Part 6/9:
In 1969, the acquisition of Melroe Manufacturing by Clark Equipment Company opened new doors for Bobcat, providing access to advanced manufacturing techniques and broader resources for research and development. Under Clark's ownership, Bobcat thrived, introducing the Bob-Tach system in 1972, allowing for quicker attachment changes and situating Bobcat as the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of machinery, synonymous with versatility.
However, increased corporate bureaucracy began squashing the once nimble and innovative spirit of the founders. The 1980s saw Bobcat pivot again—diversifying into a variety of compact machines and attachments, which led to significant financial growth and broadened its clientele globally, including military applications.