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Carrying the Bell Legacy
07 October 2024
On January 1, 2024, Ashley Jon Bell took the reins as CEO of Bell Equipment Limited, rejoining a sizeable team of third-generation Bell family members actively engaged in the business and stepping up to play an integral role in the future of the company. In a one-on-one with Quarrying Africa, he discusses some of his focus areas, major company milestones, new trends, international growth and the ongoing development and enhancement of Bell OEM products.Read more
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Bell expands BETA Parts range and footprint
03 July 2024
Less than a year after launching its Bell Equipment Trusted Alternative (BETA) Parts offering, Bell Equipment has expanded its footprint of South Africa, and Zambia to include the major articulated dump truck markets of the European and United States dealer network.Read more
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Bell 4x4 trucks highlight the niche solutions
27 June 2024
Well suited to quarries and smaller mining operations, Bell Equipment’s B45E 4x4 Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) will be on display at Hillhead 2024 highlighting the company’s ability to listen to customers’ needs and deliver niche solutions that meet those needs.Read more
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Bell introduces 27 000 L off-road water tanker at Hillhead
26 June 2024
South African original equipment manufacturer, Bell Equipment, will introduce an innovative off-road water tanker at Hillhead 2024 ideally suited to dust suppression in mining and construction operations. This new model, the B30E 27 000-litre Water Tanker, is built on the robust chassis of the acclaimed Bell B30E Articulated Dump Truck and can also be fitted with firefighting options for additional benefit.Read more
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Hillhead: A UK first for Bell Tracked Carrier
26 June 2024
Geared to provide a robust and durable short haul solution for soft underfoot conditions and provide access to remote areas that are difficult to reach, Bell Equipment’s versatile Bell Tracked Carrier will make its UK debut at Hillhead 2024.Read more
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Bell rings in 70th anniversary with autonomous truck demo at Hillhead
25 June 2024
To mark its seventieth anniversary and forty years as an Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) manufacturer, Bell Equipment is going full throttle at Hillhead 2024 where its latest innovation, an autonomous B40E Articulated Dump Truck (ADT), will operate in a live quarry demonstration.Read more
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Zambia’s Grizzly Mining achieves economy of scale with Bell B50Es
08 May 2024
The existence of emerald deposits in Zambia dates to the 1920s but it was only in the 1970s and 1980s, once prospecting and mining techniques had developed, that mining started taking place.Read more
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RJV adds four Bell Water Tankers to its growing fleet
24 April 2024
From humble beginnings dating back to 1955 RJ Vincent & Co (RJV), a privately owned family company, initially provided bulldozing services in country areas of Western Australia.Read more
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Bell Equipment appoints Ashley Bell as new CEO
12 December 2023
Bell Equipment Limited has appointed Ashley Jon Bell (41), grandson of the company's founder Irvine Bell, as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective from 1 January 2024.Read more
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Bell unveils new aftermarket logistics hub in Charleston, South Carolina
16 November 2023
Bell has marked a significant milestone in its growth with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art American Logistics Centre (ALC) in Charleston, South Carolina, which was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 26 September 2023.Read more
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Bell provides PDS/CAS flexibility and options
14 July 2023
South African equipment manufacturer, Bell Equipment, reports an influx of enquiries from local mining customers wanting articulated dump trucks (ADTs) that can be fitted with proximity detection systems (PDS) and collision avoidance systems (CAS) following new mining regulations that came into effect in December 2022.Read more
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Bell celebrates two decades of excellence at German factory
20 June 2023
Last week, Bell Equipment was joined by government and business representatives and employees from Bell Germany to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its German factory in Eisenach-Kindel.Read more
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Bell gears up to develop its underground mining business
04 April 2023
Bell Equipment has identified underground mining as an opportunity for growth. It has created a dedicated OEM business division to pursue this goal, including expanding the existing product range, providing specialised customer support, and establishing new global markets.Read more
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Bell Equipment’s new range of Graders set to deliver next-level performance
03 April 2023
Designed to meet the emerging needs of the grader industry, Bell Equipment has expanded its mining and construction OEM product range to include motor graders. With several units running in diversified applications, production has been set to begin as early as Q3 2024.Read more
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Bell delivers solid performance on the back of strong demand for ADTs
31 March 2023
JSE-listed Bell Equipment (Bell), a leading global manufacturer, distributor, and exporter of a wide range of heavy equipment for the construction, mining, quarrying, sugar, and forestry industries, today released final results for the year ended 31 December 2022.Read more
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Why follow when you can lead?
17 March 2023
Ever since Bell Equipment founder, Irvine Bell, invented his self-loading sugarcane trailer in 1954, the year in which the global manufacturer was established, the group’s innovation has seen it develop many world-firsts for the industries it serves.Read more
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‘Go anywhere, do anything’ with Bell Equipment’s Tracked Carrier
17 March 2023
Markets for the Bell Tracked Carrier have expanded following the machine’s launch in Western Europe in 2022, with interest shown from Africa, South East Asia and Australia. This has brought the versatility of the Tracked Carrier to the fore as new applications are discovered.Read more
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Bell E-series ADTs ready to run on HVO fuel
16 March 2023
All new Bell Equipment E-series Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) fitted with the Mercedes Benz OM471LA, OM473LA, and OM934/6LA engines are fully compatible with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel, without needing dilution with diesel or impacting on engine service intervals.Read more
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Adoption stage for autonomous Bell ADTs
14 March 2023
Four years after commencing extensive testing, global ADT specialist, Bell Equipment, reports that autonomous technology is now at the adoption stage with more customers in Europe, South America, and Australia set to introduce autonomous Bell ADTs on their worksites during 2023.Read more
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Solid relationship keeps Andru Mining coming back for more blue Bells
23 September 2022
In today’s structured corporate world, it is rare for a customer to engage with a design engineer of any product, let alone make suggestions as to how that product may be improved. This is exactly what keeps a major South African mining contractor brand-loyal to a market-leading manufacturer of articulated dump trucks (ADTs).Read more
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All the bells and whistles for new E-series Water Tankers
30 August 2022
Local original equipment manufacturer, Bell Equipment, has expanded its range of water tankers and now offers eight tank sizes having introduced 16 000-litre and 50 000-litre offerings.Read more
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Bell continues to lead technology with autonomous ADT platform
19 July 2022
A focus on improving ease of operation to provide more efficient and safer Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) has consistently kept Bell Equipment at the forefront of innovation. The global ADT specialist is now achieving success with autonomous vehicle operation where its forward-thinking approach is enabling interoperability between different control systems and the trucks it produces.Read more
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Bauma to mark Bell Tracked Carrier’s European debut
19 July 2022
Following extensive field testing with US users and a successful North American debut at Conexpo 2020, Bell Equipment is now launching its new Tracked Carriers in Western Europe. On display at Bauma will be the Bell TC11A, the larger of the two versatile models with a payload of 11t.Read more
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Bell Equipment at BAUMA 2022: Keeping it special
19 July 2022
As an Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) specialist with the world's largest range of models, Bell Equipment has always been driven to meet customers’ needs by delivering specifically designed industry solutions. In Munich, this is demonstrated by the new generation of the two-axle ADT Bell B45E 4x4 and a Bell B30E with a vehicle width of less than 3,0 metres. Both machines offer a compelling advantage to customers with specific requirements.Read more
