First new Bobcat S550 Skid-Steer Loader sold into UK farming
Ladebank Piggery, the family-owned pig farm based at Wrangle, north of Boston in Lincolnshire, has purchased the first Bobcat 500 platform compact loader in the UK farming industry.
New S550 skid-steer loader
Ladebank Piggery, the family-owned pig farm based at Wrangle, north of Boston in Lincolnshire, has purchased the first Bobcat 500 platform compact loader in the UK farming industry. The new S550 skid-steer loader was purchased from AMS Bobcat, the Authorised Bobcat Dealer based in Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire.
Nigel Smith, owner of Ladebank Piggery, which rears about 11,000 pigs a year for bacon production, said: “We bought our first skid-steer loader, a new Bobcat S130 model, five years ago and it has been an essential machine around the farm. Previously we had relied solely on a telehandler to help in the cleaning work on the pig pens, but Clive McQuinn of AMS Bobcat showed us how the S130 compact loader could work in the tight spaces between the pens to increase the efficiency and productivity of the cleaning work.
“Since the S130 model arrived, we have increased the space slightly between the pig pens and though it is still a confined area, this has allowed us to purchase a larger model, the brand new S550 model from Bobcat, which Clive showed us will give us more power to get the job done quicker. It is already proving to be the perfect machine for the job.”
The S550 skid-steer loader has been supplied with a 68 inch bucket and has the dexterity to operate in the cramped areas between the pens, clearing pig waste out so that it can be stockpiled before being spread on the fields as manure.
High manoeuvrability
With a rated operating capacity (ISO 14397-1) of 894 kg, the S550 model is a radius lift path loader powered by the 4-cylinder Kubota V2203 diesel engine providing 45.5 kW (61.0 HP) of power at 2800 RPM (SAE J1995). The S550 loader has a tipping load (ISO 14397-1) of 1788 kg and a lift height of 2908 mm. The S550 skid-steer loader therefore combines excellent manoeuvrability in tight areas with the power, reach and visibility needed for applications such as dumping materials over walls, backfilling or loading flatbed trucks.
As well as their compact size, a key feature of Bobcat loaders in farming is their ability to turn around in their own length and the fast cycle times they offer. In addition, they can be equipped with a choice of more than 40 attachments to form multi-purpose machines capable of performing numerous tasks about the farm. These attachments are fitted to the loaders via the unique Bob-Tach system, which ensures that any Bobcat attachment fits securely and safely in seconds. Bobcat loaders are therefore ideal for mechanising labour-intensive tasks, especially in and around tight areas such as pens, stalls and narrow aisles in barns and stables.
Nigel Smith backs this is up by saying: “The S550 loader is the perfect package for us not only for the way it performs on the farm but also for the excellent support from AMS Bobcat under the superb guidance of Clive McQuinn.”
Clive McQuinn is responsible for sales and service of Bobcat equipment in the East section of the area covered by AMS Bobcat. As well as Bobcat skid-steer loaders, AMS Bobcat is also responsible for sales and service of Bobcat compact tracked and all wheel steer loaders, excavators, telehandlers and utility vehicles throughout Lincolnshire and South and East Yorkshire.
AMS Bobcat also offers a full selection of genuine Bobcat accessories and parts to support both new and existing Bobcat customers in its area. Customers benefit from AMS Bobcat’s well-established on-site service network, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance. The company offers flexible service agreements including 24 hours a day coverage, depending on the requirements of the customer.
Higher performance
The new family of 500 platform compact loaders includes some of Bobcat’s most popular models and is intended to cement Bobcat’s leadership of the skid-steer and compact tracked loader market worldwide.
Comprising six new generation models, the S510, S530, S550, S570 and S590 skid-steer loaders and the T590 compact tracked loader, the new 500 platform loaders from Bobcat provide an increase of around 16% in overall performance and cycle times compared to previous models, taking efficiency and productivity to new, higher levels:
- More lift capacity, lifting further and higher
- Faster cycle times, higher breakout forces
- Much better traction providing greater pushing and digging power
- More hydraulic power for attachments
- Greater uptime, reliability and ease of maintenance
The new loader models have been designed to continue the success of the Bobcat range globally, where nearly one out of every two skid-steer loaders on the market is a Bobcat machine.
For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.eu
