Pacific Builder & Engineer
July 21, 2008

Machinery Row

Seattle – The Bobcat 50 Years Unleashed North American Road Tour hit the Seattle area on July 15.  Bobcat Co. is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Bobcat loader in 2008, and Seattle was on the list of 23 cross-country stops that feature a traveling exhibit of historical Bobcat equipment, collectibles and memorabilia.  Local dealer Bobcat West, part of The Papé Group Inc., joined Bobcat Co. in the celebration.  The event included live product demonstrations and clinics on equipment care and maintenance.

Attendees had a chance to take home several major door prizes.  Ten prize winners qualified as finalists for The Great Road Tour Giveaway and were entered in a drawing for one of two $50,000 contractor packages.

During 2008, Bobcat is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bobcat compact equipment, which began with the Melroe Self-Propelled Loaded – a three-wheeled front-end loader – in 1958.  That machine evolved into the Bobcat skid-steer loader and spawned the worldwide compact equipment industry.  Bobcat Co., headquartered in West Fargo, N.D., is part of Doosan Infracore International, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Doosan Infracore, a global manufacturer of construction equipment.