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Bell ADTs and Fleetm@tic® part of CPI’s net zero carbon drive
15 June 2022
Privately owned minerals and aggregates contractor, Chepstow Plant International (CPI), has been run by Managing Director, John Corcoran, for over 20 years. Since being founded in 1995 by Eddie Hayward, John has developed CPI into one of the UK’s leading mobile plant supplier firms and earthmoving contractors within the mineral products industry.Read more
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DXI Ltd plans for the future with four new B30Es
14 June 2022
Founded by Dave Clark and Ivan Rawlins in 2013 after a long working relationship in the construction sector, DXI Regeneration Ltd has grown to employ over eighty staff and enjoy exceptional year-on-year growth. The company is now in the enviable position of enjoying significant repeat business, working on prestigious jobs nationally and boasting a full order book for the foreseeable future.Read more
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Emissions-friendly B30Es to place John F Hunt Plant Hire in the pound seats
13 June 2022
Established in 1982, the John F Hunt Group serves the UK Construction industry through its network of dedicated companies and divisions nationwide including demolition, civil engineering, industrial dismantling, remediation, generator and plant hire. Well known for its technical engineering expertise, the company delivers complex construction and regeneration projects using plant predominantly supplied from the internal hire division.Read more
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Tru 7 Group invests in Bell ADTs in quest to run the most efficient fleet
10 June 2022
A truly familiar brand in the construction world, Tru 7 Group was established by Guy Nicholls in 2015 following the sale of his previous successful plant hire business.Read more
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Wordsworth Crushing records a first for the UK
09 June 2022
Wordsworth Crushing of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom is a multi-disciplinary contract crushing and earthworks contractor that has built an excellent reputation nationwide. Contracts include heavy industrial work in quarries, ground stabilisation and demolition services for some of the country’s largest quarrying and construction firms.Read more
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MJ Church upgrades to B30E Stage V for high profile projects
02 June 2022
For the last two decades Wiltshire-based MJ Church Ltd has been a faithful user of Bell Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) for earthmoving projects and the occasional hire contract. A recent spate of contract wins has led to an order for fifteen additional units which will help the company gear up for its increasing workload over the next twelve to eighteen months.Read more
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Kelston Sparkes - the largest Bell B50E user in Europe
01 June 2022
Founded by Mr Kelston Sparkes in 1952, the Kelston Sparkes Group is a family business specialising in earthworks, crushing and screening, quarrying and training. Based in the South West of England, but working throughout the UK, the company’s five-year contract at Europe’s largest limestone quarry – Torr Works in Somerset – has led to it becoming the largest user in Europe of Bell Equipment’s flagship 50-ton Articulated Dump Truck (ADT).Read more
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Alternative fuel solution and fuel efficiency for Smiths of Gloucester
06 May 2022
The hire of two Bell B30E Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) on a construction site in Stroud in 2020 was the catalyst for family run business, Smiths of Gloucester, to re-invest in their own dump trucks after a lengthy hiatus.Read more
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Bell ADTs offer best utilisation in the fleet for Murphy Plant
06 May 2022
Murphy Plant Limited added Bell Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) to its extensive fleet of plant and machinery in 2020 following a week-long demo of a Bell B20E. Murphy’s mix of contracts had evolved over time and they were looking for machines capable of working on a number of projects including HS2 and the East West Rail Link.Read more
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Durability and support will see TNR returning for more
16 March 2022
An earthworks and mining contracting company in Tanzania has been so impressed with their first four Bell B40E Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) and the support they receive from Kanu Equipment, Bell Equipment’s dealer in that country, that they are looking at extending their fleet once they near production capacity.Read more
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Bell Dumpers provide operational efficiency for Andrews Plant Hire
11 March 2022
Peter Andrews is the owner of Andrews Plant Hire in Dorset. Still firmly holding the reins of the family business after five decades, Peter and his team have managed the overburden strips and material handling contracts for a number of quarries in the South and South West of England for over 40 years.Read more
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Long services awards for Bell employees
23 November 2021
Bell Equipment made up for lost time last week when it acknowledged and celebrated one hundred and fifty-eight local employees who reached long service milestones during 2020 and 2021 at functions held over two days at its Richards Bay factory.Read more
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IPP Mining & Materials Handling praises longevity of Bell ADTs
10 November 2021
Opencast contract mining is generally conducted in a challenging business environment where contractors alike look to extract the maximum life and availability out of their yellow machine mining fleets.Read more
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Bell offers both cost per hour and cost per tonne benefits
15 September 2021
Bell Equipment has a design philosophy that always focuses on providing customers with productive machines running at the lowest cost per hour, resulting in the most economical cost per tonne haulage solution.Read more
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Bell Equipment 'Strong Reliable Autonomous'
13 September 2021
Bell Equipment’s focus on interoperability has culminated in a collaboration between the global Articulated Dump Truck specialist and safety and automation technology developer, Pronto AI. This will reinforce Bell Equipment’s position as "the most affordable autonomous articulated dump truck in the world," with Pronto AI’s product officially launched at the MINEXPO 2021 in Las Vegas in September.Read more
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Bell machines and support are rooted in MDZ’s success
07 September 2021
In the Venda language, the name for ‘root’ is mudzi. While some may find it strange to base the name of a company on a root, an entrepreneur from South Africa’s most northern province, where Venda is mostly spoken, believes his well-rooted academic grounding, solid financial knowledge and business acumen forms the basis on which to build a growing business in logistics and contract mining.Read more
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Benhaus realises the benefits of its Bell B60E fleet
24 August 2021
Mining chrome from opencast pits in South Africa’s North West and Limpopo provinces calls for durability – durable mining methods, durable people and, above all, durable haulage equipment because this dense and abrasive material quickly shows up any weaknesses.Read more
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MMP bowled over by performance of new Bell B30Es
09 July 2021
A disciplined approach to life developed on and next to sports fields at the highest level has positioned two brother partners in good stead in the challenging world of mining.Read more
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Ritluka Resources raves about B45Es in wet coal mining application
03 June 2021
Applying one’s mind is a popular concept for achieving success but when you have the luxury of applying two educated and keen minds to achieve the same goal, ultimate success in almost any challenging field is the result.Read more
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TauSadi blazes a path for women in mining and invests in Bell B40Es
17 May 2021
Now if the current Mpumalanga coal mining world seems to be an orderly place, some male contract miners better watch out because two highly qualified female engineers are about to upset their seemingly serene world.Read more
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Bell launches global pre-owned equipment website
30 March 2021
Bell pre-owned equipment can now be shopped online thanks to the launch of a dedicated global website, pre-owned.bellequipment.com, which is also accessible from the company’s website.Read more
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Bell expands collaboration in autonomous control project
01 March 2021
A focus on improving ease of operation to provide more efficient and safer Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) has consistently kept Bell Equipment at the forefront of innovation. The global ADT specialist is now achieving success with autonomous vehicle operation where its forward-thinking approach is enabling interoperability between different control systems and the trucks it produces.Read more
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KELE Mining Solutions highlights benefits of choosing Bell ADTs
