Inside Track

Our NAMPO 2024 theme is “Growing places with you” and as the new Group CEO of Bell Equipment I look forward to the opportunity of meeting customers at the show, learning about your businesses, and discussing how we can grow and succeed together.

Bell Forestry & Agriculture and JCB Agriculture are in a dynamic space with a focus on growing both our independent dealer network and our product range as part of our strategy to better serve and support our expanding customer base and machine population.

To date we’ve carefully selected and signed up over 30 dealers. Some of the newest appointments are featured in this magazine and importantly, like Bell, they are all in the business of building lasting relationships with you, our customers. To support this ethos, we are holding our first dealer conference in April, where we are outlining our commitment to ensuring we give our dealers the support they need to keep your machines and businesses thriving and provide you with a positive customer experience.

Part of this support is providing innovative mechanised solutions, and we have some exciting forestry products in the pipeline. Many foresters and contractors are already aware of our timber processing head that has performed well during extensive testing and represents a step change to our forestry business. This year we will be building pre-production units with a view to launching in 2025 to complement our range of attachments that are already available internationally. Added to this is a new skidder prototype that has been built and testing will start in due course.

In terms of JCB Agriculture, while the brand is synonymous with backhoe loaders, our drive is to create awareness of the JCB Loadall concept. Considering the experiences in overseas markets and the various customer testimonials within these pages, we believe the JCB Loadall is a more versatile machine for many farming operations, which would benefit from the higher utilisation they would be able to achieve with this piece of kit.

In closing, 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Bell Equipment and forestry and agriculture is the cornerstone of our story. I’d like to thank all members of the Bell team, suppliers, customers, and dealers for being part of our extended Bell family. Your trust and support inspire us to continually innovate and excel. The best is yet to come!

Ashley Bell
Group Chief Executive Officer

Contents

Bell Loggers support renewable energy creation at Coega Biomass Centre - P6 

JCB Loadall is an invaluable multi-tool on Pienaarsfontein Farm  - P10 

Bell Forwarder streamlines operations for Buhle Betfu  - P14 

DT Farming Trust has endless uses for JCB 3DX  - P18 

Bell 225F Logger sustains sawmill production for Rance Timber  - P22 

ORV upgrades its Loadall telehandler and joins the Bell family  - P26 

JCBs give great service to the van Straten family on De Park Farm  - P30 

Hands-on JCB Loadall training highlights strong market potential  - P34 

JCB 530-70 Loadall is the ultimate multi-tool for Aqua Farming  - P36 

SAFCOL’s investment in three Bell 225F Loggers pays dividends  - P38 

JCB Skid Steer shovels chicken litter for Jeras Boerdery  - P42 

JCB Backhoe Loader is a game changer on Gert Coetzee’s farm  - P44 

Strong growth in independent dealer network benefits customers  - P46 

OVK Bethlehem and Hopetown join dealer network  - P48 

‘Hay day’ for Trekland as Bell and JCB’s latest agriculture dealer  - P52 

JCB and Bell agriculture dealership secured for Kokstad and Underberg  - P54 

Newly appointed M & F Tractor Parts sells its first JCB  - P56 

Lezmin Landini excited to represent market leading backhoe loader brand  - P58 

New George dealer proud to represent Bell and JCB equipment  - P60 

Huge scope for JCB’s agriculture range for Trophy Tractors in Letsitele  - P62 

New Tractor Giants dealership is a winning formula to meet customer needs   - P64 

Promo Shop  - P 66