BOBCAT has improved its concrete mixing bucket for the company’s compact loaders allowing users to mix, transport and pour concrete and cement much more quickly than with a stand-alone mixer.

The new attachment is approved for use on the Bobcat S130, S510, S530/H, S550/H, S570/H, S590/H, S630/H, S650/H and S770/H skid-steer loaders and the T590/H, T650/H and T770/H compact tracked loaders, all of which must be equipped with an attachment control kit.

“The remote attachment control (RAC) device allows the operator to start/stop the loader and operate the concrete mixer from outside the loader, so he does not have to keep exiting and entering the loader,” a company spokesman explains. “This feature, only available on Bobcat loaders, allows for single operator functionality to load and mix concrete.”

In common with most other Bobcat attachments, the concrete mixer is fixed to the loader via the unique Bob-Tach system, which ensures that it can be fitted securely and safely to the machine in seconds.

“The width of the concrete mixing bucket attachment is just 115 cm and the compact dimensions of the attachment ensure it is perfect for use on pavements, driveways and for concrete finishing work, as well as providing concrete for fence posts, footings and floors of small buildings. The compact nature of the loader and attachment provides an excellent solution for working in hard-to-reach or limited-access areas,” the spokesman adds.

The bucket on the T590 compact tracked loaders.

Equipped with a hydraulically-driven reversible auger, the mixing bucket can be self-loaded from a pile or loaded by pouring materials from the top, for efficient mixing of a wide variety of materials, including mortar, plaster, sand, gravel and even soil.

With a capacity of 270 litres, the drum on the concrete mixing bucket can rotate in either direction for superior mixing. Once the mix in the bucket of the concrete mixing attachment is ready, it can be discharged either by tipping the bucket forwards using the Bob-Tach attachment system or through a hydraulically-controlled discharge gate at the bottom centre of the bucket. A flexible tube can be fitted to the gate to ensure that the mixed material (cement/concrete) is placed precisely where it is needed.

The top of the mixer is equipped with a steel grill, hinged at the rear and bolted at the front, to ensure that only mixable material can enter the bucket. Hinges are welded to ensure that the grill remains in place and returns to the closed position.

The mixing bucket is equipped with special heavy-duty bearings, combined with a three-stage sealing system to withstand the effect of abrasive materials and water. It also features round skids to ensure that the mixer is parked on its front side when removed from the loader.

Like all Bobcat attachments, the concrete mixer attachment extends and utilises the versatility of Bobcat compact loaders. With an expanding choice of 66 attachments, a Bobcat loader becomes a multi-purpose machine and is designed to save time, effort and cost in carrying out a wide range of applications.