Chepstow take haul of new Bell machines

Leading plant hire firm purchases 18 articulated dumptrucks and four wheel loaders in the last year

CHEPSTOW Plant International have purchased a fleet of new machines from Bell Equipment including, for the first time, Bell wheel loaders.

The Monmouthshire-based plant hire and contract firm has taken delivery of 18 new Bell articulated dumptrucks (ADTs) plus four wheel loaders in the last year.

The 15 new B25D and three B30D ADTs were partly a replacement purchase for Chepstow’s existing Bell fleet, while the loaders – an L1806E, two L2106Es and an L2606E – represent the company’s first venture into this side of Bell’s product range.

The new ADTs include the first delivery in the UK of an ADT with Bell’s new SCR technology, developed to exceed Tier 3B emissions regulations.

John Corcoran, managing director of Chepstow Plant International, said the Bell ADTs had worked particularly well in terms of the advanced in-built fleet management system, Fleetm@tic, while the Bell loaders had proven to be both productive and very fuel efficient.

‘Any initial reservations that our client base may have, if they have not experienced Bell machines before, have been set aside as soon as we’ve demonstrated the benefits of Fleetm@tic and other advantages of the Bell machines,’ he said.

‘While our clients don’t specifically request Bell machines, they have shown to stand up very favourably, particularly in terms of fuel burn.’

Chepstow Plant International were one of the first users of Bell’s Fleetm@tic system in the UK, and have played a significant role in sharing information with Bell in order to trigger the continual improvements that Bell has incorporated over the years.

‘We now have a dependency on Fleetm@tic,’ said Mr Corcoran. ‘The data it provides for us forms a major part of the monthly reviews we have with our clients. This aspect of Bell’s product capabilities has, in turn, also demonstrated to our clients Bell’s other strong points – such as service, sales management and supporting the overall management of the business.’

Chepstow’s fleet also includes ADTs and loaders from other manufacturers, some of which have greater carrying capacities on equivalent models. But, according to Mr Corcoran, the Bell product offers a very competitive cost per tonne haul rate with its economic approach to fuel burn.’

He added that Bell’s new SCR technology, which requires the addition of AdBlue to filter engine emissions, had done nothing to damage Bell’s reputation for strong, reliable and fuel-efficient machines.

‘The machines are environmentally compliant and still fuel efficient,’ he said. ‘Bell have worked well to tick both boxes.’

Chepstow’s Bell machines have been put to work on a number of significant contracts as well as being available for hire. Three of the new B25Ds are currently working at a clay quarry in Leicestershire.

Neville Paynter, managing director of Bell UK, said: ‘Bell have had a long relationship with Chepstow Plant International, and we have worked very closely with them to ensure our products both meet and exceed expectations.

‘We are obviously delighted that John has continued that relationship by purchasing 18 new trucks over the past 12 months, and I am particularly delighted that Chepstow has now endorsed our wheeled loaders.

‘Gaining customer confidence in a relatively new product can never happen overnight, but receiving such positive comments from such a big player in the industry demonstrates just how good our loaders are.’