WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today welcomed today’s announcement by West Fargo-based Bobcat Corp. and Menlo Worldwide Logistics that the companies will expand operations at Bobcat’s Bismarck Manufacturing Support Center (MSC) to begin manufacturing compact attachments for its equipment. The company also announced plans to acquire additional land at the Northern Plains Commerce Center (NPCC), to create an Innovation Center for product development and testing. 

Senator Hoeven traveled to South Korea last year to promote the U.S.-South Korea Trade Agreement, which Congress passed in October. While there, Hoeven met with Yongmaan Park, Chairman of Doosan Corp., the parent company of Bobcat. The Senator encouraged him to expand Bobcat’s operations in North Dakota.

 “Mr. Park told me that they would expand their operations in the state when their business volume increased,” Hoeven said. “We appreciate that they’re following through with their expansion, and in particular, we welcome the new Innovation Center, which ties in with the Centers of Excellence concept we’ve developed in North Dakota. 

Bobcat currently employs 162 people at its Engineering and Aftermarkets facility in Bismarck, and 1,850 in North Dakota. It maintains headquarters in West Fargo and has facilities in Wahpeton and Gwinner, as well as Bismarck. 

The companies say as many as 150 jobs could be created in Bismarck to support expanded production operations for the compact attachments line. They say the expansion is prompted by increased market demand because their customers are looking for new ways to diversify their businesses by adding more attachments to the equipment they own.