04 February 2021
A relatively new player in the field of contract mining is using data driven technology to achieve improved safety, productivity and efficiency coupled with the proven reliability of haulage vehicles designed and built by a homegrown original equipment manufacturer.Read more
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Australia’s Egans Group bolster their rental fleet with two new Bell B30E ADTs
19 November 2020
Established by Frank Egan in 1962, Egans Group is one of Australia’s most versatile and experienced contracting, labour hire, plant hire and field maintenance businesses. They operate nationwide with head offices and workshops in Victoria and Queensland as well as locations in Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth.Read more
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Bell B30Ds around 30 000 hour mark at Belabela Quarries
12 November 2020
As the General Manager of the Belabela Quarries outside Gaborone in Botswana, Peter Zunckel has a slightly unusual problem. Every time he tries to convince his company’s board members that budgetary provision needs to be made for replacing his fleet of three Bell B30D Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs), he gets told that there’s nothing wrong with the existing trucks. And this is despite the oldest of the three ADTs just surpassing the magical 30 000 hour mark!Read more
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Bell takes its industry leading technology underground with new side-mount low profile ADTs
03 November 2020
The latest generation Bell B30L and B35L Low Profile Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) deliver the lowest cost per tonne solution, more practical styling and an ‘autonomous ready’ platform that is easily configurable for remote operation either by a handheld remote control or a more sophisticated autonomous control centre.Read more
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B45E is the first choice for Hillhouse Quarry operators
30 October 2020
The Hillhouse Quarry Group, the industry leading whinstone quarry operation based in Ayrshire, UK has chosen Bell Equipment UK to supply its latest fleet addition, a new B45E Articulated Dump Truck (ADT).Read more
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Use of Bell ADTs takes off on Hong Kong airport project
27 October 2020
Planned for completion in 2024, the Third Runway Project at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is a mammoth undertaking by anyone’s standards that involves reclaiming about 650 hectares of land north of the existing airport island and constructing a 3 800-metre long runway along with supporting taxiway systems.Read more
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Bell ADTs tick boxes for Vuksich and Borich in New Zealand
22 October 2020
When longstanding civil engineering, contracting and project management company, Vuksich and Borich (NZ) Ltd, decided to invest in new articulated dump trucks (ADTs) for their Auckland-based operation, there were several reasons why two Bell B30E ADTs from the brand’s new E-series, were part of the mix, says Plant and Transport Manager, Murray George. “We have a couple of earlier model Bell dump trucks in the fleet that have been used extensively in the Pacific Islands on major projects and have proven to be incredibly durable and reliable trucks.Read more
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Earthmoving contractor relies on Bell ADTs for reduced fuel costs and simple maintenance
19 October 2020
Large earthmoving projects offer up plenty of challenges for contractors of all kinds. It takes knowledge, experience, and the right equipment to get the job done right every time - and Allan Construction has plenty of all three.Read more
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Bell B30E is on target for Bullseye Construction
29 September 2020
US site development contractor, Bullseye Construction Inc, is a company that has developed a solid reputation for providing prompt, quality service. Their experience with their fleet of six Bell B30Es is helping to cement that reputation thanks to the trucks’ productivity and reliability as well as the strong support from their dealer, May Heavy Equipment.Read more
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Bell B60E – moving more for less
02 July 2020
When looking for a cost-effective and efficient haulage solution for the mining industry, South African manufacturer, Bell Equipment, continues to push new boundaries and its sixty-tonner crossover concept, the B60E 4x4, has an impressive balance between off-road performance, productivity and fuel economy.Read more
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Grizzly Mining and Bell relationship still going strong after over 20 years
17 June 2020
The Lufwanyama Pilala area southwest of Kitwe in Zambia is probably best known to those in the emerald mining industry because this is where some of the world’s finest examples of this green gemstone are mined.Read more
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Rumdel Cape updates its Bell fleet for massive water project
02 June 2020
Implementation of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), one of the world’s most successful trans-boundary water resource management schemes between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa, continues. Equipment manufactured and sold by Bell Equipment is being used at the forefront of this project.Read more
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Bell Tracked Carrier turns heads at CONEXPO
22 April 2020
Bell Equipment’s all-new Tracked Carrier (TC) received an ‘overwhelming’ customer response at CONEXPO, Las Vegas last month where the TC7A took centre stage on a rotating turntable as the company’s latest premium solution for soft underfoot conditions.Read more
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Kelston Sparkes, operator of largest Bell B50 fleet, adds four B45Es to its tally
18 February 2020
One of the country’s leading earthworks, quarrying and training specialists, the Kelston Sparkes Group, has introduced a new Bell ADT model to its impressive fleet with its recent investment in four Bell Equipment B45Es.Read more
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Exxaro Partners with Bell to Provide Contractors Access to Premium Mining Equipment
13 February 2020
07 February 2020, Pretoria – South Africa’s largest black-empowered resource company, Exxaro has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with equipment dealer, Bell Equipment Sales South Africa (BESSA) today to enhance the offering of its enterprise and supplier development (ESD) programme. This, to formalize a partnership within its ESD programme, is aimed at giving contractors access to mining equipment, at affordable rates. The partnership will also provide post equipment acquisition advice and support to the contractors.Read more
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Investment in Bell equipment pays dividends for Zambian company
29 January 2020
When a young Joe Raimo was dropped off at the Kariba Dam wall in what was then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in the mid-1960s, armed only with a suitcase and a toolbox, little could he imagine that his walk across the border into Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) would leave a legacy of an established contract mining and plant hire company.Read more
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MJ Church builds tech into its fleet with Bell Equipment
28 January 2020
Taking technologically advanced routes to break new ground, one of the South West region’s largest civil engineering, earthworks and waste management contractors, MJ Church has returned once again to Bell Equipment for the purchase of a recent consignment of Articulated Dump Truck vehicles.Read more
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Ground-breaking BBBEE deal transforms Bell operations
17 December 2019
Heavy equipment manufacturer and distributer, Bell Equipment, has concluded a Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment agreement, effective 1 January 2020, that will empower the Group’s South African manufacturing subsidiary, Bell Equipment Company South Africa (BECSA) and further empower the South African sales and distribution subsidiary, Bell Equipment Sales South Africa (BESSA).Read more
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Bell B20Es are a real find for archaeological specialist LK Construction
28 November 2019
LK Construction, the operated plant hire and ground works contractor, renowned for its archaeological excavation expertise, has bolstered its fleet with the purchase of three Bell Equipment B20E Articulated Dump Trucks, all within 16 months.Read more
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B45E demonstration performance leads to new quarry purchase for The Hillhouse Group
25 November 2019
The Hillhouse Quarry Group, the industry leading whinstone quarry operation based in Ayrshire, has chosen Bell Equipment UK to supply its latest fleet addition, a new B45E Articulated Dump Truck (ADT).Read more
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Siyawisa Hlathi leads the way with Bell and Waratah
18 November 2019
An enterprising spirit, enduring perseverance and an ability to change with the times have seen an emerging timber harvesting contractor in northern KwaZulu-Natal evolve from a motor manual outfit into a successful, fully mechanised harvesting operation.Read more
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“Momentous occasion” as Bell becomes a global manufacturer
11 November 2019
