Bell enters UK wheel loader sector with E-Series launch

At a prestigious event at the Belfry Golf Club in Staffordshire late last year Bell launched its new E-Series range of wheel loaders for the UK market. The significance of the launch is that it's Bell's first venture into the UK wheel loader market in this South African company's history.

The range comprises a total of seven machines to match the requirements of a wide range of customers, from the utility class L1204E loader, which has a standard bucket capacity of 1.9 m³, to the production class L2706E loader, with a standard 4.6 m³ bucket size. They are suitable for uses in applications including general contracting, compositing, waste & recycling, concrete batching plants and asphalt plants.

All machines across the range are available with Z-bar linkage configurations and high-lift arms, while the L1204E, L1506E, L1706E and L1806E utility class loaders are also available with parallel linkage and Quick-Attach.

Neville Paynter, managing director of Bell UK, said: "Bell has always challenged the market with its ADTs, so it will be no different with the new wheel loaders.

"We are confident that we have a range of machines in this new E-Series which will set the benchmark for wheel loaders in the UK as far as standard spec is concerned.

"We also see great value in being able to provide our customers with a complementary addition to our existing ADT offer. When they buy a Bell wheel loader they know they will be getting the same high level of quality, reliability and after-sales support that we have provided with our ADTs for the last 10 years."

Paynter added that the wide range of wheel loaders available - the L1204E, L1506E, L1706E, L1806E, L2106E, L2606E and L2706E - would also open up new markets for Bell UK.

The Bell wheel loaders destined for the UK market are currently manufactured to Bell specifications in the USA by John Deere, which has enjoyed a successful strategic alliance with the Bell group for the past decade. Bell's own history with wheel loader manufacture goes back more than 25 years.

The new E-Series loaders all have Tier 3 John Deere PowerTech engines, designed for large capacity and high torque.

Bell claims to be offering far higher specification standard features than its competitors in this field. These include: ride control; reverse radar object detection; reverse camera; on-board weighing system; automatic reversing fan; deluxe heated seat with twin armrests and seat-mounted controls; keyless start with security access codes; QuadCool system with wide-core radiators; automatic engine idle and shutdown; full fender mud guards; and 4,000-hour hydraulic filter services.

Bell also points out that an important aspect of the new machines is the development that has gone into the reduction of airborne debris in the cooling system, both reducing maintenance and increasing uptime. Also, the advanced solid-state electronics simplify the electrical systems. Bell believes operators will see a major improvement over other machines in the market in terms of cab environment, with the comfortable, heated air-suspended seat configuration, high visibility and multi-function LCD monitor and sealed switch module (SSM).

A top end alternative?

Bell believes that the arrival of its wheel loaders into the UK will provide a serious top- end alternative to the current wheel loaders available in a highly competitive sector where there is little to differentiate the leading machines. Bell has taken the approach of offering a high standard specification, capitalising on its strategic alliance with John Deere, which it believes will prove popular with the UK market.

"We've achieved a strong market position in the UK with our ADTs in a relatively short space of tim, so I have no doubt that we can achieve the same with our wheeled loaders," says Neville Paynter, managing director of Bell Equipment UK.

However, Bell's history with wheel loaders goes back to 1982 - long before it forged its alliance with Deere in 1999.

Andrew Kelly, Bell's global product marketing manager believes this pedigree will stand the company in good stead.

"We're no newcomers to the loader business, which means we have a real advantage in terms of technical knowledge and market experience," he said.

Bell Equipment UK Ltd
Unit 6C Graycar Business Park
Barton Turns
Barton-under-Needwood
Burton-On-Trent
DE13 8EN
UK

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F: 01283 712687