THE LEADER VOLUME 18 • NUMBER 11 / 12
Thinking outside the box
Editorial Director Paul Moore BSc ( Hons ), MSc Email : paul @ im-mining . com
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Many mining equipment supply facilities today are more correctly described as assembly centres as opposed to full blown manufacturing facilities or factories . Everything is outsourced and is brought together . This works very well , but it is also true that those OEMs that do retain a true manufacturing capability have a lot to offer the mining industry in general , as well as to other industries .
With almost 70 years of demonstrated expertise in complex engineering , heavy fabrication , and machining for its own range of material handling equipment , Bell Equipment is now offering these specialist services to all industries in South Africa through its newly formed division , Bell Heavy Industries ( BHI ).
Bell Equipment ’ s Group Business Development Director , Stephen Jones emphasises the current scarcity of companies providing these vital services locally . “ South Africa has seen a huge reduction in engineering companies , and , in response , we have strategically positioned our South African manufacturing facility to fill this void by providing project engineering and contract manufacturing through BHI .”
He adds : “ The growth of Bell as a wellestablished mining , earthmoving , and agriculture equipment manufacturer , both domestically and in terms of exports around the world , is a testament to the skills available and the quality of products that we make in Richards Bay . We ’ re confident in our ability to expand into other industries and believe this will benefit not only the manufacturing sector but the whole country .”
Bell has also received accolades for its demonstrated performance from organisations such as the South African Capital Equipment Export Council ( SACEEC ), the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa ( MEMSA ), and the Department of Trade and Industry , which hosts the South African Premier Business Awards together with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa .
The 45,000 m ² undercover manufacturing area in Richards Bay complies with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and welds to the internationally recognised ISO 3834-2 Appendix 10 standards . It is well equipped with specialist machines including both horizontal and vertical CNC ( computerised numerical control ) machining centres , 5-axis boring machines , laser cutters , high-definition oxyfuel and plasma cutters , bending brakes , and advanced welding technology . A blasting plant , phosphating tanks , sealed spray booth , galvanising bath , and an automated powder coating installation are available to take care of surface treatments .
The Bell team in Richards Bay of over 800 machinists , welders , and assemblers is among the best in the country thanks to the company ’ s own training centre , which plays a crucial role in internally developing world-class skills from the surrounding community . “ This is complemented by our highly skilled team of welding , quality , and industrial engineers , along with onsite calibration facilities , equipment to perform material checks , and a number of highly specialised co-ordinate measuring machines . Together with our strong focus on process development , BHI can guarantee consistent quality to customers . BHI can also tap into a wealth of group resources , notably a team of over 100 South African design engineers , enhancing its suitability for local manufacturing across diverse industries ,” adds Jones .
Bell Equipment ’ s manufacturing operation , which is 55 % black-owned and 24 % black women-owned , contributes to B-BBEE scores and creates localisation opportunities for potential customers . “ Over the years we have established a global supply chain with access to world-class suppliers . Procurement staff are well skilled in international logistics and our strategic sourcing department has strong commodity expertise , which ensures stringent input cost control . We have always maintained that manufacturing has massive transformation potential for the South African economy and employment , so we are optimistic about this new division and will be actively engaging with those looking for the expertise we now offer outside of our traditional market segment ,” he concludes .
Bell Equipment has also identified underground mining as an opportunity for growth . In April this year it revealed that 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 .
Anton Wheeler has been appointed to head up this move as Underground Division Lead . He brings a wealth of expertise from both his long career in the mining industry , where he held executive management positions with several leading platinum mining companies , and in manufacturing , where he headed up an underground equipment OEM . He is also a past Chairman of Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa .
“ A key part of our strategy is to grow our portfolio of products ,” said Wheeler . “ Currently , we have two underground mining products , our Bell Underground Articulated Dump Truck ( ADT ) and a Bell Rock Scaler . Both products have been well accepted in our existing African markets for their built-in levels of safety , use of latest technology , and lowest cost per tonne productivity , and we see the opportunity to develop our range further .”
Paul Moore Editorial Director paul @ im-mining . com
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023 | International Mining 3