Although Bell is not a specialist in underground equipment, the company does manufacture
an underground dump truck and an underground rock scaler.
ADT, but it does build underground load haul
dumpers (LHDs), drill rigs, and roof bolters.
The possibilities of a closer relationship
between the two companies are obvious. For
a start, both companies are proudly South
African, and AARD has extensive experience
in underground machines, while the same holds
true for Bell and surface equipment. Through
what could be a match made in heaven, both
companies would diversify its
product range
Bell’s most recent part nership, announced in June, is an agreement with global excavator
specialist Kobelco Construction Machinery for the exclusive distribution and support of
Kobelco excavators in southern Africa.
significantly. “To be a full complement
underground machine supplier, you really need
a full range of equipment from LHDs, drill rigs,
roof bolters, and dump trucks,” says McNeill.
Teaming up
A more substantial partnership with AARD
will not be the first venture of its kind for
Bell. The company is no stranger to strategic
alliances. It has teamed up with several select
global equipment manufacturers in the past
as part of its quest to increase its customer
offerings. Bell first formed an alliance with
US-based Deere’s construction
and forestry arm in 1996, giving
the company distribution rights
in southern Africa for Deere’s
range of construction and
forestry equipment.
This was followed in 2009 by
Bell’s collaboration with another
German company, Bomag, through which
Bell became the official distributor for
the Bomag range of road construction
and compaction equipment in southern
Africa. There have also been agreements with
Liebherr and Hitachi covering the distribution
of Bell ADTs globally. In 2013, Irish company
Finlay became a partner, bringing to Bell a
range of mobile crushing, screening, and
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