Commercial vehicle specialist MC Truck & Bus has launched a new division in partnership with heavy machinery manufacturing giant SANY. MC Plant has won the franchise to undertake the sales, support service and repairs of SANY excavators and other plant for Kent, Surrey & East Sussex. The move comes as SANY
A freestanding luffing jib tower crane has been increased in height to 105 metres by Bennetts Cranes on a luxury residential development in Fulham, London. This is understood to be the tallest freestanding luffing jib crane in operation in the UK currently, meaning it is not tied to the building.
The rollout of the Next Generation Cat® D5 Dozer has well and truly begun, with customers in Wales setting the pace. Plant hire and construction firms including Gravelle Plant Hire, Locke Brothers, Hywel Llewellyn Plant Hire and Alun Griffiths (part of the CRH Group) took deliveries from Finning UK &
CEMEX has announced that it is investing US$25 million in a new system to replace fossil fuels at its Rugby cement plant in the United Kingdom, as part of its “Future in Action” program to achieve carbon neutrality. The new system, which incorporates the use of green hydrogen in the
Family run plant hire and waste disposal company Buckland Newton Hire (BNH) is now the proud owner of the UK’s first next generation Cat® 313 GC, courtesy of Finning UK & Ireland, the region’s exclusive Cat dealer. BNH purchased the machine specifically to meet the long-term hire needs of a
Norwest Plant, Mecalac’s official dealer for North Wales and the North West of England, has agreed a multi-million pound deal with B&W Plant Hire to add 71 state-of-the-art site dumpers to its fleet in 2021. Headquartered in Blackburn and operating from rental sites in Keighley, Northwich and Southampton, B&W Plant
Family run plant hire and waste disposal company Buckland Newton Hire (BNH) is now the proud owner of the UK’s first next generation Cat® 313 GC, courtesy of Finning UK & Ireland, the region’s exclusive Cat dealer. BNH purchased the machine specifically to meet the long-term hire needs of a
Compaction applications are a required part of numerous industries, and no construction site is complete without a soil and asphalt compactor. To meet this demand, Bobcat has launched the company‘s new Light Compaction Product Line, in collaboration with the Ammann Group, a brand known for its comfort and productivity. This
Hiab, part of Cargotec, will supply MV Commercial in the UK with 100 light, medium and heavy range HIAB loader cranes equipped with HiConnect™. The deal is worth over EUR 5.7 million including installation for 60 cranes and has been booked in the 1st quarter of 2021. MV Commercial provides
You’re sure to notice a skid-steer loader or a Bobcat near a construction site, farm, or park. You can use these machines for anything from transporting logistics to pouring cement to leveling land if needed. The total North American skid steer and compact track loader market are projected to be
Commercial vehicle specialist MC Truck & Bus has launched a new division in partnership with heavy machinery manufacturing giant SANY. MC Plant has won the franchise to undertake the sales, support service and repairs of SANY excavators and other plant for Kent, Surrey & East Sussex. The move comes as SANY continues to establish a regional dealer network across England and Wales after its arrival in the UK in 2015. New jobs will be created with MC Plant currently hiring specialist technicians and the division will grow organically as business expands. MC Plant will be headquartered at one of the group’s main bases in Larkfield, Maidstone, with support from the company’s existing dealerships in Burgess Hill, Hythe and Aylesford. All new and used machinery will be sold from Larkfield – the first stock is already on the ground – with mobile technicians working from each site. The new division is headed up by MC Truck & Bus’s hugely experienced truck and plant sales manager Paul Cogger. He said: “There are very few dual truck and plant dealers in the UK and so this exciting new venture will not only strengthen links with the industries we serve with our current brands but also create dynamic new synergies. This new focus will undoubtedly reinforce relationships with existing and new customers. Our aim is to provide our customers with continuity through their business by offering plant and commercial vehicle services. “We were honoured when SANY approached us and feel our business foundation of strong service and customer-focused solutions will stand us in good stead. SANY is a global brand in the construction industry, well known for producing many products from excavators and loading shovels to cranes and concrete machinery. Their quality plant, allied to our experience, will lead us to our goal of being the number one excavator & plant supplier in the South East.” SANY, founded in Lianyuan, Hunan province in central China in 1986 and now headquartered in Beijing, has 25 manufacturing bases and 18 overseas regional headquarters and works with 8,000 suppliers and 400 dealers. SANY ranks among the top three global construction machinery manufacturers, offers an industry leading five year warranty across its full range of excavators sold in the UK. Established in 1987, independently-owned MC Group is a complete commercial vehicle solutions provider and asset management company. It is comprised of MC Truck and Bus Ltd and MC Rental Ltd. The company, which hires out, sells, services and maintains commercial vehicles from seven locations across Essex, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, employs 380 staff and has a rental fleet of more than 2,800 vehicles. MC Group, praised for keeping essential transport services running during the Covid-19 pandemic, was last year named 190th in the prestigious Sunday Times’ special edition of its Top Track 250 listings with sales up nine per cent at £131.8 million. With strong family links across generations, the company also has its own training school. It offers a comprehensive range of services to the commercial vehicle industry, including new and used truck sales, servicing, repairs contract maintenance and preventative maintenance and parts.
