Local dignitaries were among the crowd who celebrated the Bobcat plant's 50th anniversary.

About 250 people attended a special ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bobcat telescopic handler plant at Pontchateau in France, this month.

Local dignitaries and the plant's former employees were among the crowd who saw the unveiling of a commemorative plate at the front wall of the plant, produced by plant workers for the event.

The program included a factory tour, speeches from plant management - including anecdotes from the past 50 years, an exhibition of old Sambron and new Bobcat machines, demonstrations and the chance to try out the new machines.

Among the local dignitaries were André Trillard, the senator for Loire Atlantique; Christophe Prioux, deputy mayor of Guérande; Bernard Clouet, mayor of Pontchateau and Philippe Belliot, mayor of Saint-Anne-sur-Brivet.

Former Pontchateau staff were able to witness the extensive changes over the years, and to compare the state-of-the-art processes and procedures in the factory with the tools and materials they used to employ when they worked there.

"The factory has changed a lot, and all for the better," says André Tricodet. "I am 80 now, and I worked here for 26 years as a machine tool operator. I was delighted to be able to attend the Pontchateau anniversary celebrations."

Christian Judic, plant manager at Pontchateau, says: "I started in the company as a milling machine operator when I was just 17 and I have been working here ever since, for 39 years now. Today, I am a toolmaker for Bobcat prototype machines and I am also in charge of the maintenance programs for the welding jigs."

The history of the plant dates back to the early 20th century, when Joseph Sambron, a locksmith by trade, took over his father's workshop and turned to producing agricultural machines and bicycles. In 1920, Sambron ran a 3,000 sqm (32,292 sqft.) factory, where around 100 employees produced flour mills and cider presses.

When Sambron retired, his son, Maurice, took over the business. Always looking to exploit new opportunities, Maurice entered the materials handling business in 1953 and started producing wheelbarrows. It turned out to be a good decision; over 50,000 units would be sold over the years, with several products still leaving the production line in the 60s and 70s, such as dumpers and all-terrain handlers. The company received the 'Oscar for Export' in 1972. The export market still remains a focal point for the company today.

In 1974, it won 'Best Material Handling Machine in the World', a prize awarded by the American magazine, World Construction.

All of this laid the groundwork for the development of the Sambron range of telehandlers, the first of which, the Drop 2000 model, was launched in 1979 when the factory was bought by the Fayat Group. In 1981, two new series of telehandlers followed, and Sambron extended its network of dealers, including over 50 in France, with almost 70% of its revenue coming from export sales.

In 2000, Ingersoll-Rand, owner of the Bobcat brand, bought Sambron and changed the name of the company to Bobcat France. In 2007, Bobcat France became part of Doosan, as part of the company's acquisition of the Bobcat range of products (Forkliftaction.com News #339).