Bell Equipment has evolved from a global supplier to a global manufacturer with the 17 million Euro expansion of its Eisenach-Kindel assembly plant in Germany. The project, which attracted a grant from the state development agency, the LEG Thuringen, for its contribution towards the improvement of the regional economic structure, accommodates the fabrication of Articulated Dump Truck components for the Northern Hemisphere.Read more
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Bell and Government look to strengthen engagement
11 October 2019
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government took its first steps towards achieving its goal of stimulating the manufacturing sector by visiting Bell Equipment’s factory in Richards Bay this week to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.Read more
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Bell scoops accolades at KZN Investor Awards
02 October 2019
Bell Equipment won the ‘Major Contributor to Innovation and Technological Advancement in KZN’ category and was a finalist in the ‘KZN Investor with a Global Footprint’ category of the inaugural KZN Investor Awards, held at the Durban ICC on 12 September.Read more
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Customer Open Days give a good overview of Bell and its product offering
06 September 2019
Over seventy customers from various industries across Southern Africa accepted an invite to the Bell Head Office in Richards Bay at the end of August to gain a thorough understanding of the company, our manufacturing principles and processes as well as our extensive product offering.Read more
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Earthline to expect three new Bell Equipment deliveries
03 September 2019
Continuing a relationship that’s been in place since 2003, established plant operator Earthline has secured the purchase of two additional L2106 Wheeled Loaders, and a further B30E ADT, expanding the Bell Equipment element of its fleet to sixteen machines.Read more
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Purchase of 14 additional E-series ADTs further relationship between Chepstow Plant and Bell
19 August 2019
Continuing its long-established relationship with Bell Equipment, Chepstow Plant has announced the purchase of 14 new E-series trucks, increasing the contractor’s substantial Bell fleet to thirty machines.Read more
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ADT consignment boosts Bell Equipment count for L Lynch Plant
16 August 2019
Renowned for its determined commitment to ‘Meeting Hire Demands’ by delivering exactly what the customer wants, plant and equipment hire specialist, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage has chosen to expand its extensive fleet with the addition of 15 new Bell Equipment B30E ADTs.Read more
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TBF Thompson primed and ready to become Bell Equipment dealer in Ireland
26 July 2019
Leading name for plant truck sales across Ireland, TBF Thompson, has become the latest commercial and plant dealer to position itself as an official distributor of articulated dump trucks (ADTs), designed and manufactured by Bell Equipment.Read more
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Let the dust stay settled; Green’s Haulage and Plant sees results from Bell Equipment Bowser
24 June 2019
Green’s Haulage and Plant, the Leicestershire-based construction equipment specialist, has purchased its first Bell Equipment bowser; a water distributing tanker, purpose designed and built onto a pre-owned B30D ADT.Read more
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Bell brings home Exporter of the Year awards
06 June 2019
Bell Equipment won Exporter of the Year Award (Large category; turnover >R200 million) and was runner-up in the Exporter of the Year Africa Award (turnover >R100 million) at the inaugural Exporter of the Year Awards for capital equipment manufacturers held in Johannesburg at the end of May.Read more
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Inyathi Plant Hire takes first Kobelco Excavator in Eastern Cape
30 May 2019
When Nelani Kaiser first saw a Kobelco Excavator in its now familiar bright turquoise colour at Bell Equipment’s Jet Park premises in Gauteng, she was instantly smitten.Read more
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Middle Eastern Bell fleet draws close to racking up collective 3,000,000 hours
10 April 2019
Leading ADT manufacturer, Bell Equipment, has announced that a fleet of 37 B40Ds and eight B50Ds, commissioned for a major construction project in Kuwait in 2007 and 2008, has collectively accumulated close to 3,000,000 operational hours, thanks to its operator’s attentive programme of service and maintenance.Read more
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Bell Equipment at Bauma 2019
01 April 2019
International ADT specialist Bell Equipment will use the platform of Bauma, the largest construction equipment exposition in the world, to display both new and proven models of its leading E-series truck range (Hall B5.148). Focal points will include the conversion to new emission regulations, model specific improvements and the group’s worldwide commitment to pro-active customer support strategies.Read more
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World premiere Bell B45E 4x4
01 April 2019
With the launch of the new Bell B45E 4x4 at bauma, Bell Equipment will add a new model to its range of articulated 4x4 two-axle ADTs. Similar to the sixty-tonner B60E and the smaller Bell B30E 4x4, the new truck is configured to provide a highly efficient and cost-effective transport solution for niche applications in the mining and construction industry.Read more
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Positive momentum continues at Bell Equipment supported by global demand for earthmoving equipment
26 March 2019
Richards Bay, 18 March 2019 - JSE-listed Bell Equipment, a proudly South African company with over 60 years of experience in the manufacture, distribution and support of materials handling equipment, today released results for the year ended 31 December 2018, reporting a 10% increase in revenue to R7,5 billion.Read more
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Kelston Sparkes’ Bell Equipment purchase helps create largest fleet of B50s in Europe
14 March 2019
Kelston Sparkes, one of the largest and most recognised earthmoving contractors in the UK, has committed to purchasing a further four Bell Equipment B50Es, enhancing its existing Bell fleet of 10 B50Ds that has run successfully since 2014.Read more
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Bell Equipment UK takes heartfelt action for charitable causes
06 March 2019
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Derbyshire Blood Bikes have become the latest charities to benefit from fundraising efforts made by leading plant and heavy machinery distributor, Bell Equipment UK.Read more
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Centralised support for Bell Equipment in Scotland as it brings service in-house
28 February 2019
Renowned for its ‘strong reliable machines’ and ‘strong reliable support’, leading construction equipment distributor, Bell Equipment UK, has announced that it will be bringing its vehicular support division ‘in-house’ for clients in Scotland.Read more
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Andru Mining invests in forty new E-series ADTs
28 January 2019
Having ten new Bell B40E Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) doing the same production as twelve older ADTs at a coal mining contract may seem like a dream but this is exactly what a Gauteng-based contract miner has found.Read more
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Bell partners with Thuthukani for uplifting CSI projects
12 December 2018
Bell Equipment has undertaken to build a specialised classroom at Thuthukani Special School next year, which would include a wider doorway and a ramp for wheelchair access, windows and lighting to cater for sight impaired children as well as an area for autistic learners to have their own secluded space.Read more
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First Bell B30E purchase ticks all boxes for Longwater Gravel Company
10 December 2018
Aggregate extraction and processing company, Longwater Gravel, has announced the purchase of its first Bell Equipment machine, a B30E ADT which has hit the ground running and already proved its capabilities to the Norfolk-based specialist supplier of high-quality aggregate materials.Read more
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Bell celebrates a record number of long service achievements
05 December 2018
Globally Bell Equipment has two-hundred and seventy-five employees who achieved long service awards in 2018 – the largest group in the history of the company. One hundred and ninety-eight are based at the Richards Bay factory and celebrated earlier this month at a traditional luncheon ceremony at Zululand Chamber of Business Foundation’s Community Park.Read more
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Bell celebrates third group of PMI graduates
03 December 2018
A tough year of part-time studies and personal sacrifices culminated in a jubilant graduation ceremony earlier this month for sixteen Bell employees who have completed the Operations Management Development Programme (OMDP) under the auspices of the Production Management Institute of South Africa (PMI).Read more
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Praise for Bell B40D as Alf Kitching’s model hauls millionth tonne
26 November 2018
Alf Kitching Ltd., the North Lincolnshire-based quarry and civil engineering excavation specialist, has announced the impressive achievement of one of its Bell Equipment ADTs, as a B40D, purchased just two years ago at Hillhead 2016, has now successfully hauled over one million tonnes of limestone.Read more
