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Six Bobcats for Van Groningen

Metal processing company, Van Groningen, based in Nieuw-Vennep in the Netherlands, has purchased six new Bobcat machines. Van Groningen’s principal business is as a subcontractor on demolition projects, responsible for removing metal from buildings, which is then traded. Van Groningen has an extensive fleet of its own equipment, including excavators and truck-trailer combinations. Of the six new Bobcat machines, five are skid-steer loaders mainly used on demolition projects to remove debris from buildings. The sixth is a Bobcat mini-excavator, which is a true jack-of-all-trades for all kinds of tasks and can also be equipped with a demolition hammer.

Van Groningen has been working with Bobcat products since 1992. “We started with the T753 model, which was exchanged for the T160 around 2002,” said Mark de Boer, Commercial Director at Van Groningen. “We do keep them for a very long time, but unlike the excavators, the Bobcat machines are not used 100% of the time. We don't use them on all projects. We normally look to replace them after 6,000 hours, but they can easily last longer.

“When we decided to purchase the five new Bobcat skid-steer loaders, the much older T160s were still 100% reliable, even after more than 15 years in demolition,” Mark continued. “The new Bobcat machines have a fresh and clean look and are therefore much more representative and it is great to be operating with neat machines again. It also surprised us that the older Bobcat machines are still so valuable after all these years and we were able to trade them in as well.”

Van Groningen has purchased three Bobcat S450 and two Bobcat S100 skid-steer loaders. “These are standard versions,” Mark De Boer explains, “which are slightly heavier at the rear, so that they can carry more weight. To make them a bit more comfortable for the driver, they are fitted with solid tyres. To give you an impression of the manoeuvrability: the S100 is only 1.17m wide and 1.88m high, and can rotate fully about its own axis.”

In addition to the five skid-steer loaders, Van Groningen has purchased a Bobcat E35z mini- excavator, which replaces another brand of machine. The E35z weighs 3.5 tonnes and is only 1.75m wide and is a Zero Tail Swing model that can work in tight spaces. The view from the cab is very good and attachments such as a demolition hammer or a sorting grapple can be easily operated with the joystick.

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