Plant Equipment and Hire January 2019 | Page 18

PRODUCT FOCUS BELL RINGS IN ITS 4 × 4 ADVANTAGES In Germany, the flexible Bell B30E 4 × 4 is also used in stripping overburden or restoring exhausted areas. Contributed by Bell Equipment | Photos by Bell Equipment South African manufacturer and global articulated dump truck (ADT) specialist Bell Equipment specialises in 6 × 6 trucks and is at the forefront of technological innovation geared at improving productivity and safety while delivering the lowest cost per tonne of material moved. A DTs are specialised machines, designed to go places where other trucks simply cannot, thereby giving owners unparalleled flexibility. This has given rise to various nicknames in different countries, with one of the most descriptive coming from parts of the United Kingdom where they are known as ‘Bendies’ because the articulated steering makes them appear to bend in the middle as they round corners. Understanding the importance of ‘cost per tonne’ to customers, the innovative 18 JANUARY 2019 OEM is set to influence global ADT trends with its growing range of 4 × 4 ADT variations. The 60-ton 4 × 4 has been available in South Africa since 2014 and, following the market acceptance and suitability of both the B60D and B60E generations, Bell Equipment plans to introduce the smaller B30E 4 × 4 to the Southern African market in 2019. 4 × 4 gaining popularity Though new to the local market, the B30E 4 × 4 is by no means a new product for Bell. The truck was unveiled at bauma Munich in 2007 as a low-volume, niche product in Europe. It was four years ago that customers started to see the real potential of the two-axle 4 × 4 concept, and the concept has steadily become more mainstream in that region. Bell Equipment product marketing manager, Brad Castle, unpacks the advantages of the 4 × 4 concept: “Our 4 × 4 models have been designed to complement our existing 6 × 6 ADT range by offering customers, who don’t need the functionality of a 6 × 6, a more practical and attractive alternative to tipper trucks www.plantonline.co.za