Bell Equipment is expanding its mining and construction product range to include motor graders.
With graders already operating in several applications, production of the machines is expected to begin as early as the third quarter of 2024.
“Grading applications require a robust and powerful grader to achieve the performance and reliability expectations of the industry,” said Warren Swart, Bell Equipment Product Manager.
Bell Equipment’s test and prototype graders have already been operating “with great success” in several applications from landscaping through heavy ripping and road construction.
“It has been really pleasing to see the improvements in efficiency and performance identified during the design stage being confirmed on real-world job sites,” Swart said.
“We’ve been encouraged by the positive feedback we’ve received from expert advisers and operators who have experienced our prototype machines. We’re excited to introduce the Bell Motor Grader and illustrate some of the advances we’ve made to a complicated piece of equipment.”
The Bell Equipment grader line
The line of graders from Bell Equipment will include three base machines. The G140 is designed for all maintenance and light to medium construction tasks, while the G160 was developed to handle heavy construction applications. The G200, the largest grader in the range, is designed for bulk earthworks and the mining industry. Each grader has the option of a four or six-wheel drive configuration.
“From the conception of the Bell grader, we factored in the requirements of a six-wheel drive configuration. This early integration, as opposed to trying to add into the platform later, has resulted in a better performing machine that is more controllable, robust, and easier to maintain, Swart said.
“The significant improvement in performance achieved by adding front-wheel drive is only useful if it is reliable for the life of the grader, so we have spent a lot of time making sure this is the case.”
Automation
While retaining a familiar control and layout, Bell has incorporated a range of advanced components and features to help operators improve productivity, maintain costs and deliver work efficiently.
Bell has successfully automated specific functions within the ADT industry, and automation has also been one of the significant drivers in the motor grader design process. This automation allows the operator to be more focused on the job at hand and the final product of his grade while still improving fuel efficiency and component life expectancy.
Recognizing the diverse applications and often remote uses of motor graders, Bell has standardized on low-maintenance components, such as a fully sealed circle bearing. This provides extended service intervals and consistent grading performance without the need to make regular adjustments. To simplify operations further, advanced diagnostics are incorporated into the machine to reduce the complexity of daily checks and servicing efforts.
The Bell graders are equipped with Cummins engines and ZF transmissions. The G140 uses the Ergopower transmission while the larger G160 and G200 use the cPower transmission.
“The Ergopower transmission is well respected in the grading application for entry level units, and we are particularly excited about the opportunity that the cPower transmission provides for higher duty applications,” Swart said. “There will be significant advancements that we can offer users of the two larger graders by having a transmission that can be so easily tailored to a customer’s needs.”
The Bell graders are designed as international products and able to meet various emission regulations in international markets as well as different types of operator controls. The company plans to launch graders into its various international markets in a staged approach.
The grader line follows the introduction of the Bell tracked carrier in 2020 and is part of the company’s strategy to grow its own range of manufactured product for the global construction and mining industries.