A freestanding luffing jib tower crane has been increased in height to 105 metres by Bennetts Cranes on a luxury residential development in Fulham, London. This is understood to be the tallest freestanding luffing jib crane in operation in the UK currently, meaning it is not tied to the building. Bennetts, a specialist tower crane company based in Gloucestershire, erected the Raimondi LR 213 tower crane in August 2020 at Chelsea Creek, where a selection of Manhattan, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes is being built by St George, part of Berkeley Group. The height is not extraordinary for a crane, with tower cranes that are tied to buildings going to much greater heights than this. However, the crane is unique at this height because it is freestanding and a luffing jib crane. Typical freestanding luffing jib cranes would be between 30 – 60 metres tall for residential developments, with some occasionally reaching 70 metres or more. There are currently none known to be operating in the UK freestanding at over 100 metres. Between 3 – 4 April, a team from Bennetts Cranes used a 1,000 tonne mobile crane to add mast sections and increase the height of the LR 213 from 55 metres to 105 metres. The crane has base towers that are 4.6 metres square (more than double the typical freestanding crane tower of around 2 metres) to withstand the forces at such a height. Edward Seager, Managing Director of Bennetts Cranes, said: “When you double the height of a tower crane, the forces don’t just double, they square, so one of the ways to counteract that is to use a much wider tower base to spread the forces and make it more stable. This base, which is concreted into the ground, is extremely strong and has been brought in specifically for this job. He added: “We were pleased to increase the height of the crane to its final height of 105 metres over the Easter weekend, with good weather, enabling us to complete it within two days.” There has been a steady trend towards using taller freestanding cranes in recent years, driven by changes in cladding systems. Tying cranes to buildings can obstruct cladding being applied and some developers want to attach them during the build without having crane ties in the way. Mr Seager said: “Freestanding cranes can also provide more flexibility on site, and result in a quicker build time because you don’t need to climb the crane and tie it to the building. There are positives and negatives on both sides, because freestanding cranes are typically more expensive as they need to be reinforced to withstand forces, but the hire time can be reduced with a more efficient build.” The LR 213 is working on site with two further cranes including a LR 273, one of Raimondi’s newest luffing jib cranes with an 18 tonne maximum load capacity, and a 10 tonne capacity hydraulic Raimondi LRH174.
