Capital Equipment News May 2018

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Bell announces important global investments To meet the growing global demand for its trucks, which recorded a +30% increase

in unit sales in 2017, Bell Equipment has announced a major investment in its global production and aftersales structures. A new 12 000 m² facility will be built at Bell Equipment’s European ADT plant in Kindel-Eisenach, Germany to accommodate the fabrication of all ADT bins for the Northern Hemisphere. The significant investment will be operational from the second quarter of 2019. “Most of the high-quality steel for our bodies is sourced in Europe, therefore this will optimise our supply logistics and allow us to react quickly to customer demand,” explains Tristan du Pisanie, ADT Product Marketing Manager. The decision will not affect capacity at the South African production headquarters in Richards Bay. “We are experiencing an upswing in all ADT markets around the world. As a supplier, we want to guarantee short lead times and good availability throughout our whole range,” says Du Pisanie. Part of this is the commencement of two-shift production at Eisenach from the middle of Carmix to the rescue CARMIX, said to be one of the most rugged and reliable self-loading mobile concrete mixers, recently completed three community centre floor slabs (35 m³ each) and 52 RDP house foundations of 13 m³ each in South Africa. On the deeply saturated mud grounds of the Tshikondeni mine close to Pafuri, the Northern gate of the Kruger National Park, the Carmix 3.5TT unit went about its business with no issues due to its 4x4 drive and active 4-wheel steering, ensuring that each community centre floor slab was completed in the desired time to allow for the floating crew to take over. With the closest batch plant over 100 km away, on-site mixing was the answer. With the Carmix unique load cell weigh batching system, ensuring accuracy and quality of concrete is right on point, the customer found the ideal solution. The unit is equipped with four load cells placed evenly under the drum in order to weigh each and every material, water included. The easy-to-use and large in-cabin computer screen allows for 99 different mix designs and 24 different types of materials to be stored and programmed. The in-cab printer will

The strategic investments are in response to the increased global demand for Bell trucks.

dealer network and rapidly growing truck population in North America. The ALC will operate in cooperation with the company’s European Logistic Centre in Germany and the Global Logistics Centre in Johannes- burg, South Africa. b

this year to meet the growing demand. Another important investment in 2018 is the commencement of the new American Logistics Centre (ALC). Located in North Carolina, the facility will be ide- ally positioned to service the expanding

ensure a batch receipt for each batch is recorded to ensure strict quality control is maintained on the job site. With the jobsite at Tshikondeni being literally out in the bushes, reliability of equipment was vital. Carmix units are designed with this in mind by being as simple as possible without any sacrifice on quality and technical advances.

As demands on jobsites are increasing and standing time an everyday occurrence, having full control of your supply is becoming more apparent to contractors. Not only control of the supply is essential, but also that of quality and costs. b

With the jobsite at Tshikondeni being literally out in the bushes, reliability of equipment was vital.

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