Unleashed in Ohio
50 Years of Compact Equipment Heritage Tour Nationwide

For one day, on June 21, the Pro Football Hall of Fame became the second best reason to visit Canton, Ohio. That morning, Bobcat’s “50 Years Unleashed” North American Road Tour rolled into town and welcomed visitors for a day of Bobcat history, prize giveaways, food and fun.

At each tour stop, a local Bobcat dealer co-hosts the event. Bobcat of Akron/Leppo Equipment hosted the tour at the Canton stop. “Bobcat approached us about a year ago and told us what they had in mind for the tour,” explained Leppo Equipment president Dale Leppo. “We thought it was a great idea and jumped at the chance to become involved.”
And become involved they did, securing a spot just outside the Pro Football Hall of Fame to set up equipment, a concession tent and even an inflatable jumper for kids. “We’re not trying to sell today,” said Leppo. “We just want to show people a good time and give them a chance to see Bobcat history.”

Visitors to the event were treated to a rolling museum featuring Bobcat collectibles and memorabilia from the last 50 years. Stand-up signage and video screens detailed Bobcat’s history, sharing the story of how a piece of equipment invented by two blacksmith brothers in 1958 would change the construction equipment industry.

When a Minnesota turkey farmer approached brothers Cyril and Louis Keller with the need for a self-propelled loader light enough to be lifted to the second floor of his barn and small enough to clean around the poles that supported the floor above, he could not have known how his request would shape an industry. Right around this time, the Keller Brothers partnered with North Dakota-based Melroe Mfg., setting the groundwork for the company that would become Bobcat.

After showcasing the Keller loader at the 1958 Minnesota State Fair, the Kellers tweaked the machine for Melroe, creating the Melroe M60 loader. The M60 was quickly succeeded by the M200 and then the M400, which was marketed under the Farmhand brand and was one of the first four-wheel skid steer loaders to be built in 1960. The M440, developed in 1962, was the original Melroe Bobcat loader and featured four-wheel drive, opening up a host of applications for the skid steer, which was originally designed for light agricultural work.
Over the years, the innovation continued and today, Bobcat is a $2 billion organization with 600 dealer locations in the United States and 300 internationally, offering an equipment lineup that has grown to include 10 product lines.

The company introduced its compact excavator in 1986 and entered the telescopic handler market in 2000 with its telescopic tool carrier. In 2001 and 2002, several new product lines were rolled out, including all-wheel steer loaders, the 2100 utility vehicle and the Toolcat utility work machine. 2003 and 2004 saw the introduction of the mini track loader (compact utility loader) and the 2300 utility vehicle. Most recently, Bobcat introduced a compact tractor.

Key pieces from the different Bobcat lines were on display at the museum, including a CT230 compact tractor and the newer skid steer models. Classic Bobcat equipment was on display as well, including the world’s first self-propelled loader, the Melroe M60, and the Bobcat 743, the most popular Bobcat model in the world.

Even as thunderclouds rolled in and weather reports threatened to shorten the day, Leppo pressed on, conducting the every-10-minute prize drawings and welcoming each new visitor to the event. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this event,” Leppo said. “Bobcat has always had a great relationship with its dealers. Part of what has made us successful is that Bobcat wants its dealers to have success. It’s good for them and it’s been great for us.”

Caterpillar Shifts Gears, Heads for Work Truck Market

The Year of the Caterpillar has been busy indeed. On June 12, Caterpillar Inc. and Navistar International Corp. announced their agreement to pursue global on-highway truck business opportunities and cooperate on a variety of engine platforms. The two companies intend to focus on global truck opportunities, including North American severe service construction trucks, as well as technology development for engines worldwide.

Caterpillar targets a 2010 introduction of a North American Cat-branded, heavy-duty truck for severe service applications, such as road construction, large infrastructure projects and oil and petroleum development.

Concurrent with this new strategic direction, Caterpillar has determined independently that it will not supply EPA 2010 compliant engines to truck and other on-highway OEMs. Caterpillar will, however, continue to provide support and service for all Caterpillar on-highway engines regardless of truck brand.

Caterpillar and Navistar intend to develop, manufacture and distribute commercial trucks in select regions outside of North America as well. The product offering would include a full line of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in both conventional and cab over designs. Additionally, the companies plan to develop mid-range engines for diesel applications such as school buses and utility trucks. This engine development would support each company’s stated path not to utilize urea-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology.

“We are pleased to be matching the formidable talents and technology leadership of two industry leaders to serve an expanding base of engine, truck and equipment customers worldwide,” said Jim Owens, Caterpillar chairman and CEO.

Case Brings the Rock to Benefit U.S. Troops

The only thing better than an outdoor rock show is an outdoor rock show for a good cause. Obviously familiar with the adage, Case Construction Equipment is set to co-sponsor the “Rockin’ for the Troops” concert on July 19 at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Ill.

The event is organized by Operation Support Our Troops — Illinois, Inc. (OSOTIL), a group formed five years ago by military families to benefit U.S. troops that are deployed overseas. The group has since grown into one of the largest military support efforts in the country.
“Case has a long history of supporting the U.S. military,” said James Hasler, vice president, Case Construction Equipment. “During the last four years, we earned contracts to provide more than 5,000 pieces of construction equipment. As recently as Christmas, we donated care packages to U.S. troops in Iraq. Sponsoring an event like this is another way to stand behind our Armed Forces.”

For the past two years, OSOTIL has partnered with “CSI: New York” star Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band to produce a sell-out crowd of 10,000 attendees.