The rollout of the Next Generation Cat® D5 Dozer has well and truly begun, with customers in Wales setting the pace. Plant hire and construction firms including Gravelle Plant Hire, Locke Brothers, Hywel Llewellyn Plant Hire and Alun Griffiths (part of the CRH Group) took deliveries from Finning UK & Ireland and quickly put their new machines to work. It’s been just over a year since Caterpillar launched the all new D5 Dozer, the successor to the popular Cat D6N, and the benefits are already clear to businesses across the UK. The new machine offers superior performance, backed by a broad choice of technology features, so operators can really get the most from their bulldozer. With harness added weight and horsepower of 170, it is equipped to take on a wide range of dozing and grading tasks. Improvements to the steering, transmission and balance make it easier than ever for operators to perform high quality work more quickly. One happy customer is Locke Brothers, which bought a new D5 after being impressed with the technology offered as standard and has successfully put it to work. Having purchased its first D4 from Finning in 2004, the D5 marked its first investment in a brand new Dozer. After hiring the machine for a week from Gravelle Plant Hire, who were the first company to purchase the D5 in Wales, Locke Brothers took the plunge and purchased a machine for itself. “The technology blew competitor models out of the water,” said Keith Locke, Director at Locke Brothers. “The value add from Caterpillar and Finning including the five year, 5000-hour warranty, VisionLink connectivity and a Customer Value Agreement that included five services, sealed the deal. We’ve fallen in love with the D5, it has supported us through extremely busy periods of agriculture work.” “We’ve chosen Cat Dozers since 1978 when my late father founded the company — and we still love them today,” said Peter Gravelle, Director of Gravelle Plant Hire, the company that took the first D5 delivery in Wales. “We’ve had great driver feedback on the D5, with operators preferring the larger cab and benefitting from the increased power. We’ve found it is excellent on fuel consumption too.” “The D5 brings all the advantages of the D6N, and then some,” said Iwan Jenkins, Territory Account Manager for the Wales Region at Finning UK & Ireland. “It offers incredible technology, better performance and more durability and uptime, so operators can do more work in less time. It is exciting to watch the D5’s domination of the market taking off in Wales and see how beneficial our Customer Value Agreements are.” The Cat Dozer range is gradually being renamed from smallest to largest — D1 to D11 — so that there is one model per class size. For more information on the D5, click here. If you are interested in hearing more about Finning’s Customer Value Agreements, click here.
CEMEX has announced that it is investing US$25 million in a new system to replace fossil fuels at its Rugby cement plant in the United Kingdom, as part of its “Future in Action” program to achieve carbon neutrality. The new system, which incorporates the use of green hydrogen in the production process, is expected to be fully operational in June 2021. Once completed, it will have the capability to operate at 100% with alternative fuels. This important investment is designed to reduce the site’s consumption of fossil fuels. CEMEX is one of the largest contributors to the circular economy and a leader in using alternative fuels with over 60% use across its European operations, significantly higher than the industry average. In the UK, CEMEX also obtains 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. The project, which is part of a US$100 million investment program in the UK that has contributed towards reducing CO2 emissions from European operations by 35% from 1990 levels, 10 years ahead of its global business target, is instrumental towards reaching its commitment of at least 55% CO2 reduction in European operations by 2030, in line with the European Commission´s aspiration for all its member states. “We believe that this very significant investment in this upgraded facility supports CEMEX’s position to minimise the use of fossil fuels for both environmental and economic reasons. It will enable the Rugby plant to consistently operate with up to 100% alternative fuels, which will contribute to our climate action targets,” said Sergio Menendez, President of CEMEX Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia.
