In the presence of representatives from the Thuringian state government, local decision-makers, and the international management team, headed by Supervisory Board Chairman Gary Bell, Bell Equipment (Germany) GmbH celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its new production complex in Hörselberg-Hainich. The South African-based dump truck manufacturer, which has operated an assembly plant in the Kindel industrial park since 2003, is investing a total of €13 million in buildings and production facilities. From mid-2019, Bell will begin manufacturing its own assemblies and vehicle components on-site for the first time in the 12,000 m² facility, creating over 100 new skilled jobs in the Eisenach region in the medium term.
Short paths to success
International dump truck manufacturer Bell Equipment is investing a total of €13 million in the construction of new vehicle manufacturing facilities at its Eisenach-Kindel site by mid-2019. The approximately 12,000 m² complex is being built on the company's nearly 10-hectare site, where the European assembly plant for Bell articulated dump trucks is already located. Since 2003, these heavy-duty transport vehicles for earthmoving and mining have been assembled here using pre-assembled modules from Bell's main plant in Richards Bay, South Africa, as well as components from European suppliers of engines, drive systems, and control technology. From Eisenach, the vehicles are then shipped directly to their destination markets in Europe, North America, and Asia.
To optimize its production logistics – particularly with regard to transport costs, delivery times, and a flexible response to specific customer requirements – Bell Equipment is consistently pursuing a strategy of decentralizing and localizing its supply structures and manufacturing processes. The newly initiated on-site production of individual assemblies in Eisenach-Kindel is another crucial step in this direction, as Gary Bell, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bell Group, emphasized at the groundbreaking ceremony: “The high-strength steels for our vehicles largely originate in Europe – so what could be more logical than processing them here using state-of-the-art technologies and highly qualified specialists?” Accordingly, the two planned production halls will be equipped with all the necessary technologies for cutting, forming, and mechanical and welding processing. The use of robotics and CNC-controlled workstations ensures fast throughput times and highly flexible production processes, which are controlled and monitored by experts in the directly connected design and quality department.
The state supports strategic development
In his welcoming remarks to the assembled guests and numerous employees, Gary Bell offered a look back at the past and a glimpse into the future. Until June of this year, he served for many years as CEO of Bell, and the current Chairman of the Supervisory Board played a key role in all location decisions. "From the very beginning, we have received the best possible support here – from our beginnings on a greenfield site, through managing very early peak demand and, unfortunately, also crisis-related sales slumps, to the dedicated support we have received for our future, which we are symbolically embarking on together today." Gary Bell thanked the political leaders at all levels for their excellent cooperation and explicitly included the representatives of the regional economic development agency: "Without the experts at LEG Thüringen, who literally paved the way for us to the newly developed Kindel site, we probably wouldn't be here today. And over the years, right up to the decision we've now made, they have always been there for us, faithfully guiding us through the often bureaucratic thickets.".
State Secretary for Economic Affairs Valentina Kerst also emphasized the long-standing, positive partnership between Bell and the Thuringian site operators, which has contributed to the company's success over a period of 15 years: "The fact that this groundbreaking ceremony is taking place today also demonstrates that Thuringia offers the best conditions for companies that want to invest and grow for the long term." She added that it was particularly gratifying that Bell is relocating additional production steps to Eisenach with this project, thus evolving from a purely assembly plant to a site with its own production and development activities. "This is a strategic direction that we naturally support," said Kerst. Crucial discussions on this matter took place during a meeting between Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and company head Gary Bell during the Thuringian delegation's trip to South Africa in May 2015. The state is supporting the new investment with €1.4 million from funds allocated through the joint federal and state program "Improvement of Regional Economic Structures" (GRW).
Andreas Krey, Managing Director of the Thuringian State Development Corporation (LEG), expressed his delight that Bell, with this expansion, has made a clear commitment to Thuringia and specifically to Eisenach-Kindel. "In our joint discussions regarding the expansion, LEG's primary goal was always to provide the best possible support for Bell's growth," he explained. "The collaboration was very constructive, and we found effective solutions that will enable Bell to continue its successful business operations here in Eisenach. For our industrial park, which is already more than 80 percent occupied, this positive investment decision by a global player like Bell represents a further boost."
Christian Weiß from the responsible general contractor Goldbeck-Ost presented the new construction project, which is to be completed in just ten months while operations continue at the adjacent assembly plant. One advantage: The Thuringian branch of the nationwide industrial construction specialist was already the lead contractor for the construction of the dump truck plant in 2003 and the new Bell headquarters in Alsfeld, Hesse.
Promising prospects
When production of the tipper bodies for all nine model series begins in mid-2019, company officials anticipate creating a total of 60 new jobs – in addition to the nearly 140 employees already working at the assembly plant. Depending on the product line and capacity utilization, the need for qualified specialists could even rise to 130 employees in design and manufacturing, as plant manager André Krings explains. The signs are promising: Following 371 vehicles in 2016 and 431 units in 2017, just over 500 Bell dump trucks are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2018, which is designed for a maximum capacity of 20 vehicles per week (approximately 900 vehicles per year).
Bell Equipment is also supporting this positive development through sustainable investments elsewhere: Just last autumn, the new "European Logistics Center" opened at the headquarters of Bell Equipment (Germany) GmbH in Alsfeld, Hesse. Together with the "Global Logistics Center" in Johannesburg, it ensures the worldwide supply of spare parts. A total of almost €5 million was invested in the completely new complex, which, in addition to the parts center, also houses the head office and the sales department of the German Bell subsidiary, founded in 2000, responsible for a total of 21 national European markets. In 2017, both German Bell locations generated a combined revenue of almost €134 million, representing an increase of over 40 percent compared to the previous year.
Bell Equipment worldwide
Founded in 1954 as a small workshop, Bell Equipment has grown into a versatile manufacturer of agricultural and forestry machinery, as well as equipment for the construction and mining industries. In its home country of South Africa and neighboring African markets, Bell Equipment is also active in the distribution of well-known international brands for virtually all sectors of the construction industry. The publicly listed, family-owned company, with approximately 3,200 employees worldwide, generated total sales of around €459 million in 2017.
Bell's own range of articulated dump trucks plays a significant role in this success. The company has been developing and manufacturing these heavy-duty transport vehicles for earthmoving and mining since 1984 – and began marketing them worldwide in the mid-1990s. Today, Bell Equipment is represented in more than 80 countries on all continents with its own sales and service branches as well as through distribution partners.
Nine standard model series with payloads from 18.0 to 55.0 tons, as well as numerous model variants (e.g., 4x4 two-axle models), offer the most versatile range on the market. In addition to their extreme off-road capability thanks to all-wheel drive and articulated joint, Bell dump trucks are characterized, according to the manufacturer, by a payload-optimized design and very economical, fuel-efficient engines.
Contact :
Bell Equipment (Germany) GmbH
Eisenach-Kindel plant
Industriestraße 8
99820 Hörselberg-Hainich
Tel.: 036920/73-0
E-mail: factory@de.bellequipment.com
www.bellequipment.com
Press Bell Equipment Germany
Thorsten Block
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Gerwigstr. 22
D-76131 Karlsruhe
Tel.: +49 (0) 172 76 38 504
E-mail: tbka68@aol.com
