Brand Timeline
Bobcat Branding & Trade Dress
The Bobcat brand is known worldwide, initially for the skid-steer loader that started to carry the Bobcat name in 1962. Today, there are countless other types of compact equipment that carry the Bobcat brand. See how the brand and product trade dress have changed over 60 years.
The oval Melroe logo is used on products starting with the founding of Melroe Manufacturing Company.
Melroe logo is used on the M60 and M200 Melroe self-propelled loaders, as well as on the Melroe agricultural products.
M400 sports a decal featuring both the Melroe oval and the Farmhand brand. For a few years, the Melroe brothers utilized the Farmhand dealers to broaden its Midwest distribution network.
Meet the “Melroe Bobcat.” After a complete redesign of the original Melroe loader, it is reintroduced as the M440 Melroe Bobcat skid-steer loader, with its white paint and red trim color. The logo won’t change again until 1977.
Clark logo is added to Bobcat machines to reflect the company affiliation with parent Clark Equipment Company.
A new Bobcat logo is created to accompany the “New Breed” 30 Series loaders. The logotype is made with a popular font in that era, Bauhaus Bold. The stylized cathead symbol has been unchanged ever since.
New owner Ingersoll Rand adds the words, “Ingersoll Rand” to the tailgate.
An updated version of the Bobcat logo is created when corporate parent Ingersoll Rand updates its identity system. The 23-year-old cathead symbol remains, but the logotype uses the font family Impact Bold Condensed.
In Ingersoll-Rand’s attempt to tie together its various sub-brands under a new IR symbol, designers create an “IR Bobcat” logo. Used on the loader tailgate and elsewhere, the design is dropped after just a couple of years in favor of the Bobcat logo, which has a stronger brand identity.
To mark the production of the 500,000th Bobcat loader, a special gold version of the logo is created.
Celebrating the 750,000th Bobcat loader, two special edition loaders are built with commemorative branding.
The Millionth Bobcat loader sports this special edition decal and customization.
M2-Series loaders now have new, larger model decals for improved readability. Larger decals can more easily be seen from a distance to help identify model numbers, which can be useful on large jobsites or areas where multiple loaders are working.
The all-new, next generation R-Series E32 and E35 excavators are introduced. The R-Series excavators in the popular 3- to 4-ton size class feature a bold, distinct design, performance and comfort enhancements.