Bell Equipment is now offering specialist services in complex engineering, heavy fabrication and machining for material handling equipment to all industries in South Africa through its newly formed division, Bell Heavy Industries (BHI), which will be based at Richards Bay.
The 45,000-square-meter undercover manufacturing area at Richards Bay complies with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and welds to the internationally recognised ISO 3834-2 Appendix 10 standards. It is well equipped with specialist machines including both horizontal and vertical CNC (computerised numerical control) machining centres, 5-axis boring machines, laser cutters, high-definition oxyfuel and plasma cutters, bending brakes, and advanced welding technology.
A blasting plant, phosphating tanks, sealed spray booth, galvanising bath, and an automated powder coating installation are available to take care of surface treatments.
Bell business development director Stephen Jones noted there is currently a scarcity of companies providing these vital services locally: “South Africa has seen a huge reduction in engineering companies, and, in response, we have strategically positioned our South African manufacturing facility to fill this void by providing project engineering and contract manufacturing through BHI.
“The growth of Bell as a well-established mining, earthmoving, and agriculture equipment manufacturer, both domestically and in terms of exports around the world, is a testament to the skills available and the quality of products that we make in Richards Bay. We’re confident in our ability to expand into other industries and believe this will benefit not only the manufacturing sector but the whole country.”
Bell has also received accolades for its demonstrated performance from organisations such as the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA) and the Department of Trade and Industry, which hosts the South African Premier Business Awards together with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa.
The Bell team in Richards Bay includes over 800 machinists, welders and assemblers, who the company stresses are among the best in the country thanks to the company’s own training centre, which plays a crucial role in internally developing world-class skills from the surrounding community.
“This is complemented by our highly skilled team of welding, quality, and industrial engineers, along with onsite calibration facilities, equipment to perform material checks, and a number of highly specialised co-ordinate measuring machines.
“Together with our strong focus on process development, BHI can guarantee consistent quality to customers. BHI can also tap into a wealth of group resources, notably a team of over 100 South African design engineers, enhancing its suitability for local manufacturing across diverse industries,” the company said.
Source: Bell Equipment