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Sisters make investment for the future with income earning capabilities of Bell Equipment B30Es
20 November 2018
Sisters with a plant hire heritage, Hollie and Ruby Finnegan, have chosen to make investments that chime with their family’s proven business success, as the two young business-women from Leicestershire realise profits from hiring their Bell Equipment B30E ADT machines to clients.Read more
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Bell T17s have a long, productive life at Can Do Timbers
25 October 2018
It’s a well-proven fact that Bell Equipment’s Articulated Dump Trucks have been designed and built to withstand the rigours and challenges of working in some of the toughest conditions in the world.Read more
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Plantforce’s plans to double fleet set to include further sales with Bell Equipment
23 October 2018
With a comprehensive fleet and strategically placed depots in Bristol, Exeter, Bridgwater and more recently Birmingham, rapidly expanding plant hire specialist, Plantforce, has announced plans to increase its fleet of Bell Equipment B30Es to support growing demand.Read more
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Lebombo Vlakte Vervoer upsizes to Matriarch’s new ULTeco 6
17 October 2018
When the Matriarch ULTeco 5 Slew Loader first hit the wide-open sugar cane lands of the Komatipoort irrigation farms it was a revelation.Read more
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Tap into Bell Equipment’s aftermarket solutions
18 September 2018
Bell Equipment understands that business is about more than just supplying strong, reliable machines and that strong reliable support is an equally, if not more, important consideration for decision-makers. To this end, Bell has an all-inclusive range of aftermarket products and services to enrich the Bell ownership experience so that customers get the most out of their machine throughout the different stages of its lifetime.Read more
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Double-quick delivery of fleet expansion keeps Stefanutti Stocks on track
14 September 2018
It has often been said that being in the right place at the right time is an important factor for success but the added requirement of doing something about it, is needed to ensure that success.Read more
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Bell delivers growth on back of global demand
10 September 2018
Richards Bay, 30 August 2018 – JSE-listed Bell Equipment, a proudly South African company with over 60 years of experience in the manufacture, distribution and support of materials handling equipment, today released results for the interim period ended 30 June 2018. The group reported revenue of R3,7 billion, a six percent increase on the prior period (June 2017: R3,5 billion).Read more
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E. Corr Plant Hire enables winter month excavation with fleet addition of 2 Bell B20Es
07 August 2018
Dedicated and diverse construction services operation, E. Corr Plant Hire, has extended seasonal capabilities for its client base by bringing two new Bell Equipment B20Es to its fleet.Read more
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Agreement paves the way for emerging road contractors
17 July 2018
Richards Bay, 11 July 2018: A joint undertaking by SANRAL and construction machinery supplier, Bell Equipment, will accelerate the transformation of the construction industry and open doors for black-owned and managed CIDB graded contractors.Read more
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Hawk Plant’s Investment continues with purchase of four new Bell machines
04 July 2018
Hawk Plant Hire, part of the Hawk Group of Companies which combine to offer a world-class portfolio of construction solutions, has announced the purchase of a further four Bell Equipment B20Es.Read more
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Bell Equipment to showcase largest range of ADTs on the market at Hillhead 2018
12 June 2018
Bell Equipment will be showcasing the largest range of Articulated Dump Trucks on the market at this year’s Hillhead 2018.Read more
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AFS Earthmoving chooses Bell Equipment’s B30E for the sixth time
01 June 2018
AFS, a leading specialist in earthmoving works and aggregates supply, has once again demonstrated its confidence in Bell Equipment by further investing in a new B30E Articulated Dump Truck (ADT).Read more
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Bell donates towards Amangwe Village creche initiatives
23 May 2018
Bell Equipment, a proud founder member of Amangwe Village, which was started in 2002, has followed up last year’s donation of a new Nissan MP 300 double cab bakkie with a substantial donation towards the organisation’s Early Childhood Development initiatives.Read more
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John Deere and Bell donate scale models to Nelson Mandela University
11 May 2018
The Nelson Mandela University forestry students have received forest equipment scale models from John Deere and Bell Equipment, the local dealer of the full range of John Deere equipment. The models were donated for use as training tools to help in teaching and learning of various equipment in forestry. The John Deere scale models comprise of a tracked harvester, forwarder, tracked feller buncher, grapple skidder, track based loader and grader. Bell Equipment donated laser cut wood models of a Bell Logger and Tractor.Read more
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Bell anticipates strongest upswing in global machinery demand since 2010/2011
08 May 2018
Articulated dump truck specialist, Bell Equipment, expects growth in most major markets during 2018 with global construction and mining machinery markets expected to increase by ten to fifteen percent, according to Bell Group Chief Executive, Gary Bell.Read more
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Bell B30E 4x4 at Guggenberger
08 May 2018
A Bell B30E 4x4 has been working in production, material handling and overburden removal at the Guggenberger gravel plant in Mintraching, Germany since the end of October 2017 where it replaced a long-serving Bell 25-ton truck. The decision to choose the 4x4 two axle truck concept was taken due to its specific advantages.Read more
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Successful Intermat 2018 for Bell Equipment
02 May 2018
“We are hugely satisfied with Intermat 2018,” comment Gary Bell and Leon Goosen, the outgoing and incoming Group Chief Executive Officers of the global ADT specialist, Bell Equipment. The Parisian show was the last global event before the official handover of the company’s CEO position to Leon Goosen and Gary Bell’s appointment as non-executive chairman of the board of the Bell Group, both scheduled for 1 June 2018. “Our aim was to demonstrate our commitment to the global ADT market and we succeeded with in-depth interactions with customers and partners throughout the show,” adds Leon Goosen.Read more
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NAMPO debut for Bell Equipment’s latest partner products
18 April 2018
Bell Equipment will have an assortment of new machines for forestry and agriculture on display at NAMPO following partnership agreements with Japanese excavator specialist, Kobelco, in June 2017 and Russian heavy-duty tipper truck manufacturer and 15-times Dakar Rally winner, Kamaz, in December.Read more
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Bell Equipment UK’s new Scottish Sales Manager is “coming home”!
10 April 2018
Bell Equipment UK, an international leader in the design and manufacturer of ADTs and wheeled loaders, has today announced the appointment of its new Scottish sales manager, Russell Conn. Russell will be joining Bell Equipment UK from Bell South Africa, where he has worked for the past 25 years.Read more
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Bell Equipment at Intermat 2018
28 March 2018
ADT specialist, Bell Equipment is growing the four wheel drive concept with the Bell B30E 4x4, which will be displayed at Intermat 2018. Suited to small to medium-sized quarries with integrated aggregate production facilities, this truck offers customers distinct advantages over more traditional haulage solutions. The Bell stand (Hall 6A, 104) will also feature the Bell B40E earthmover, a popular model in the company’s extensive 6x6 range.Read more
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Bell 'cautiously optimistic' about mining and construction sectors
16 March 2018
While 2017 was an unprecedented year for the southern African heavy equipment industry, which experienced a year-on-year market increase of about 15% across all product sectors, the current year has started much slower than anticipated reports Marketing Director of Bell Equipment Sales South Africa, Mark Hughes.Read more
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Zungu wins 2017 Bell Welder of the Year
26 February 2018
