HOT SEAT
Bell Equipment continues to gain ground as a leading innovator in articulated dump truck (ADT) development. IMIESA speaks to Nick Kyriacos, product marketing manager: Mining and Construction, and Dawie Ras, engineering manager: Mining and Construction Specials, about pioneering work on the Bell Versa series, a derivative of the OEM’s standard ADT offering.
Custom-built ADTs for niche applications Where does the Versa slot in within the Bell ADT line-up? NK Our manufacturing centre for the global distribution of ADTs and the Versa series is based at our Richards Bay factory and head office in South Africa. The introduction of the Versa follows intensive research and development (R&D) in the local market, where the first prototypes went through a rigorous field evaluation process. Thereafter, commercially approved units began to roll off the production line. The local market feedback has been excellent, and we are now steadily introducing
the Versa to our international customer base. Each Versa truck is a custom build working off the proven and latest-generation Bell E-Series ADT platform, which comprises the B25E, B30E, B35E, B40E, B45E, B50E and B60E range. So far, we’ve developed solutions for a diverse customer base within South Africa and further afield in Africa and the world. A recent example is the production of a purposebuilt solution for German OEM Streumaster, in Europe. One of Streumaster’s proprietary cement spreader systems for road stabilisation has been
mounted on and integrates with a Bell B25E powerhead (or truck tractor) and its chassis.
Can customers choose different engines and drivetrains? DR All our ADTs and Versa units are fitted with Mercedes-Benz engines. Customers select the applicable E-Series power head as the base. From there, we modify the rear-end section – either on a standard, shortened or extended chassis – to support the solution required by the customer. Our custom builds for timber trucks illustrate our design flexibility. We offer numerous variations because we understand that every site has its unique conditions. A case in point is the especially steep terrain that characterises the forestry region in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
In response, we’ve developed a more powerful 240 kW B25E equipped with the B30E engine and drivetrain that packs a real punch. For customers in this region, it’s an ideal solution – the right-sized truck for the application, with the torque to conquer the rolling elevations. As is traditional for ADTs, all transmissions are automatic. This translates into improved fuel consumption, extended engine life, and the right level of control in rough terrain applications. All our axles are developed in-house and here we provide the option of fitting either dry or wet disc brakes. Dry brakes are fitted as standard on our smaller trucks, but on larger trucks the wet brake option, which adds to the upfront capital cost of the machine, is favoured due to long lifespan, which justifies this expense. Wet disc brakes provide far greater stopping power, which is especially important for heavier loads. Wet disc brakes also last far longer due to the limited contact of the friction plates. Where trucks operate in marshy conditions, wet brakes are also essential since they are designed as a fully sealed system. As a value-added offering, we now include wet discs as a standard feature on the B30E powerhead.
DID YOU KNOW? Dawie Ras (left) and Nick Kyriacos, Bell Equipment
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IMIESA October 2020
To date, more than 30 000 ADTs have been produced at Bell Equipment’s Richards Bay factory.
