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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the United Kingdom, South America, and Australia set to introduce autonomous Bell ADTs on their worksites during 2023.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Staff from the company’s UK headquarters in Barton-under-Needwood chose to support the closely-linked causes; with the BHF striving to fund life-saving research and support those affected by heart and circulatory diseases, and Derbyshire Blood Bikes providing an urgent medical courier service locally to the NHS.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

In a move that reflects its confidence in Bell Equipment’s machine quality and competency, steel rolling mill and limestone quarry operation, Ben Bennett Jr., has announced its most recent acquisition of a new L2606E Loader that was secured to replace an existing machine.

Bell Equipment will be showcasing the largest range of Articulated Dump Trucks on the market at this year’s Hillhead 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

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

“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 sh

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.

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

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.”

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.

The interim results of South Africa's largest homegrown heavy equipment manufacturer, Bell Equipment, indicate that the company has enjoyed more positive trading conditions from most of its global markets in comparison to the same period last year. Revenue increased by 11% to R3,4 billion (2016: R3,1bn), Net Profit After Tax was up by 86% to R119,6 million (2016: R64,3m) and Headline Earnings Per Share rose 78% to 119c (2016: 67c). Commenting on global markets, Bell Equipment Chief Executive, Gary Bell, said the mining and commodity markets in South Africa, Australia and Russia have a positive growth outlook, with a slow recovery evident. The UK and USA remain key markets with relatively stable sales given the significant political changes and resultant uncertainty over the period, while the European market has continued to show steady growth, which has benefited the Bell operations in France and Germany, in particular. Bell also reported that the stronger Rand in the first half of 2017 affected turnover and margin in both domestic and export sales, and increased costs from essential product upgrades proved difficult to pass on to the market due to significant competitive pressure. "These two factors have affected profitability and are a key focus for management," he said. At the same time, the company has kept expenses well in check and rung in numerous changes that are geared to better position the company going forward. "The E-series range of trucks, and in particular the new concept B60E and B20E LGP units, continue to garner positive reviews from users around the globe and will in time add additional throughput for our business," said Bell. "The investment into our new European Logistics Centre has been completed and the facility is now fully operational. Significant improvements in customer service levels and a reduction in operational costs are beginning to flow through. Aftermarket sales and support to our existing customers remains a critical element of the business and resources are being channelled to ensure that we are best equipped to deliver on this important aspect of our business. "In the South African distribution business a successful BBBEE transaction has been completed which will ensure our participation in all sectors of the economy. An important distribution agreement with Kobelco from Japan has been concluded, extending our offering of excavators with a broader and more competitive range of machines. Second half sales should begin to reflect this additional volume. Further opportunities for complementing product lines have been identified and programmes are in place to bring these to market and drive our growth plans for Africa and our Northern Hemisphere markets." Our traditional mining markets north of the Zambezi continue to underperform as a result of both internal political issues and poor commodity demand, and restructuring and right-sizing continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Going forward Bell said the company will continue to invest in both additional products and in distribution opportunities across the globe. "The assessment of current distribution channels as well as the appointment of focused dealers in non-represented countries are priorities." The group has completed a formal search process and in June announced its succession plans for a new CEO, with the appointment of Leon Goosen, the current COO, as the CEO designate. The plans allow for an extended handover, ensuring continuity for the business, and a date for the final appointment to the CEO position will be decided in due course. In closing Bell said that Tiisetso Tsukudu has announced his retirement as an independent non-executive director from the Bell board after 13 years of service and the company would like to take this opportunity to thank him for both his dedication and significant input over the years.

