Bobcat's journey began in 1947 with a mission to empower people through innovation. The company set out to make life easier by developing equipment, technologies, and services that help customers tackle the most challenging jobs. Bobcat’s key innovation was introducing compact equipment at a time when all machinery was large and cumbersome. This shift began in 1956 when Louis and Cyril Keller, two blacksmith brothers, were approached by a turkey farmer needing a machine to clear manure from a barn. Standard loader tractors were too heavy and inflexible for the job, inspiring the brothers to create the first three-wheeled compact loader. Overwhelmed by demand, they partnered with the Melroe brothers, marking the birth of the compact equipment industry.

Today, Bobcat is a leading manufacturer of compact equipment, including skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, mini excavators, and compact utility vehicles. They also produce a wide range of attachments, such as buckets, grapples, hydraulic breakers, telescopic handlers, and the versatile Toolcat utility machines, which are ideal for landscaping, maintenance, and snow removal.

Bobcat’s dedication to innovation and customer needs has earned them numerous accolades, including CES 2022 Innovation Awards in Vehicle Intelligence, Transportation, and Smart Cities categories, and a CES 2024 Innovation Award for Sustainability, Eco-Design, Smart Energy, and Smart Cities. They have also been recognized with Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award and as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Bobcat continues to be a global leader, with a presence in over 100 countries, staying true to its founding vision of keeping innovation at its core.