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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Bobcat expands operations in Bismarck, North Dakota

04/26/2012
Bobcat Company, a manufacturer of construction vehicles and compact attachments, plans a more than $8 million expansion of its Manufacturing Support Center in Bismarck, North Dakota, and acquisition of property at the Northern Plains Commerce Center to create an Innovation Center for product development and testing.

Production of Bobcat's compact attachments will move into the firm's former production facility, at 530 South 26 Street, which will be renovated and dubbed its Manufacturing and Support Center. As many as 150 new positions will be created to support expanded production operations for its compact attachments line, which is being shifted to Bismarck from a Bobcat Company-owned plant in Litchfield, North Dakota.

"This move enables us to better respond to customer demand for our attachments while leveraging the expertise of our strategic logistics partner, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, in the process," said Rich Goldsbury, president of Bobcat. "This is a positive move for Bobcat, Menlo, Bismarck and North Dakota."

"This move will allow increased production of Bobcat attachments and equipment in the state of North Dakota," Goldsbury explained. He added "market demand for compact attachments has increased as customers seek new ways to diversify businesses by adding more attachments to their existing compact equipment. "

While increased compact attachments business has outgrown the Litchfield plant's capacity, Bobcat will continue operating the Litchfield facility by moving heavy equipment attachment operations from a Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment facility in Statesville, N.C. The move will involve around 65 positions, replacing more than a third of the jobs currently in Litchfield.

Bobcat also plans to build an Innovation Center at North Plains Commerce Center, adjacent to the Bismarck Airport. Bobcat officials say it will be used to evaluate customer research, and conduct product testing and training, along with refining manufacturing processes. Approximately 175 positions will be based at the Innovation Center, centralizing existing engineering jobs and adding new positions.

While government incentives offered to the firm to expand in Bismarck were not immediately available, North Dakota and local Bismarck officials provide tax breaks to spark job creation and business expansion.

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