Results of the popular and closely contested 2017 Bell Equipment Welder of the Year competition were announced at the Richards Bay factory's Welcome Back ceremony where Sphamandla Zungu was presented the winner's trophy and Zenzele Gumede and Clement Nene took second and third place respectively. When presenting the awards, Bell Equipment Welding Engineering Manager, Henk de Villiers, said: "2017 saw the launch of a several exciting new products. With this came evolutions in the weld joint designs and the need for our welders to continuously evolve to keep up with the ever-increasing demands on their skills." Prerequisites to enter the competition are the ability to stick to standard times and to have a good track record with no absenteeism, coaching or disciplinary records during the course of the year. Contestants are then judged on the quality of their work according to set criteria. Henk thanked all the participants saying that the 2017 competition saw an increase in entries, "which is gratifying considering the qualifications just to enter and speaks volumes about the work ethic of the contestants". He also expressed appreciation to the judges for taking the time to assess the high standard of entries and determine the final outcome, as well as to Sagren Naicker, Bhim Sewpershad and Mike Renshaw for facilitating the competition, and Afrox for sponsoring the prizes and attended the prize giving. Commenting on the awards, Afrox's Senior Segment Sales Manager: Transport Sector, Paul Jackson, said: "It was an honour and very gratifying to experience the pride with which the top welders received their awards. I believe that Bell has a winning formula for developing in-house skills along with building pride and work ethic within the workforce. Afrox is proud to be involved in this initiative and looks forward to a continued mutually beneficial relationship with Bell."Read more
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Bell to welcome new products and partners at BCA 2018
26 February 2018
Southern Africa's largest construction equipment manufacturer, Bell Equipment - a loyal supporter of bauma Conexpo Africa - will mark the 2018 event by showcasing its new range of Kobelco Excavators and introducing the Dakar Rally winning KAMAZ range of heavy duty tipper trucks at its 2 300m² stand. "We expect both these new partners and product ranges to generate a considerable amount of interest as they bring quality and competitive machine solutions to our local market, and all backed by the most extensive support network in southern Africa," says Sales and Marketing Director of Bell Equipment Sales South Africa (BESSA), Mark Hughes. "The Kobelco range of excavators, from 5,5t to 85t, was added to the Bell stable in mid-2017 and has been extremely well accepted by the Bell customer base. Japanese-based Kobelco is widely recognised as a global excavator specialist and through this partnership we are able to offer competitively priced and perfectly matched loading tools for our range of Articulated Dump Trucks in the construction, quarrying, mining and forestry industries." Additionally, the introduction of the KAMAZ trucks at the end of 2017 has given Bell a presence in the southern Africa tipper truck market for the first time, to further expand the company's one-stop-shop offering to customers in the region. Established in 1969, KAMAZ manufactures out of Naberezhnye Chelny in Russia and today accounts for half the trucks sold in that country, as well as being represented in 80 countries around the world. Although new to southern Africa, KAMAZ is synonymous with providing purpose designed trucks to the harshest applications, and this has been borne out by the company's consistently strong performance in the challenging Dakar Rally. The first phase of the KAMAZ introduction consists of four models, which are available in left hand or right hand drive configurations. The models include two 6x4 trucks with payloads of 15 and 20 tonnes, a 6x6 truck with a payload of 19,5 tonnes and an 8x4 truck with a payload of 25,5 tonnes. Alongside the Kobelco and KAMAZ products, Bell will also exhibit an extensive range of its own manufactured products, including Articulated Dump Trucks and Tractor Loader Backhoes, as well as displaying machines from its long standing partners Deere, Bomag and Finlay. Commenting on the value of trade shows, and bauma Conexpo Africa in particular, Bell Equipment Group Marketing Director, Stephen Jones said: "There is absolutely no doubt that trade shows can be extremely beneficial to both the users and providers of plant. With bauma Conexpo Africa providing the platform for this interaction it is imperative that those who can make it work come out and support it. For users of equipment the southern African market is very competitive with good equipment choices significantly affecting the chance of success. With a large number of brands competing there is value for users of equipment to be able to visit one location and be able to closely interact with manufacturers and distributors to help guide those critical buying decisions. "bauma Conexpo Africa has a particularly strong appeal to Bell because of our African heritage and our approach to provide a one-stop shop for quality equipment solutions in the region. There is also a lack of well supported platforms in the industry and our commitment is to work alongside bauma Conexpo Africa to make the show a success and, most importantly, add significant value to the users of equipment across the region." In closing, Hughes adds: "As a full range supplier with the largest network in southern Africa, we look forward to interacting with existing and prospective Bell customers, partners and other visitors to the show and extend an open invitation to visit us at stand ES230, Johannesburg Exhibition Centre during 13 to 16 March 2018."Read more
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Quarry expansion leads to Bell B30E for Skene, with original D-series still in play
26 February 2018
Skene Group Construction Services Ltd, a leading independent operator within the construction supply sector, has drawn on seven years of success using a Bell Equipment B30D, and has further invested in an evolved B30E ADT. The new-breed machine was brought into the fleet within one of Skene’s quarry sites in September, working alongside the company’s existing B30D, which continues to deliver. Skene Group, a company based in Fife which originated in 1968, is a major supplier to the construction industry, manufacturing and supplying concrete blocks, ready-mix concrete and aggregates throughout Scotland and beyond. The company’s own plant and equipment are utilised within its two quarries and Contract Division, carrying out civil engineering works within both private and commercial sectors. The company’s quarries have expanded in recent years to meet with growing commercial and domestic demand, leading Skene’s taskforce of hardworking ADTs, excavators and wheel loaders to perform considerable working hours involving stripping, primary and secondary crushing, and tipping. “The machines we choose for working within the quarries are certainly put through their paces,” says Skene’s Joint Managing Director, Darren Forrester. “We use the ADTs daily, primarily to perform overburden tasks to access rock, but also to shift and retrieve material from the quarries’ main faces for subsequent processing at our static plants. “The use of capable ADTs has been essential in achieving these tasks effectively, and we’ve tried and tested the benefits of various makes and models over the years. We bought our first Bell ADT seven years ago, and have been truly impressed with the machine’s reliability and performance, right to the present day.” That machine is still ‘very much up and running’ and has an impressive 7,000 hours under its belt. Its robust performance has been a key contributor in forming Darren’s decision to invest in another Bell. However, during the time Skene’s B30D has been grafting in the quarry, the leading ADT manufacturer has been further developing the capabilities future machines, and has presented a new and improved line of vehicles to the market – the E-series. Development of the E-series took the course of five years, and led machines to be stringently tested within some of the harshest mine sites in the world. With increased suspension travel and an A-frame adaptation to give operators a more independent ride, E-series vehicles have already proved a ‘driver success’. The series offers 6x6-technology to provide class leading power and weight-ratios together with advanced engine and drivetrain characteristics, while the improvements made to the onboard diagnostics enable the interface to be more detailed, but also user friendly. “From experience, we can see why Bell Equipment's D-series platform was so well regarded by the industry throughout its lifetime, so by carrying its successful platform through to the smaller trucks in the new E-series range and by changing the front suspension to an A-frame layout, there’s a formula in place for another winning succession of machines. “In short, we’ve been really impressed with the new B30E ADT. It’s a cracking machine that we’ve used every day since delivery, without a hitch. “The machine type has, like our own relationship with Bell Equipment, evolved over the years, and grown from strength to strength.” Darren makes reference to his company’s relationship with Bell’s Area Sales Manager, Sandy Fairweather, the sales team member who has been a first point of contact for Skene since the purchase of his firm’s initial ADT was negotiated: “In our experience, when you buy with Bell, you get access to a full customer care package, not only from an aftersales team, but from the people you started the sales process with. We like that, because it makes you feel as though, as a customer, you’ve remained valued and are continued to be looked after. “We know that should a need ever arise, we can contact Sandy directly, and he will get any issues sorted personally, and we like to think that reflects our own business ethos well. “As a company, we’re proud of the strong position we’ve created for ourselves within the national construction industry, and have always strived to find ways to continually commit to moving our business forward, and facilitating success for our clients, locally and nationally. “This latest investment in an evolved machine and its potential to deliver, chimes perfectly with that valued Skene approach.”Read more