Family run plant hire and waste disposal company Buckland Newton Hire (BNH) is now the proud owner of the UK’s first next generation Cat® 313 GC, courtesy of Finning UK & Ireland, the region’s exclusive Cat dealer. BNH purchased the machine specifically to meet the long-term hire needs of a recycling customer, as the new machine enables high productivity at lower running costs. The next generation 313 GC offers increased power and is designed to boost operator efficiency. It also lowers maintenance costs making it popular for rental and all-round excavating applications that require reliability. It includes two modes, Smart and Power, as well as a new, larger cab with improved ingress/egress to boost operator comfort. BNH’s fleet consists almost exclusively of Cat equipment and the 313 GC is not the only new addition. The company has also ordered its first wheel loader, a 950 GC, to arrive later this year. The 950 GC is a versatile, reliable machine with a high power density Cat 7.1 engine, the automatic Cat regeneration system and unmatched reliability and uptime. Both GC machines have been purchased with service contracts, so Finning can guarantee a low cost of ownership. Alongside its purchase of the 313 GC and 950 GC, BNH ordered a fleet of twelve machines from Finning, to support the launch of a new facility in December 2020. This included the company’s first dozer, a D6. “We are always looking for ways to improve and upgrade our fleet,” explained Brad Perrett, Manager at BNH. “The 313 GC is a natural evolution — it means we can maintain our competitive pricing, while offering all the creature comforts of Cat. I was impressed with the simplicity of the design, it is an easy-to-use, powerful, nice looking machine. “Our customers are looking for reliable, durable products,” added Perrett. “We have worked with Finning for over 30 years and see Cat as central to our brand — it’s the thing that makes us stand out locally. Our customers are raving about the next generation Cat equipment — people love them!” “The GC series is a way for companies to become Cat owners at really competitive price points,” explained Jack Cezair, Territory Account Manager at Finning. “They bring many benefits to plant hire companies, as they deliver clear return on investment and means they can become a Cat owner for less than they think. Operators enjoy the comfortable cab design, increase their productivity, while saving on fuel and maintenance costs. We are encouraging others in the industry to challenge their realities and follow suit.” The GC series includes the 313 GC Small Excavator, 315 GC, 320 GC Medium Excavator and the 950 GC Medium Wheel Loader. All four are designed to offer the reliability and durability of Cat products, while offering affordability and lower running costs. For more information on the GC series of equipment, visit https://equipmentuk.finning.com/gcseries/.
Norwest Plant, Mecalac’s official dealer for North Wales and the North West of England, has agreed a multi-million pound deal with B&W Plant Hire to add 71 state-of-the-art site dumpers to its fleet in 2021. Headquartered in Blackburn and operating from rental sites in Keighley, Northwich and Southampton, B&W Plant Hire’s four depots service construction, agriculture and earthworks professionals across the country. With deliveries spread across 2021, the new dumpers will provide hire customers with access to the latest industry innovations and equipment technologies. Jonathan Campbell, Managing Director of Norwest Plant, commented: “With a hard-earned reputation for service excellence and equipment reliability, the B&W Plant Hire team wanted to expand their fleet with the market’s best site dumpers. “Blending style, performance, technology and safety, Mecalac’s range was deemed the perfect solution. Robust and rental-tough, each model offers class-leading skip strength and a chassis engineered for rugged reliability. We look forward to working closely with B&W Plant Hire throughout 2021, ensuring each new dumper meets exacting standards.” Andrew Partington, General Manager at B&W Plant Hire, added: “Our customers demand the best – and we pride ourselves on delivering over and above expectations. With Mecalac’s site dumper range, we were impressed with the build quality, design and safety technologies included as standard. The 71 new models will be a welcome addition to our fleet – we’re confident that feedback from our customers will be equally as positive.” Paul Macpherson, Commercial Director at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, concluded: “Flexible, versatile and intuitive, Mecalac site dumpers really are the market leaders. To see one of the UK’s leading private hire companies place a significant order through Norwest Plant is not just a testament to the excellent equipment we make, but also the outstanding service our dealers provide.” For more information about Mecalac, or the company’s innovative portfolio of compact construction equipment, visit https://www.mecalac.com/en/.
