This week, the Bobcat Company celebrated the completion of its Statesville, NC manufacturing facility expansion with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The $70 million investment makes the facility the compact equipment company’s largest manufacturing facility in North America, and will add hundreds of jobs in Iredell County over the next five years.
The 600,000-square-foot expansion increased the facility’s footprint to more than 1 million square feet on a more than 150-acre campus. This investment enables the Statesville operation to serve as a key manufacturing hub to help meet a growing demand for Bobcat products by increasing production capabilities and efficiency.
“This is a significant day for Bobcat, the Statesville community and our customers as we grow our presence in North Carolina and expand our manufacturing capabilities in the U.S.,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “This investment will not only position us to meet growing customer demand, but it also adds significant job opportunities to benefit the community.”
The expansion adds space for manufacturing and warehousing; research and development; an automated paint line; parts control and storage; shipping and receiving docks; open air space for product testing and quality control; additional parking; shipping and delivery entrance; and finished goods inventory storage. The manufacturing space includes new state-of-the-art technology to improve production efficiencies and streamline operations across Bobcat’s North American locations.
New factory technology and systems are consistent across the company’s North American facilities improving process and design collaboration, as well as simplifying transfer of information.
“It has been exciting to see these additions and enhancements to our facility take shape, and we greatly appreciate the support of our employees, partners, officials and the community during this process,” said Doosan Bobcat Portable Power Global Vice President Lance Mathern. “We are ready for the future and look forward to the benefits this expansion brings.”
Production of the Bobcat mini track loader (MTL) will shift from the Bismarck, ND facility to Statesville by late 2022. The new MTL production lines are designed to produce 35 units per shift, which will mean a new Bobcat MT100 will finish production every 10.8 minutes.
Additionally, the Bobcat compact tractor line has been assembled in Statesville since its launch in 2019, and will continue to be assembled in this facility, thus growing the company’s grounds maintenance equipment production at this site. The Statesville location also produces generators, light towers and air compressors.
Is Carolina On Your Mind?
“As one of our community’s largest manufacturing companies, we are proud of the commitment Bobcat Company has made not only in its facility growth and job creation, but also in its commitment to economic impact, charitable giving, educational support and community involvement,” said Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh. “Bobcat is an inspiration and catalyst to each of us as Statesville continues to grow and flourish.”
Construction on the project began in July 2021 and took roughly 14 months to complete. Thanks to the expansion, up to 250 jobs will be added in the next five years.