Not too long ago the thought of being able to manage one's heavy equipment fleet remotely by computer would have seemed far-fetched. Yet today this technology is so readily available and beneficial that managing a fleet successfully without it should be unthinkable. This is according to Bell Equipment's Fleetm@tic® Product Manager, Philip Nel, who says that modern day telematics has taken fleet management to another level by offering accurate and in-depth data that would previously have been too time consuming and laborious to gather and assimilate. Bell Equipment was the first original equipment manufacturer to develop its own proprietary fleet management system, having introduced Fleetm@tic® for its range of Articulated Dump Trucks about 12 years ago, and remains a leader in the industry. "With our standard onboard weighing we saw an opportunity for this technology and had the confidence that this is the way that the market would eventually move. With growing competitiveness in the market it is important for customers to have accurate production data so that they can get the fastest return on their capital investment and optimise their operation," says Philip. Today the company has thousands of machines on Fleetm@tic®, with some operating in far-flung locations such as Greenland and Iceland as well as on a small remote island off the south east coast of Australia. Fleetm@tic® makes use of dual communication using cell phone networks where available, which provides a cost effective and reliable means of transmitting of higher volumes of data. In areas where there is no cell phone network coverage, Bell benefits from pole-to-pole satellite coverage to deliver critical communications. The company's design philosophy of continuous evolution has seen the system advance over this time to improve its user-friendliness and include real-time monitoring. Fleetm@tic® can work with any modern browser and is compatible with mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Most recently the system has been extended to cover a customer's whole Bell fleet. Since different customers have different needs, Bell Fleetm@tic® is available in three packages: The Basic package is available on all Bell-supplied machines and provides customers with machine hours worked per shift, average fuel burn and a fault code report. The Classic package is standard on all new ADTs for two years from date of delivery and provides production data including idle times and average payloads. Premium offers real-time tracking of equipment and detailed operational information for each individual laden and unladen cycle. Another useful aspect of Fleetm@tic® is that it can be built into a customer's upfront finance package. Bell also supports data export for customers who run fleets of equipment supplied by different OEMs so that they can access their data using whatever software they prefer. Apart from the obvious uses to track productivity and fuel consumption, Fleetm@tic® can be used to identify areas for driver improvement, which positively impacts on production. When used efficiently Fleetm@tic® can assist with scheduling maintenance and services, enabling Bell to order parts in advance and understand what is happening with a machine's health. The security benefit of Fleetm@tic® was highlighted in November 2016, when a customer called the Bell Fleetm@tic® office to report a machine stolen in the King William's Town area. "The Fleetm@tic® engineers communicated directly with the machine to obtain its location and this information was passed on to the police. The engineers also sent the machine a disable message to prevent it from starting. The police tracked down the machine and recovered it for the customer," recalls Philip. Andrew O'Brien, Assistant Maintenance Manager of FWM-Fujairah Workshop Machinery Plant Division, part of Saif Bin Darwish Civil Engineering Contractors based in the United Arab Emirates, has seen firsthand the benefits of Fleetm@tic®. The company has five Bell B50D ADTs and a B40D and has been using the fleet management system for about two years. "We've been able to take our Fleetm@tic® data and chart it to see trends more easily. It gives us an understanding and detailed insight into production data like never before. We can identify shortfalls in our production output and implement changes where necessary, for example, if we are under payload capacity we can pick it up and take steps to improve. We can also set benchmarks and targets for a variety of areas like tonnage outputs, cycle times, laden and unladen idle times. Using geofencing has allowed us to identify bottlenecks in our operation, pinpoint locations that are slower and investigate our tipping points and see why we can't get in and out faster. "We can gather performance data on individual operators, remotely gather vital health and production data as well as identify and prevent possible future failures using data such as overloads, speeding and harsh braking. Recently we had a truck with excessive tyre wear and when we looked at our data we saw that the truck had more overloading events that had led to the problem, and we were able to identify how to improve tyre life. "We've checked the Bell onboard weighing system against our weigh bridges and have found it to be very accurate. Fleetm@tic® is a real benefit. By being able to gather this data we're able to change attitudes and perceptions. We use it to track so many things and it can be a measuring tool to see what improvements and savings have been achieved," he adds. Philip encourages customers to make contact and arrange a demonstration so that they can see the results for themselves. "Embracing this technology and incorporating it into your daily life will reap cost saving rewards. We understand that not everyone shares our enthusiasm for technology but we have tools to support you through the transformation," he says.