Family run plant hire and waste disposal company Buckland Newton Hire (BNH) is now the proud owner of the UK’s first next generation Cat® 313 GC, courtesy of Finning UK & Ireland, the region’s exclusive Cat dealer. BNH purchased the machine specifically to meet the long-term hire needs of a recycling customer, as the new machine enables high productivity at lower running costs. The next generation 313 GC offers increased power and is designed to boost operator efficiency. It also lowers maintenance costs making it popular for rental and all-round excavating applications that require reliability. It includes two modes, Smart and Power, as well as a new, larger cab with improved ingress/egress to boost operator comfort. BNH’s fleet consists almost exclusively of Cat equipment and the 313 GC is not the only new addition. The company has also ordered its first wheel loader, a 950 GC, to arrive later this year. The 950 GC is a versatile, reliable machine with a high power density Cat 7.1 engine, the automatic Cat regeneration system and unmatched reliability and uptime. Both GC machines have been purchased with service contracts, so Finning can guarantee a low cost of ownership. Alongside its purchase of the 313 GC and 950 GC, BNH ordered a fleet of twelve machines from Finning, to support the launch of a new facility in December 2020. This included the company’s first dozer, a D6. “We are always looking for ways to improve and upgrade our fleet,” explained Brad Perrett, Manager at BNH. “The 313 GC is a natural evolution — it means we can maintain our competitive pricing, while offering all the creature comforts of Cat. I was impressed with the simplicity of the design, it is an easy-to-use, powerful, nice looking machine. “Our customers are looking for reliable, durable products,” added Perrett. “We have worked with Finning for over 30 years and see Cat as central to our brand — it’s the thing that makes us stand out locally. Our customers are raving about the next generation Cat equipment — people love them!” “The GC series is a way for companies to become Cat owners at really competitive price points,” explained Jack Cezair, Territory Account Manager at Finning. “They bring many benefits to plant hire companies, as they deliver clear return on investment and means they can become a Cat owner for less than they think. Operators enjoy the comfortable cab design, increase their productivity, while saving on fuel and maintenance costs. We are encouraging others in the industry to challenge their realities and follow suit.” The GC series includes the 313 GC Small Excavator, 315 GC, 320 GC Medium Excavator and the 950 GC Medium Wheel Loader. All four are designed to offer the reliability and durability of Cat products, while offering affordability and lower running costs. For more information on the GC series of equipment, visit https://equipmentuk.finning.com/gcseries/.
Compaction applications are a required part of numerous industries, and no construction site is complete without a soil and asphalt compactor. To meet this demand, Bobcat has launched the company‘s new Light Compaction Product Line, in collaboration with the Ammann Group, a brand known for its comfort and productivity. This latest expansion of the Bobcat product range under the company’s Next is Now banner is designed to meet work requirements on almost any compaction job site. Machine specifications include state of the art technologies that allow maximum performance, while not compromising on comfort, safety and simplicity of use. Altogether, the Bobcat light compaction range comprises seven different product families and will ultimately offer 37 models, from vibratory rammers weighing 29 kg up to 2.6 tonne tandem rollers. Mike Vought, Senior Director for Product Management at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “The launch of the complete compaction line-up is part of the exciting diversification strategy under our innovative Next is Now umbrella. Along with product innovations this is another driver on the way to achieving our vision – becoming the world leader in the compact equipment market. To accomplish our goals, even in the extremely difficult year of 2020, we introduced an unprecedented number of new products and technologies and we will continue this in 2021. “Compaction is one of the completely new product categories together with wheel loaders, that Bobcat introduced in 2020. This expansion was complemented by significant developments in the market-leading mini-excavator, rotary and rigid frame telehandler, skid-steer and compact track loader and backhoe loader ranges from Bobcat.” The Bobcat Light Compaction Range includes: • Vibratory rammers • Vibratory forward plates • Reversible vibratory plates • Hydrostatic plates • Walk behind rollers • Trench rollers • Tandem rollers Light compaction machines can be used in a wide range of applications, such as: Construction – Light compactors increase soil strength, improve stability and load bearing capacity by removing voids and interlocking soil particles. Roadwork – Compacting asphalt and base materials improves their capacity to withstand heavy traffic and improves their general durability. Landscaping – Rammers and forward plates are used for gardening and other landscaping applications, as their compact size and low weight ensures they are easy to move between job sites. Vibratory Rammers The Bobcat line-up of vibratory rammers consists of six models – the R30, R60, R68, R60P, R68P and R70D from 29 to 89 kg and is intended for small compaction works for trenches, drainage and pipelines. Due to their ease of transport they are often used for road maintenance as well. They are suitable for compacting mixed soils, sand, gravel materials, loam and clay. All Bobcat vibratory rammers come with a reduced vibration handle and a state-of-the-art CAD calculated weight distribution, ensuring maximum safety and operator comfort. The R60 and the models above also include an integrated height adjustment system. Vibratory Forward Plates There are also six