The order has seen two ADTs and 13 wheeled loaders deployed at Hanson sites producing aggregates (crushed rock and sand and gravel), asphalt, cement, concrete and building products.
Discussions started after Hillhead 2012, when Robin Piper, Bell Equipment’s national accounts manager, met with Chris Hope, continuous improvement manager at
According to Hope, awareness of Bell machines among colleagues was not high, with little direct experience of using Bell products and a poor perception, and Piper implemented a number of site demonstrations of Bell ADTs.
While Hanson purchasers went elsewhere on that occasion, there was enough feedback from site managers for Chris Hope to note that Bell was now a definite option in the company’s future plans.
At the same time, tests conducted by HeidelbergCement in Belgium revealed “exceptional performance results” for wheeled loaders from John Deere, the company which manufactures the Bell range of wheeled loaders.
As a result of these tests and demonstrations, Bell was invited by Hanson to tender for its 2014/15 purchasing period. This is the latest step in an ambitious programme of investment in new plant, following a long period post-2008 when the downturn necessitated a freeze on purchasing.
“The brighter economic outlook of recent years has made it essential that we have equipment capable of meeting growing demand, and we had a remit to replace a sizeable number of machines nationwide with the focus on key sites and applications,” says Chris Hope.
Bell secured an order for 14 machines, with Hanson said to be citing the willingness of Bell to determine the optimum machines for each site as a key factor in the company’s success.
As part of the process, Bell surveyed the sites where machines were needed.
“We have opted for a full repair and maintenance package, covering everything aside from consumables. We have real confidence in the ability of Bell to deliver ongoing machine support,” says Hope.
Deliveries were staggered throughout late 2014 and early 2015, with the last completed in June/July.
The aggregates and asphalt divisions took seven machines (a Bell B40D ADT and six Bell L2606E wheeled loaders) located across five sites.
Hanson Concrete took the first L1506E wheeled loader in August 2014 and four Bell wheeled loaders (three L1706E and one L1506E) went to Hanson’s packed products division.
The final three machines (a B25E ADT, plus L2106E and L1204E loaders) were specified for the building products division.
That part of the Hanson business was sold in March 2015, but the company is still providing technical and administrative support including machine orders.
All of the machines had to meet the strict requirements of the Hanson and UK
