Bell unveil new aftermarket logistics hub in Charleston
Company relocates its American Logistics Centre from North Carolina to South Carolina
BELL Equipment have marked a significant milestone in their growth with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art American Logistics Centre (ALC) in Charleston, South Carolina, which was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 26 September 2023.
Hosted by Andrew Pretorius, general manager of the new facility, and his team, the event was attended by key executives from Bell Equipment in South Africa and Germany. This included group chief executive Leon Goosen; director of group aftermarket and logistics, Aldo Mayer; director of global product portfolio, marketing, and dealer sales, Stephen Jones; and director of technical services, Meltus Badenhorst. Neville Paynter, president of Bell Trucks America (BTA), the OEM’s US distributor, was also in attendance to mark the occasion.
‘The decision to relocate our warehouse from Cornelius, North Carolina, to Charleston is a strategic move that reflects Bell Equipment’s commitment to growth and excellence,’ explained Mr Pretorius. ‘The move was driven by several factors, notably that we were outgrowing the old facility and required more space to accommodate our growing needs. Our new ALC is equipped with ample space and advanced logistics capabilities to support this expansion.’
At approximately 5,000m2, the new ALC is more than double the size of the previous facility. The building is purpose-built for logistics with a high roof that allows better space utilization and has resulted in double the number of storage locations compared with the old warehouse.
Mr Pretorius continued: ‘Charleston offers proximity and logistics advantages as it is closer to our machine population and key suppliers, providing excellent logistics routes. Being close to a port will also significantly reduce inland freight costs as an added logistical advantage.’
Importantly, Bell have identified the Western Hemisphere as a vital region and say the ALC in Charleston will play a pivotal role in increasing the company’s presence and servicing customers’ needs beyond the US, being ideally placed to service users in the Caribbean, North, South, and Central America.
‘With this in mind, and with the success of the Global Logistics Centre in Johannesburg and the European Logistics Centre in Germany, this new American Logistics Centre is set to become the pivotal logistics hub for the Western Hemisphere. The facility will support aftermarket networks as well as strengthen our inbound supply chain,’ said Mr Pretorius.