different vibratory forward plates, which are suitable for compacting sand, gravel, lean concrete, bitumen coated gravel and paving stones. Again, their compact size makes them easy to transport between job sites, and ideal for compaction in tight spaces (trenches, pipelines and sidewalks) and even landscaping. The FP10.33, FP12.40, FP15.40, FP15.50, FP20.50 and FP20.50D models are the smallest products in the Bobcat vibratory plate offering, ranging from 54 to 115 kg. The smart engineering design of the handles protects the operator from unwanted vibration, while the machine frame enables a secure grip and easy machine control. Reversible Vibratory Plates Bobcat reversible vibratory plates are suitable for jobs mainly in civil engineering and road construction. They can easily compact all ground materials, such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, concrete and sett paving. With machine weights from 109 to 490 kg, there are 12 models in the range – the RP22.40, RP22.40D, RP25.40D, RP25.50D, RP30.50, RP30.50D, RP30.60, RP30.60D, RP40.60, RP40.60D, RP49.20D and RP59.20D. All Bobcat reversible plates operate with a twin-shaft system, enabling change of direction during compaction. The twin-shaft technology also results in dual weight and a better compaction force. Hydrostatic steering controls guarantee ease of operation and a quick change in compaction direction. Hydrostatic Plates Complementing the rest of the compaction plate range, there are four hydrostatic plates – the HP50.75, HP55.75, HP60.85 and HP65.85 models – weighing between 450 and 582 kg. Hydrostatic plates are designed for heavier compaction work in civil engineering and road construction. They can compact all ground materials – such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, asphalt and sett paving – with ease. The Bobcat hydrostatic plate line-up relies on a fully hydraulic system that does not require a V-belt. They operate with a dual (HP50.75 and HP60.85) or unique triple shaft (HP55.75 and HP65.85) excitation system for maximum compaction output and unbeatable climbing ability. Walk Behind Rollers Walk behind rollers are versatile machines, suitable for compacting bituminous material but also for light earthwork and other compaction tasks. Bobcat offers the WR65 model in two versions offering a choice between Hatz or Yanmar engines, both equipped with dual drums for maximum compaction. They are fully hydraulic machines, with an integrated water sprinkler system as standard. The Bobcat walk behind rollers are also equipped with dual amplitude settings, enabling a change between soil/gravel and asphalt/bituminous compaction in just seconds. Trench Rollers Trench rollers are mainly designed for trench compaction as their name suggests. Bobcat is offering the 1340 kg TR75 (articulated) and 1305 kg TR85S (skid-steered) models. They also cover a wide range of other applications such as pipeline construction, electric and other cable installations, whilst commercial or industrial developments and even dumpsite and landfill jobsites can take great advantage of these machines. They can be used for soil, sand or gravel compaction and can even tackle hard to compact materials such as clay. Tandem Rollers Tandem rollers are used for larger surfaces of sub-base, asphalt or other ground materials. They are mostly present in small to medium commercial development sites and road construction sites. Bobcat is looking to offer a range of five articulated ride-on
Hiab, part of Cargotec, will supply MV Commercial in the UK with 100 light, medium and heavy range HIAB loader cranes equipped with HiConnect™. The deal is worth over EUR 5.7 million including installation for 60 cranes and has been booked in the 1st quarter of 2021. MV Commercial provides sales and leasing for commercial vehicles, and has become one of the biggest national suppliers of specialist loader cranes. Founded in 2001, last year the business was named the UK Independent Dealer of the Year 2020. Steven Cairns Managing Director for MV Commercial: “This deal is testament to the excellent working relationship we have with the team at Hiab. MV Commercial has one of the UK’s best fleets of ready to go specialist crane units with annual specialist truck supply in the hundreds of units, so it is vital for our business model that we maintain a good level of high-quality equipment ready to meet our customers’ needs. This deal will grow our industry leading position and expand our fleet with high-quality equipment ready to meet our customers’ needs. “Partnering with Hiab allows us to offer our customers top end premium equipment that we can all rely on, and the service support packages give our customers extra peace of mind wherever they are in the UK.” Ian Mitchell, Director, Sales & Services, UK & Ireland: “Working closely with MV Commercial to develop a strategic partnership has been instrumental in our UK-wide growth plans. I expect there will be greater interest in the rental sector for truck mounted cranes as businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit, so we’re proud to be partnering with one the UK’s leading leasing companies to give businesses greater choice.” Currently 60% of the cranes are contracted to be installed at Hiab’s own installation sites in the UK. MV Commercial and its customers can receive after-sales service from Hiab’s extensive service network in the UK and Ireland throughout the entire equipment lifecycle. “This is a significant deal for Hiab, which will generate an ongoing pipeline of work for us from parts, service and repairs for up to ten years,” adds Ian Mitchell. HiConnect™ enhances the productivity of Hiab customer’s businesses through connected Hiab equipment. The technology provides real-time insights into equipment utilisation, operation and condition. This data can be used to actively optimise performance, safety and avoid unnecessary downtime. Web-based dashboards with clear and simple overviews provide status monitoring, service planning and help improve the operation of each unit and operator.
