With attachments, you can basically do all work with one machine

Bobcat sees it as its mission to enable its customers to perform all their jobs quickly and efficiently. That is why Bobcat offers not only an extensive range of attachments, but also a series of compact machines, which were actually intended to be tool carriers from the beginning. The machine power, coupling systems, hydraulics and Attachment Control Device (ACD) are all designed to allow attachments to be changed quickly and many jobs to be done with one machine. An interview with Katinka Kincses, Attachments program manager at Bobcat.

"For gardeners and landscapers, the obvious choice is to use specialized machines like a riding mower if that machine can do the same job all day. That's why we added mowers to our portfolio last year," says Kincses, "But especially for all-round companies, a multi-purpose tool carrier is a wise investment because it allows you to do more work and projects and work all year round, so you use the machine more intensively. You often see a new customer buy a machine with three or four attachments and gradually add another three or four attachments, so they can do all the work with one machine," she says. 

"We supply an extensive range of some 120 different attachments, most of which can be used on any Bobcat machine. We have attachments for demolition, forestry, agriculture and material handling, but the range is particularly wide for landscaping and road construction. Many attachments such as buckets, grabs, clamps, pallet forks, roller brooms, doser blades, graders, rakes, flail mowers, trenchers, drills and breakers are general-purpose attachments. But in addition, we have specialized attachments such as, for example, a vibratory roller, a concrete mixer, a concrete cube, an asphalt cutter, a high-pressure cleaner, a work platform, a branch chipper and even a tree transplanter."

Bobcat has integrated into its machines and attachments a lot of functionality for connection and operation. The Bobtach system for coupling attachments is now standard in the market, but since 2000 the Power Bobtach system has also been available, which allows the driver to (dis)connect non-hydraulic attachments without leaving the cab. Another, convenient feature is the speed management system, which allows the travel speed to be adjusted independently of the attachment's drive, thus enabling higher productivity.

The Attachment Control Device (ACD) is built into the attachment. It is a CANbus system, which controls communication between the machine and the attachment. Thanks to ACD, the machine recognizes the attachment and automatically adjusts the settings of the joystick controls and hydraulics, among others. On the display inside the machine, the driver can adjust the settings and get an overview of the operating hours, performance and status of the attachment. If an operator uses a remote control on a machine, all functions for controlling the attachment are also automatically available on it.

Kincses recommends that its customers use Bobcat attachments for a Bobcat machine. "Our machines and our attachments are optimally matched and tested. Then you can be sure that the software of the attachment is up-to-date; that the hydraulics are powerful enough; that all functions work optimally and can be operated using the joysticks and buttons in the cab. If there are technical problems, Bobcat solves them and you are not between two suppliers pointing fingers at each other for warranty."

A good example of the alignment between machine and attachment is the combination of the FRC 200XT tiller and the S86 or T86 skid-steer loader. This is because these machines have an optional high-flow function and a super-flow function, which increases the standard flow rate of the auxiliary hydraulics from 87 l/min to 138 l/min or 159 l/min. To use the boom cutter, a special ready-to-use forestry kit must also be installed on the loader, which protects the engine, machine, couplings and operator. 

As Attachments product manager, Kincses is responsible for product development, marketing, ancillary services and training. "I consider my department the voice of the customer. We identify his needs and do field research to develop new attachments and new features. Many companies are struggling with staff shortages, so you have to offer alternatives to human labor. Ease of use and automation are becoming increasingly important, because even young and inexperienced employees must be able to operate machines and attachments without extensive training. Then productivity will be maintained. Look at a modern grader, for example. There is so much technology in that, that the machine and attachment can perform the work almost autonomously."