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Bell Germany officially opens its world class facility
03 October 2017
Bell Equipment Germany's new headquarters at Alsfeld, Germany was officially opened at the end of August with three special events - an opening ceremony, an open day for customers and suppliers as well as an intimate staff event to celebrate the completion of the mammoth relocation exercise. This significant investment signals the company's continuity and commitment to its customers in the Northern Hemisphere as well as their staff in Alsfeld, and encompasses the German and Central European sales and distribution departments along with Bell Equipment's international parts hub, the European Logistics Centre (ELC). The property has a built up area triple the size of the previous facility and comprising of modern sales and administration offices, workshop facilities and the ELC warehouse, which provides state-of-the-art commissioning and handling solutions. Strengthening the European foothold The opening ceremony was attended by 150 guests from neighbouring European countries and other global regions serviced by the new logistics centre, so they could better understand the strategic importance and the long-term perspectives of the new facility. Bell Germany Managing Director, Andreas Heinrich, explained that the new facility has been designed with further development in mind based on future demand. He thanked local partners and authorities, the various builders led by general contractor Goldbeck Ost, and especially emphasised the contribution of his highly motivated Bell Alsfeld staff during the relocation phase, which was successfully carried out while maintaining full operations. The Bell board also took the opportunity to meet in Germany before the opening ceremony affording Chairman of Bell Equipment Ltd, John Barton, and Chief Executive, Gary Bell, the opportunity to outline the company's perspectives on the European and North American markets and for the German-based activities. "We’re here to stay," was the clear message by Gary Bell who said that company has cemented its position as a world leading ADT supplier, with its new models and ongoing technical innovation. He added that 2017 looks set to be the best year in terms of ADT production and sales since the beginning of the decade largely due to contributions by activities in the European, North American and Asian markets. This has been further aided by the company's global strategy to implement assembly and parts facilities close to customers and suppliers. Over the next five years Bell Equipment plans to invest significantly more in its European operations and support with programmes covering an increase in European ADT production capacity in Eisenach and transferring the manufacture of certain core components from its Southern Hemisphere facility in Richards Bay, South Africa. Worldwide network John Barton said the new facility represents another milestone in the long tradition of the family-owned company and strongly reflects the Bell philosophy of providing 'Strong Reliable Support' to regional customers and markets by investing as close as possible to where they operate. In this regard the new European Logistics Centre plays a critical role in supplying parts to all regional logistics warehouses throughout Europe and other Northern Hemisphere markets. This is achieved through close cooperation with the company's factories and other logistics centres. With a significant investment in stock and an average availability of 95%, the ELC is positioned to support all Bell ADT models that have been sold in the region. Extended offer The Alsfeld complex has also been installed with a Bell ReMan Centre. This is the second such European facility and like the first unit, opened in 2009 at Bell UK in Burton-upon-Trent, specially trained mechatronic technicians repair and rebuild original Bell components, including axles, transfer cases, hydraulic components as well as transmissions and engines. Basing this facility at the ELC improves both the reaction and lead times as well as allowing for the rebuilt items to be stored and available for worldwide needs. At the beginning of May Bell Germany moved to its new location in Alsfeld, which offers modern administration and logistic facilities with large development opportunities. Modern commissioning and handling solutions in Bell Equipment’s European Logistics Centre accelerate parts supply to worldwide customers. Around 150 international guests from South Africa, Europe and other Bell regions globally attended the opening ceremony. MD of Bell Germany, Andreas Heinrich, provides information about the new location and its main tasks. Even closer to worldwide customers: John Barton, Chairman of Bell Equipment Ltd., characterised the new ELC as a "milestone" for the company. "We’re here to stay": Chief Executive, Gary Bell, announced important investments into the company's European production and logistics infrastructure. Representatives of the general contractor, Goldbeck Ost, presented the symbolic key (from left): Christian Weiß (Sales Engineer, Goldbeck Ost), Norbert Albrecht (Project Manager, Goldbeck Ost), Tobias Sachse (Site Manager, Goldbeck Ost), Andreas Heinrich (MD, Bell Germany), John Barton (Chairman, Bell Equipment), Gary Bell (Chief Executive) and Andreas Kiermeier (Branch Manager Thuringia, Goldbeck Ost). The 150 customers and suppliers who attended the open house day were impressed by the organisation and processes in the new Bell European Logistics Centre. The new ReMan Centre provides comprehensive testing procedures for repaired and rebuilt components. At the staff event, that officially closed the official opening celebrations of the Alsfeld complex, long serving members (from left): Tobias Appel, Bärbel Bajahr and Andreas Stolarksy were thanked for 10 years of service by Gary Bell and Bell Germany management represented by Steffen Zitter, ELC Manager (fifth from left), Sebastian Bleuel, Head of Accounts (second from right) and Andreas Heinrich, Managing Director (right). They also honoured Lena Dahlmann and Philipp Wahn for having successfully completed training at Bell Germany. Lena received training in the field of logistics and customs while Philipp was trained as a warehouse logistics specialist.Read more
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J and B Timbers expands its mechanisation with Matriarch Skogger
21 September 2017
A firm belief in the value of long-term relationships is proving its worth for a Swaziland-based timber harvesting contractor. What makes the story intriguing is the fact that even though the contractor believes in job creation by using manual labour, selective use of innovative mechanisation is streamlining his operations, leading to steady growth in a competitive market. Barend Steenkamp, the fifth generation of Steenkamps in Swaziland, along with his father Jan, owns J & B Timbers. The family has for many years farmed in the Sicunusa area in the west of the country. They were some of the last farmers to close their dairy production and Barend, who has a tertiary qualification in agriculture, saw a gap in 2010 in the contract timber harvesting field. “We started out on a small-scale felling 300 tonnes per month using one chainsaw and an agricultural tractor-trailer combination with all handling and loading done using manual labour from the Rocks area near our farm,” Barend says. “This was done for the Montigny timber group who later bought out all of Sappi’s forests in Swaziland.” Over the next five years J & B Timbers's operations showed steady growth and by 2015 the labour force had grown to 65 people. All felling, cross-cutting and loading was still being done by hand and at that time, Barend decided it was time to start mechanising. “We found a used Bell 125 Logger on the open market and in our ignorance, had it repaired using freelance mechanics who installed pirate parts, which soon caused the machine to break down during critical production times,” he says. “We then contacted Charlie Boucher at Bell Equipment in Swaziland and despite it being close to Christmas of that year, we were warmly received as new customers of Bell Equipment and more importantly, had our Bell Logger repaired and back in production quickly. This was the start of a long-term relationship that has benefited us greatly.” In March 2016 J & B Timbers bought its first new Bell 220A Teleboom Logger. “That machine made such a difference to our production as with two Bell Loggers we could now use one machine infield and another stacking timber at the roadside depot where it would also load timber onto trucks,” Barend adds. “Soon after this, our clients Montigny, who are also keen on job creation, doubled our monthly production from 2 500 tonnes to 5 000 tonnes as they saw in us the potential to grow and create more jobs.” In the same year and some six months later, J & B Timbers took delivery of another new Bell 220A Teleboom Logger but replaced the Teleboom with a Crankboom, which has a higher reach and can be used to load timber onto larger trailers. “We had been using the Matriarch 420 Timber Grab on our Bell Loggers and when our clients, Montigny, put out a contract in January 2017 to harvest pine thinnings, we were naturally interested although we now faced a new challenge of extracting bigger timber,” Barend explains. “Charlie Boucher arranged for us to meet Ashley Bell, Matriarch Equipment’s Marketing Manager, and Derek Howe, Bell Equipment’s General Manager: Forestry, Sugar and Agricultural Sales, to look at the Matriarch FASTfell and Skogger timber machines as possible solutions to our proposed thinnings harvesting.” A trip to see the Matriarch machines