You’re sure to notice a skid-steer loader or a Bobcat near a construction site, farm, or park. You can use these machines for anything from transporting logistics to pouring cement to leveling land if needed. The total North American skid steer and compact track loader market are projected to be around $9 billion by 2024. But, you may not know that they come in various sizes. So there are small and large Bobcats. If you’re looking to buy a small Bobcat, then this article is for you. Learn everything you need to know. Manufacturers and Dealers Most people refer to skid-steer loaders simply as Bobcats. But Bobcat is a brand and not a product category. There are dozens of other companies out there that offer skid-steer loaders. The brands include John Deere, Caterpillar, Gehl, JCB, among others. The companies work with independent dealers. When looking for the best small skid-steer loader, you need to consider both the manufacturer and the dealer. The manufacturer matters because it is responsible for the product’s quality, while the dealer matters because they will help you find the right options. With that said, the subsequent sections will help you answer how to pick the right Bobcat for your purpose. Consider the Size Since you’re looking for a small skid-steer loader, you first should consider the size. The loaders range from compact machines weighing about 1500 pounds to heavy-duty loaders weighing over 2,500 pounds. When selecting the right size, you should inspect your open spaces. Do you have adequate open spaces to accommodate large machinery? If not, then moving a large skid-steer loader through tight spaces could slow down your work. Small loaders are perfect for demolition work, farm use, and transportation. They can also fit into the build-up urban area conditions. When using a small machine, you’ll get less than 50 horsepower. If you need more horsepower, then it’s better to opt for a large or mid-range Bobcat. So consult with your dealer about the size. Vertical Lift or Radial Lift Irrespective of whether you’re buying a small Bobcat or a large one, you need to decide whether you need a vertical lift or a radial lift. If your purpose is to do more grading work or dirt work, then a radial design is ideal. Due to their lift path, they also have superior mid-height reach. But if your job mostly involves loading, carrying, and transporting stuff, then Bobcats with vertical lift are great. Rated Operating Capacity You must look at the Rate Operation Capacity or ROC if you’re purchasing a small Bobcat. ROC defines the amount of load a skid steer can handle before tipping. Smaller units generally have a lower ROC. So you need to ensure that Bobcat’s ROC is higher than the work requirement. Type of Attachments The skid-steer loaders work with a variety of attachments. So you need to check the type of attachments you’d need in both the short term and long term. These requirements will determine the size of the machine and the horsepower. Small loaders have less horsepower, and hence they can drive only a handful of attachments. The small capacity also affects the hydraulic power you can generate. So if you’re buying a smaller Bobcat, your requirements shouldn’t be too big. What to Look for In Dealers? Last but not least, you should consider the reputation of the dealer you’re going to buy the Bobcat from. Ideally, they should have a good reputation and years of experience servicing the loaders. Furthermore, it’d be helpful if the dealer is located in the same town or city as you are. So that whenever a need arises, you don’t have to drive long to get it done. So whether you’re purchasing a small Bobcat or a large one, it’s essential to keep the above things in mind. With proper maintenance, they will surely last decades.