Since the introduction of the new E-series Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs), the first Bell B30E units to call the Australian market home were Victoria’s EB Mawson & Sons and Queensland’s Pipeline Plant Hire - both experiencing first-hand the true advantages of the new ADTs in various worksite applications. Demand for trucks that are safer, more fuel efficient and haul higher payloads continues to drive product advancement and evolutionary design in Bell Equipment’s E-series trucks. Incorporating safety features such as Hill Hold and vertical tip angle safety monitoring, the new trucks are also equipped with onboard load weighing and keyless start as standard. When it comes to greater safety and productivity, the E-series has an automatic Inter-axle Differential Lock (IDL) giving the vehicle full Automatic Traction Control. Darren Colville, EB Mawson & Sons’ Lake Boga Quarry Manager said: “Safety is our number one priority. The Bell truck delivers above and beyond when it comes to safety features, with everything from reverse camera and mirror package to onboard inclinometer and weighing system. “The onboard weighing scale is a standout, particularly as we operate in a hard rock quarry. The three accelerometers and external load lights improve load accuracy and prevent overloading. This helps us maximise productivity and reduce our maintenance costs such as tyre and driveline wear. The truck provides rapid engine response and dependable cold-start performance, faster haul cycles and improved fuel efficiency - creating a truck that moves more material at a lower cost-per-tonne for maximum productivity and profitability. “At Lake Boga, we prefer to operate articulated trucks due to bench width requirements. These trucks allow us to extract more from the quarry. Bell’s new design makes it easy for our operators when manoeuvring in and out of the pit. They enjoy the comfortable cabin and smooth ride.” Craig Carson, Pipeline Plant Hire’s General Manager said: “We are constantly looking to introduce innovative technology into our industry. “From a safety perspective, the Hill Start Assist and Auto Park Application are a real advantage. Our operators are impressed with the visibility achieved via the advanced camera technology and mirror package, alongside cabin comfort, improved steering and manoeuvrability. “Our three units have been working in Queensland’s Biloela-Gladstone region as part of the major Santos GLNG Project*, hauling material such as topsoil used for restoration and remediation purposes along the pipeline route.” The new Bell models represent an evolution in ADT technology and functionality building upon the company's strong heritage as a world-class ADT specialist.

With its firm focus on supplying customers with the most capable plant machinery, recognised earthmoving contractor Kelston Sparkes Group has announced its recent fleet enhancement of four additional Bell Equipment B50D Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs), bringing the total number of this model to ten. Established in Bristol in 1952, Kelston Sparkes has grown to operate one of the largest fleets of ADTs in the UK, and has continually strived to increase the capabilities of its fleet, with the addition of larger excavators, crushers, screens, bulldozers and rollers. The company now operates a taskforce of over 200 plant and earthmoving vehicles, as part of its ever evolving and expanding fleet. In 2016, the firm decided to bring a model of ADT on board with a greater load volume, to further meet the needs of its clients. It invested in four Bell B50Ds, which were originally tasked with quarry-based load and haul. These machines demonstrated their versatility and coped well with the long-haul work, proving themselves to have the capacity and fuel efficiency Kelston Sparkes’ clients were looking for, as Director, Rob Stark explains: “We required articulated dump trucks for their versatility, but we also needed a much larger load capacity than the current 40-ton dump trucks we operate, due to the long-haul distances coupled with the knowledge that our customers are very fuel focused. We found that Bell’s B50D model could meet both those requirements, delivering a 2:1 heaped capacity of 28 m3, and a rated payload of 45 400 kg; figures that could provide a real pay-off for the customer. “We initially invested in four machines, each with a Mercedes Benz turbocharged and intercooled engine, a feature that really makes a difference in terms of fuel efficiency. The machines have proved to be reliable and have performed well, both in the quarry and at our contracting sites.” Rob goes on to explain how his positive experience with the B50Ds then led him to invest in an additional two models towards the end of 2016, and now, a further four vehicles in 2017. “The B50Ds have been useful machines, with an ideal specification for customers who need a hard-working ADT that offers that extra capacity, without hitting hard on the fuel consumption. “Furthermore, the B50Ds are great to drive, with our operators reporting that they enjoy the user experience; a factor we feel is extremely important.” Rob refers to his company’s commitment to actively promote positive working practices and supporting staff with training. Keen to develop the skill sets and expertise of younger generations of machine operatives, the company launched its own training school back in 2002, a venture which has since grown from strength-to-strength. “We’ve always been acutely aware of the ramifications skill shortages within the construction industry create. Through a desire to nurture construction industry capabilities for the future, an ethos has evolved within our firm where importance is placed on training for younger team members. “Our training school launched over 15 years ago, and since then has successfully worked to attract younger drivers to the construction industry, giving them the abilities and confidence they need to achieve a successful career in plant machine operations. We’ve helped enable operatives to achieve Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) qualifications, and extend their reach by teaching them how to achieve the best performance from a wide range of earthmoving machines.” By bringing the total of Bell B50Ds within Kelston Sparkes’ fleet to 10, and training operatives to use the equipment to its best advantage, Rob believes his clients are better equipped with more machines available to meet demand and perform to capacity. “Our reputation has been built on a long-standing ability to provide the best and most appropriate range of equipment to clients, alongside the services of skilled, highly-capable operatives, now and into the future. “We feel that expanding our fleet with these latest Bell B50Ds furthers the services we can provide our clients and we’ve every confidence that the new models will succeed in delivering the results they need.”