Three Generations of Bobcat Engineers: The Asche Family

When meeting Jim, Jason and Drew Asche, it’s nearly impossible to ignore their similarities. Their sarcastic jokes, mannerisms and speaking cadence signal their relation. The three also share a love of math, science and problem solving; it’s no surprise all were or currently are engineers at Bobcat. The grandfather, father and son trio are known within Bobcat for their collective 55 years as company engineers.

Jim Asche Begins Bobcat Legacy 

Jim started as a Bobcat engineer in 1973, when cylindrical slide rulers, drawing boards and T-squares preceded calculators and computers. At the time, Bobcat manufactured clutch drive skid-steer loaders, accompanying attachments and agricultural equipment. 

Transitioning machines to hydrostatic systems was one of many technological advancements Jim witnessed. This change gave operators a more comfortable cab experience.  

Jim worked on many projects throughout his tenure; he repeatedly says there was always more work to do. But he proudly recalls the role he played in redesigning the operator environment of the skid-steer loader rollover protective structure around the seat with screens on all sides. The cab was transformed in the 1970s and 1980s to enclosures with glass windows, heating and air conditioning.  

As a product engineer, Jim valued traveling to visit operators to understand how they were using machines and what design improvements would benefit them most. It was not lost on him that these machines were a key factor in many people making a livelihood. Jim found great pride and responsibility in creating high-quality products operators would find comfortable and useful. 

“The customer contact was so important,” Jim says. “You’re working with the person who’s actually trying to make a living with a product you designed. That always had quite an effect on me. There were times I put my tail between my legs and acknowledged I learned a lot from them I hadn’t thought of.” 

The driving systems and cab redesign are just two examples of the world of change Jim witnessed at Bobcat. He explains it as watching a local manufacturing company expand to become a worldwide product leader, all while technology advanced around him to introduce the internet, email, new computer software and many other transformative tools. Jim’s son, Jason, joined the company as it began dramatically expanding its product catalog.