at work in forests in Tsitsikamma paid dividends and Barend decided that buying the Matriarch Skogger was the best way forward. “Our challenge was to get the felled timber to roadside and the Skogger, which fulfills a dual role of extracting the timber coupled with the ability to then stack it as well, seemed the obvious choice,” he explains. “A big advantage of the Skogger is that we believe it will work equally well in thinnings as well as clear fell operations where it will haul gum in longer lengths, such as that which is destined for transmission poles.” J & B Timbers's operators have taken to the Matriarch Skogger with ease. Barend ascribes this to the ease of handling in the machine’s design and with so many features he enthuses about. “First of all you have a low-revving engine and this in turn translates to fuel burn of around 7,2 litres an hour, which means lower cost per tonnes of timber handled; a big plus. You then don’t have to pre-bunch the timber as the Skogger does that automatically with its delicate grab. That same grab has a built-in scale to prevent overloading and it further features a re-grab effect of which the frequency can be set, which means the timber is held firmly during the extraction and stacking processes. A floating boom also retards the grabbing action.” Other features of the Matriarch Skogger include low temperatures on the hydraulic oil which leads to longer component life, no wheel slip due to the presence of differentials and a transfer box and self-straightening of the articulated turn feature once a change of direction has been completed. Barend believes that the weight-to-power ratio is perfect and this should lead to longer tyre life. “We would not be at this point without the backing, advice and support we’ve enjoyed from Charlie and Nicolien Boucher at Bell Equipment in Swaziland,” Barend says. “We believe we’ve done our part by planning our cash flows and not growing too quickly. We’ve confidently entered into a maintenance agreement with Bell Swaziland and rely totally on the company’s expertise.” Barend’s wife, Carmia, appreciates the challenges of the contract timber harvesting industry but her real passion lies with farming sheep. “From our first meeting, under the pressure that the festive season brings as everyone tries to get away, Charlie and Nicolien have always been eager to assist us,” she says. “We believe we can reward their commitment to our business by keeping our account with Bell Equipment paid up.” From humble beginnings, J & B Timbers has grown its contact timber harvesting operations in a planned and systematic way and while mechanisation has brought benefits, Barend believes that their support of their local community in creating jobs is key. The company’s current labour force of 370 people fell and extract 9 000 tonnes of timber a month but equipment such as the Matriarch Skogger, is certainly speeding things up. Barend quotes a client who said of the Matriarch Skogger: “This machine is going to cause a revolution in the forestry industry” and we have reason to agree. Team Leader of Bell Equipment Swaziland, Charlie Boucher, with Carmia and Barend Steenkamp of J & B Timbers.Read more
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Winnie's Logging Services mechanises with Matriarch machines
11 September 2017
Some of the earliest gold discoveries in South Africa were made in the hills surrounding Barberton in Mpumalanga. This brought about an industrial revolution of its own in the mild climate of the Lowveld. Now Barberton’s gold has all but been depleted, to be replaced by a new and more sustainable resource namely timber. Up in the pine forests of the Montrose area above Barberton, a more subtle and quieter revolution is taking place in the manner and ownership of the once male-dominated industry of timber harvesting and extraction. Winnie Ndlovu grew up in the forests surrounding the Sappi Ngodwana Paper Mill near Nelspruit. Her father, Frank, worked for the company as a forester and when she was a teenager Winnie accompanied him to work in the forests during her school holidays. “When I expressed an interest to study forestry after matric, I was told in no uncertain terms that it was not a place for women,” Winnie says. “So instead, I studied agriculture and with my diploma in hand, I joined TSB Sugar for two years to complete my practical training modules.” Another year’s work with a furniture manufacturer preceded Winnie not being able to resist going to work for then timber contract harvester Gavin Simms. “I worked for Gavin in the administrative department and learnt firsthand about the importance of keeping accurate machine and man-hour records plus all the essential regulatory paperwork that ensures a business runs smoothly,” she says. “Gavin seemed comfortable to let me work on my own and I appreciated learning so much about the timber contracting business in this way.” After Winnie had spent seven years with his company, Gavin Simms was in the throes of exiting the contract harvesting business, choosing instead to hire out forest harvesting equipment under the banner of Sable Hire while also mentoring young and upcoming entrepreneurs to start up their own harvesting outfits. “In 2015 Gavin approached me and asked whether I had ever considered starting my own contract timber harvesting company,” Winnie explains. “It had long been a dream of mine but without access to finance and such resources, I was doubtful that I could do it successfully.” “Fortunately at that time, paper and pulp company Sappi’s Forestry division was putting out tenders for timber harvesting contracts and I was able to negotiate a contract to supply the company with 85 000 tons of pine and eucalyptus a year, for five years. Now that we had a goal, and a somewhat daunting one at that, I had to get started in earnest and Winnie’s Logging Services was founded.” Winnie started off conservatively, employing 24 people. One of those was Violet Motubatse, who is still the Production Manager for Winnie’s Logging Services. “Violet and I have been friends since we both worked for Gavin and she has lots of experience in timber harvesting and extraction,” Winnie adds. “We started off with 11 chainsaws, felling timber manually, and the first machine we hired in was a Bell 225A Logger from Gavin’s Sable Hire, which we used for stacking timber at roadside. All other operations were done manually and we soon realised that to make a dent in our massive annual target of 85 000 tons we would have to mechanise to some extent.” Fortunately help was at hand as besides the valuable mentorship role that Gavin Simms was providing in terms of contracting and technical matters, his company Sable Hire was well equipped to assist Winnie with forestry equipment at competitive rates. “Gavin has been so much more than a mentor to us as a young company, helping us to obtain favourable financial terms from banks with which we could buy our vehicles to transport our staff and light utility vehicles for both Violet and I,” Winnie says. “His vast knowledge, built up over of many years in the forest of how to work efficiently and safely, is the stuff that no one could get from books alone.” “And to add to this backup, Gavin has the experience of what forestry harvesting and equipment will work best for us. He owns the first Matriarch Skogger and has just bought a second machine, which we have the privilege of hiring from him. Working in unison with the Matriarch Skogger is the Matriarch FASTfell timber felling machine which has speeded up our production to levels we’d never have believed possible.” Winnie is adamant that despite the years spent working in the industry it’s working in the timber compartments where experience and knowledge is gained to further her company. She and her harvesting teams are eager learners and value input from experienced specialists in the field. A recent visit by Derek Howe, Bell Equipment’s General Manager: Forestry, Sugar and Agricultural Sales, who will be responsible for much of the sales of Matriarch equipment, and Ashley Bell, Matriarch Equipment Marketing Manager, was eagerly awaited. “Derek with all his experience is a wonderful teacher and he taught us in the pine compartment how to really approach clear felling efficiently,” Winnie continues. “He showed the Matriarch FASTfell operator how to cut a swathe into the compartment with directional felling, so clearing a way that allows the Matriarch Skogger to bunch timber and extract it quickly, stacking it at roadside from where it can be processed further.” Working in tandem, the two Matriarch machines are playing a big role in Winnie’s Logging Services currently achieving around 320 tons per day although Winnie and Violet are confident that as their operators improve, this figure will increase. Working efficiently yet maintaining safety standards is a priority for the whole team. Sable Hire’s Matriarch equipment is hired out on dry rates and Winnie has been impressed by the low fuel consumption that the equipment returns. The Matriarch FASTfell machine purrs its way through 5 to 7 litres of diesel an hour with the Matriarch Skogger only slightly more at between 6 and 9 litres. “The big decision for me now is whether I can afford my own equipment and machines from Matriarch are definitely top of the list,” Winnie says with a broad smile. “The equipment is so competitively priced and as we’re assured of excellent technical back-up through Bell Equipment’s wide footprint, the first thought is that I certainly want both the Matriarch FASTfell and Skogger. Time will tell though and for now, we’re relying on Sable Hire and their favourable rates.” (From left): Winnie Ndlovu, Gavin Simms and Violet Motubatse. Matriarch Equipment's Ashley Bell (left) with Winnie Ndlovu and Bell Equipment's Derek Howe.Read more