Kubota releasing 2 tracked skid steers

[Cat_Driver]

One thing about Kubota and I have one, and sold the other, is they make an art out of shaving a few thousands off of the metal they use. My older machine, is a tank, but my 4310 was paper thin. I think they build tractors for small Japanese people. I'm 6' 230, and every time I used the step on the Kubota it would curl. Touch a branch and you would bend a fender etc.

Who are they going to build these for, the home owner or gentleman rancher, if so, they can get away with skimping on steel, but for the hard core Apes that drive my stuff, it has to be made with real steel.

Like the engine door on my CAT, it could be used to protect me from IAD's

 

[radman1]

Myself, I would be a little leary of any first year, new production skid steer. John Deere had a lot of issues with their first attempt at producing their own skid steer. Much better machine now. I beleive CAT did OK with their early machines. Bobcat, CASE, New Holland have been around a long time and changes they make are for the most part are continued incremental improvements.

 

[JDCOMPACTMAN]

Man. I'm surprised they didn't break into the market earlier. The line of mini-escavators they have are strong and price competive as ****.

 

[rutwad]

Myself, I would be a little leary of any first year, new production skid steer. John Deere had a lot of issues with their first attempt at producing their own skid steer. Much better machine now.

JD skid steers were originally built by the AG division, and they were not up to the standards that JD wanted. They switched the skid steers over to the construction division and produced a much better product.

On that same note, Kubota is well established in the tractor market. But I have not had any experience with their construction equip. All the research in the world will not produce real world results, so they probably will have some kinks to work out. But I am sure they will strive to achieve the quality you expect from Kubota. If they did not feel like they could compete in the market, then it would be a waste of their money to pursue.

 

[capt_met]

i want to say i read somewhere a while back that kubota had either bought another brand or was in a marketing agreement for another brand. as i remember they were able to market skid steers under the kubota name in europe and asia. there was discussion about this because they make the engines for the bobcats and people were wondering if it was a conflict. it seems the Thomas name is somehow involved in this. maybe someone else remembers this. again i could be wrong on this.
take care,

 

[capt_met]

here is one article

Industry Update (ForConstructionPros.com)

at the bottom of the page.

 

[JDPN]

I don't know if that deal ever saw any results yet. After browsing the kubota europe site, I found nothing on skidsteers.

 

[Digdeep]

i want to say i read somewhere a while back that kubota had either bought another brand or was in a marketing agreement for another brand. as i remember they were able to market skid steers under the kubota name in europe and asia. there was discussion about this because they make the engines for the bobcats and people were wondering if it was a conflict. it seems the Thomas name is somehow involved in this. maybe someone else remembers this. again i could be wrong on this.
take care,

Kubota had an agreement at one point to rebrand the Thomas skid steer in Europe. Not exactly the most sought after or popular brand of skid steer. Especially considering that Thomas filed for bankruptcy right after the announcement and not too long ago.

 

[capt_met]

i checked thomas's site and apparently they are still in bussiness. must have got a shot in the arm from somewhere. also, there seems to be a few european names in the new management. don't know that it did go through, just thought i would bring it up. i am sure kubota would do well with skids. their mini ex's get a good deal of respect in my neighborhood.
good luck,

 

[coopers]

It will be interesting to see how the skids are built and how they preform. I always use kubota's excavators and never had problems with them. They're built VERY well.

Blake
WA