excavator.
The next generation of the e series is the all-new 3-ton excavator, 3.2-ton E32 with traditional tail swing and 3.5-ton E35 with zero tail swing models.
Following these products, bobcat introduced the E14 and E16 mini excavators, replacing the 319,321 and 323 excavators.
Bobcat E45 and E50 Zero Tail Swing mini excavator in Bauma 2010.
In 2011, based on a platform similar to the E50 zero tail swing model, the Bobcat introduced the traditional E55 mini excavator superstructure. In addition, a new 2.6 ton E26 mini excavator was launched and a new e-generation machine was completed. Replacing the 425,428 and 430 models, the E26 offers all the benefits of the e series: High Reliability, Superior Operational Comfort, smooth and precise working group operation and superior hydraulic performance.
Twenty five years on, bobcat’s mini excavator set the world standard for performance, quality, reliability, and durability. The series currently includes 13 different models of mini excavators, operating between 1-8 tons, including traditional and zero-tail swing designs.
