Bell Equipment and JCB were established almost a decade apart on opposite ends of the world, yet with their similarities in terms of timelines, family lineage, philosophies, and product pedigree it is small wonder that these companies have now forged a growing partnership in South Africa.

Bell and JCB are both named after their founders. Joseph Cyril Bamford established JCB in the United Kingdom in 1945, the same year his eldest son, Lord Anthony Bamford, was born. The following year he launched a self-tipping trailer for the country’s agricultural industry. 

Irvine Bell founded Bell in 1954 as an engineering works on a small farm in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and invented the self-loading cane trailer in response to a need from the farmers harvesting cane at the time.

For both entrepreneurs, other innovative material handling equipment soon followed like the Bell Tri-wheeled Loader for sugar cane and the JCB Major Loader for a multitude of tasks around the farm.

Both companies soon expanded the development of products and started exporting additional material handling equipment and attachments growing the brands on the international stage.

“The similarities are remarkable but most relevant is that Joseph Cyril Bamford and Irvine Bell both developed their businesses due to their ability to listen and understand their customers’ needs and then use their extraordinary aptitude for mechanical innovation to deliver on these needs,” says Bell Equipment Group Director of Products and Marketing, Stephen Jones.

This philosophy has enabled both companies to grow into world leading OEMs that have diversified to provide equipment solutions to the construction and mining industries – JCB with its acclaimed range that includes backhoe loaders, wheeled loaders, excavators and telehandlers, and Bell which is recognised globally as an Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) specialist with the largest range in the world.

Innovation remains a common key driver. In 2018 JCB introduced its first fully electric machine and in 2020 unveiled a prototype hydrogen powered excavator. That same year Bell Equipment announced the first autonomous-ready ADT. Bell was also the first ADT manufacturer to develop its own telematics solution and introduce several technologies, such as onboard weighing, Hill Start and Tip Safe, which are features that respectively prevent rollback on slopes and rollovers due to tipping at unsafe angles.

“Importantly both companies have never forgotten their heritage and have continued to invest in forestry and agriculture. JCB markets products for this segment through JCB Agriculture and Bell is currently rolling out the Bell Forestry and Agriculture brand which includes the Bell Tri-wheeler and Hauler products as well as the Matriarch sugar and forestry equipment,” says Stephen.

Today, both companies have also retained their family roots. Lord Anthony Bamford, Joseph’s son, is the Managing Director and Chairman of JCB, positions he has held since 1975. Irvine’s three sons, Peter, Gary and Paul, all worked for the company for many years in different aspects of the business. Gary served as Global Chief Executive from 1984 to 2018, and now continues to oversee the company as non-executive Chairman.