Funds generated at the 2007 event allowed OSOTIL to: donate $75,000 to the effort to bring the first Fisher House to Illinois; donate $50,000 to Hines VA Hospital for the Poly Trauma Unit for treatment of those returning with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or blindness; ship more than 5,600 care packages to troops serving overseas; expand efforts to provide comfort, support and resources to families with deployed military members; provide welcome and support to returning veterans; and support other organizations whose mission is similar, including the USO and Operation Homefront.

“We are thrilled to have Case on board as a Rockin’ Partner,” said Deborah Rickert, president of OSOTIL. “Case supports our troops with equipment at home and abroad, and we very much appreciate the extra level of support represented by this sponsorship.”
Tickets and information are available at www.osotil.org/rockin2008.html.

Everything an ASV Fan Needs...and More

Highlighting the new color scheme and logo of the PT-Series compact track loaders and the SC-50 tracked utility vehicle, ASV is offering a range of new merchandise for hardcore and casual ASV-heads to rock. The new collection includes 18 gift and collectible items, including shirts, jackets, caps and novelty items. Each includes the new ASV logo and select items feature a stylized Posi-Track icon.

“We are excited to launch the new ASV brand and the bold new look of our machines, and now our new ASV logo merchandise,” said Del Carver, ASV director of sales and marketing. “It is a great way to help our dealers and customers proudly display their brand loyalty.”
The 2008 ASV Logo Merchandise catalog features novelty items including a stainless steel travel tumbler, black collapsible Koozie, pocket knife, pens, mini tape measure key ring and more. T-shirts and jackets are available in sizes S to 3X in a variety of styles and colors. All merchandise is supplied by Norscot Group Inc., which has a long history in the promotional merchandise business.

Norscot has established a dedicated toll free line for customers in the United States and Canada: (888) 223-5230. ASV gifts and apparel may also be purchased through the network of ASV dealerships throughout North America, Australia and New Zealand.

First Portable Light Tower Rolls off the Line at New Facility

“A blend of relief and accomplishment,” said Joe Bellomo, manager of assembly operations, describing his feelings as the first LightSource tower rolled off the assembly line at Doosan Infracore’s new facility in Statesville, N.C., on May 19.

Last December, the Korean-based manufacturer secured the Statesville location for its newly acquired Portable Power business unit, formerly Ingersoll Rand Utility Equipment. The site has 473,000 sq ft of manufacturing and office space built on approximately 97 acres of land. It is anticipated that the move will create 60 new jobs in Iredell County, N.C., with the overall number of employees at the site reaching close to 400.

The lighting product line was the first to move into the new Statesville manufacturing facility. This first symbolic product was autographed by the assembly team and will be on display at the facility.

Doosan Infracore Portable Power moved the small and medium air compressor product lines in June. Additionally, the business will move its headquarters from Davidson, N.C., to the Statesville location, as well as incorporating a number of satellite distribution centers.
The Ingersoll Rand LightSource portable light tower is one of three light tower models from Doosan Infracore Portable Power. It is specifically designed for rental and construction markets and is also a good fit for special events and disaster relief. The LightSource features a 6kw Somer generator with four 1,000-watt, metal-halide floodlights mounted on a 30-ft tower extension. The LightSource utilizes a Kubota diesel engine capable of 68 hours of continuous operation and can cover a 7-acre area depending on foot-candle requirements.

The Road to Economic Development

With unprecedented growth in transport demand, increasing traffic congestion and road safety challenges, global infrastructure is set to be central to many nations’ economic development plans.

Road machinery manufacturers figure to play an important role in the ambitious infrastructure development programs of emerging economies, according to Volvo Construction Equipment’s Pat Olney in a presentation to a group of 100 leading international trade journalists in early June. Following Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s approval of a seven-year, $570 billion program to overhaul and expand the country’s transportation infrastructure, Olney, who is president of Volvo CE’s road machinery business, commented that it was the largest infrastructure building project Russia has seen since the break up of the Soviet Union.

“Emerging nations realize that their economies’ future growth will be hobbled if they don’t invest in their transport infrastructure,” said Olney. “In addition to the 17,000 km of roads and 100 airport runways being designed in Russia, China is planning to build over 80,000 km of new highways and India is expected to invest over $300 billion on improving its road network.”

The 2007 addition of paving and compaction machinery to its product range puts Volvo CE in a strong position, providing a wide range of products across the road building process, from land clearing through excavating, earth moving, base construction and grading — up to the final paved and compacted road surface.

Olney’s comments come a week after the announcement of Russia’s largest ever investment program approved by the government. “If we don’t develop infrastructure, we won’t have a future,” said Prime Minister Putin. He added that dilapidated transportation networks act as a “brake on the economy.”

A report to the cabinet by transportation minister Igor Levitin is thought to say that as much as 70 percent of all railroads, highways, ports and airports are outdated, and that three million Russians in some 40,000 towns do not have year-round access to roads or railways.
“It’s not just developing nations that need to improve their infrastructure — a third of major roads in the United States are in a poor or mediocre condition,” Olney continued. “While far from unique among the major, largely western countries, the United States as the world’s largest economy is a good case in point. According to a report by the American Road Transportation Builders Association, traffic congestion costs the United States over $78 billion annually, causing 4.2 billion hours of delays and consuming 11 billion liters [three billion gallons] of fuel each year.

“There is also an important safety aspect to the underdevelopment of U.S. transport infrastructure,” Olney continued. “Poor road conditions contribute to a third of all highway accidents, adding a financial toll of over $200 billion each year to the human cost. In terms of road construction and renovation potential, the United States is an often overlooked sleeping giant.

“With truck freight volumes expected to increase by over 65 percent in the coming years in the United States this is also a global issue that will only get worse unless significant investments are made in improving the road network.”

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