Hydrex invests £2m in Bell loaders for Görrel

Görrel, one of the UK’s largest self-drive plant rental firms, is taking delivery of 12 wheeled loaders from Bell Equipment following a £2m investment from Görrel’s parent company Hydrex.   

The deal is a significant step for Bell in terms of gaining full industry recognition for its loaders, which were introduced to the UK only two years ago. The investment by Hydrex also represents a positive commitment by the company to provide its customers with the very best operational solutions available.   

Görrel has traditionally built its sizeable 180-strong wheeled loader fleet around Volvos. This move marks the firm’s first venture into the Bell product. Mike Haskell, general manager of Görrel, said the Bell machines had been “impressive” during a demonstration last year at a wood recycling plant in Manchester, which prompted the deal.

“The extremely dusty environment was intentionally chosen to really put the Bell machines through their paces.

“Other loaders operating on that particular site have experienced severe overheating problems due to the airborne debris clogging up the system, leading to a lot of downtime for cleaning and maintenance.

“The Bell L1706E loader that was trialled performed impressively and was still spotlessly clean after the end of the demo.”    

Bell’s seven-strong wheeled loader range, manufactured by John Deere, comes with the highest standard specification in the industry. Although the machines boast a number of special features, it is the unique QuadCool cooling system, with wide-core radiators, that truly sets Bell apart from the rest, particularly in a dusty waste an recycling environment.

The 12 Bell loaders purchased by Hydrex cover much of the range, from the smaller utility machines to the larger production models. They include two L1204Es, three 1506Es, two L1706Es, three L1806Es and two L2106Es. All of the loaders are fitted with a hydraulic quick-hitch to enable the speedy change of buckets from inside the cab, as well as third-line hydraulics and multi-lever controls. Carl Woollaston, sales support manager for Bell Equipment, said:

“We’re confident at Bell that the specification of our loaders, particularly with the QuadCool system, means we can challenge the very best in the industry. But it always takes time for a new product to gain the confidence of the market.

“The fact that a company the size and stature of Görrel has effectively endorsed our product so highly means an enormous amount to Bell. It’s a fantastic step forward, and one that we hope we can build on.” While Bell has a strong reputation for after-sales service, Görrel’s own team of skilled engineers will carry out all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of the Bell loaders for its customers.

Bell is nevertheless providing Görrel staff with the same training courses that it gives its own sales staff and field service engineers to boost product familiarity and allow user feedback. Hydrex chief executive officer Carl D’Ammassa said:
“Hydrex has enjoyed a very good relationship with Bell for a number of years in terms of their dump trucks. 

“The loaders though are relatively new in the UK, so this investment for Görrel was not a decision that was taken lightly, particularly as Görrel is operating in such a competitive market.

“But from the evidence we’ve seen, the Bell wheeled loaders can easily hold their own, and in some areas outperform rival products. Bell remains a great company to do business with, always exceeding expectations when it comes to after-sales support.”

D’Ammassa added: “Hydrex is fully committed to making the very best possible solutions available to our customers. This is especially important in terms of machine reliability and fuel economy in the current economic climate.”

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

T: 01283 712862
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