Bobcat has opened the company's first newly built manufacturing plant outside the USA at Dobris in the Czech Republic, to be close to its customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The new plant,about 35km (21.7 miles) from Prague, is over 20,000 m² (215,278 sqft) in area and is used for the fabrication, welding, painting and assembly of small and mid-size compact loaders, mini excavators up to 2 tonne and various attachments.

According to hub-4.com, the USD32 million investment includes a new training centre next to the plant, four rooms covering 380m² (4,090sqft), a workshop and an outdoor training area covering 5,000 m² (53,820 sqft).

Bobcat aims to have 80% of its products marketed in EMEA sourced in Europe by the end of 2008. Its Pont-Château plant in France manufactures telehandlers.

Doosan Infracore bought Bobcat and Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd's utility equipment and attachments businesses for USD4.9 billion last year (Forkliftaction.com News #339).