The comments come from leading contractor, Fujairah National Construction Co. L.L.C (FNC) and are supported by their experience with a top-of-the-range Bobcat T40180 18 m telehandler. 

Purchased in December 2015 from Dubai-based Kanoo Machinery, the Bobcat dealer for the UAE, the T40180 has provided trouble-free performance since it arrived, already completing well over 10,000 hours on site.  The T40180 has been working two shifts a day throughout this period and has been used on three major contracts including two new 18 storey buildings. 

According to Kanoo, the record of the T40180 is typical of what can be expected from the Bobcat telehandler range in the tough working conditions in the Middle East.  Over the last two and half years, the T40180 has required only normal servicing under the preventative maintenance programme recommended by Bobcat.  Its performance is a perfect illustration of the reliability and durability that customers can expect not only from Bobcat telehandlers, but also Bobcat skid-steer and compact loaders, compact excavators, backhoe loaders and attachments in the exacting conditions found in the Middle East.

Looking after Equipment in the Middle East

Farhan Mahmood Rizvi, Engineered Equipment and Plant Manager at FNC, said: “We have been delighted with the performance of the Bobcat T40180 telehandler.  We make sure we look after all of the equipment in our fleet, following or even exceeding manufacturers’ servicing and maintenance guidelines.  We closely monitor all the components and performance of our machinery, ensuring all aspects such as greasing, oils and fluids and genuine parts are used in full compliance with these guidelines.”

From its roots in the construction of factories, commercial buildings and warehouses including many in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, FNC developed to become the first turnkey construction company in the UAE offering combined expertise in design, construction and management for building high rise towers exceeding 40 floors.  As well as being a turnkey contractor, FNC is also the largest steel framework contractor not only in the UAE but also in the Middle East. 

Mr Rizvi added: “We have used the Bobcat T40180 telehandler for a wide variety of applications from lifting rebar from trucks for foundation work to moving heavy materials such as the components for the steel work for buildings.  The dependable safe lifting offered by the T40180 when it is used both with the wheels alone or with its stabilizers deployed has been an important aspect for us.  The easy-to-use stabilizers also ensure that the full capabilities of the telehandler can be utilised in the most confined working areas and close to walls.”

The T40180 18 m telehandler at FNC is the largest model in the Bobcat range of rigid frame telehandlers.  The T40180 model delivers market leading load chart performance in its class, with an unmatched maximum lifting height of 16.2 m when operated on tyres alone.  The high stability of the telehandler ensures minimal loss of lift height and capacity, and the T40180 model is based on an easy-to-use design that provides class-leading efficiency and productivity backed by state-of-the-art safety systems. 

The T40180 telehandler has a maximum lift capacity of 4 tonne and a maximum lift height of 17.52 m.  The lift capacity at maximum lift height is 2.5 tonne, while at maximum reach (13.7 m), the lift capacity is 560 kg. Unloaded, the T40180 weighs 10.79 tonne and provides a crowding force of 12300 daN.  The unique, patented Bobcat side shift system is a standard feature on the T40180 model, ensuring there is no need to reposition the machine if it is not aligned with an opening, providing maximum flexibility with a +/- 700 mm side shift.

High Comfort, High Visibility Cab

Featuring optimized ROPS/FOPS protection, the cab on the T40180 telehandler offers increased safety and visibility through a curved front window providing a better view of loads and attachments at height; a larger back window increasing sight to the rear and a cab door with windows above and below the handlebar for optimum visibility when manoeuvring the machine.  From their comfortable seat, the operator is provided with an ergonomic array of machine controls all within easy reach and including a forward/reverse (FNR) control button on the joystick; a digital display; an adjustable steering wheel and an integrated airflow solution. 

FNC has used the T40180 mainly with pallet fork and bucket attachments but the company also equips the telehandler with a man platform for periphery works on buildings.  These are part of a wide range of attachments for Bobcat telehandlers, including different types of digging buckets, concrete buckets, jibs and winches.  The T40180 telehandler can also be supplied with a wide selection of engine, hydraulic, boom, rear, cab, frame and tyre options.

A Leader in the Gulf Region

Kanoo Machinery has grown to become one of the leading materials handling, construction, agriculture, cleaning and industrial equipment distributors in the Gulf region.  Products from Bobcat are marketed through dedicated sales and aftermarket product specialists available in all five branches (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and RAK) in the UAE.  The company supports its customers through its expert team of sales and factory trained service engineers, technicians and support staff.  An extensive inventory of fast moving machines and consumables offers a fast response time to customer requests and is maintained in stock at all branches of Kanoo Machinery.  This is complemented by the large inventory held in the Kanoo Distribution Centre in Al Quoz and in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The LCO Awards are the industry’s only accolade of their kind, based on empirical data regarding the long-term cost of heavy and compact equipment. They are organised by EquipmentWatch, a world leader in data, software and insights for the heavy equipment industry. Nominees are recognised within 15 different categories of machine that exhibit the lowest cost of ownership over a five year span.

Total cost of ownership is one of the most important aspects that buyers take into account when they purchase equipment. The awards won by the T590 and S70 are a testament to the reputation for high performance, quality and reliability that the Bobcat range of compact loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers and attachments has established over the last 60 years.

Commenting on Bobcat’s success in the LCO Awards, Jiri Karmazin, Loaders Product Manager Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “We are delighted to win these awards again. They demonstrate why even after more than 60 years, the Bobcat compact loader range continues to be the market leader, so that one in every two skid-steer loaders sold today is still a Bobcat machine. It is our commitment to outstanding quality, workmanship and innovation that has helped to maintain our market leadership.”

The Bobcat T590 and S70 Compact Loaders

The T590 compact track loader has an operating weight of 3548 kg, a rated operating capacity (ISO 14397-1) of 971 kg and a tipping load (ISO 14397-1) of 2774 kg. A particular aspect of Bobcat compact track loaders like the T590 is the excellent ground-hugging abilities and stability offered by the tracks for work in harsh, wet conditions and for utilities and road maintenance with Bobcat planer and wheel saw attachments.

The S70 is the smallest model in the Bobcat skid-steer loader range. With a width of 901 mm, a height of 1814 mm, an overall length with standard bucket of 2472 mm and an operating weight of only 1268 kg, the S70 skid-steer loader ticks all the boxes for compactness, transportability and manoeuvrability. With its small dimensions, the S70 model can access sites with narrow openings such as gates, alleys or aisles. The S70 is ideal for work in tight areas where larger machines cannot manoeuvre effectively.

The T590 and S70, like all Bobcat compact loaders, are equipped with the quick-change Bob-Tach attachment mounting system, allowing them to be combined quickly and safely with a very wide choice of Bobcat attachments, delivering versatility and time-saving efficiency across a huge range of different applications.