Bell Equipment UK has launched the latest major upgrade to its range of D-Series Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs) in a move which is set to provide another industry benchmark in terms of innovation and technology.

 

The Mark VI upgrades focus largely on health and safety, electronic enhancements and machine security.

 

Key upgrades include:                

 

 

Keyless start to protect machines from theft

New generation Fleetm@tic fleet management system provides industry's first pole-to-pole satellite coverage

Fleetm@tic (Standard version) now provided as standard on all machines

Reduced noise levels due to new hydraulic damper and enhanced cab insulation

Improved driver controls with fully sealed-switch module

Automatic park brake selection when in neutral

Improved maintenance access

Inclinometer: an industry first for Bell. This feature measures the angle of the machine and cross-references with Bell's unique on-board weighing system to improve driver safety

Comfort Ride option available on larger models

Individual driver ID to enable site managers to identify potential training requirements

 

Neville Paynter, managing director of Bell Equipment UK, said: 'This upgrade represents a significant step forward in terms of ADT technology. Yet again, Bell is leading the field. And launching the Mark VI machines in the current economic climate speaks volumes about Bell's commitment to improving the safety, reliability and efficiency that consistently provides our customers with the lowest cost-per-tonne production ADTs in the business.'

 

The first Mark VI machines in the UK have just been delivered to C A Blackwell, which ordered eight 30-tonne B30D machines for its fleet.

 

The Mark VI range is expected to be Bell's final D-Series upgrade before it launches a new E-Series range in the next few years.

 

Stephen Jones, Bell's ADT product marketing manager, said the Mark VI upgrade was part of the company's strategic evolutionary approach to product development.

 

This approach is designed to ensure that upgrades determined by customer feedback and changing market conditions are filtered through to the manufacturing process with minimal delay, rather than waiting until sufficient changes are in place to justify a new 'series' launch.

 

'Our innovative product development process ensures that we deliver both on time and that we meet customer expectations,' said Jones.

 

Mark VI Upgrades

 

The upgrades include the advent of Bell's 'Comfort Ride' option, which is available on the B30D, B35D and B50D models and which reaches a new level in operator comfort.

 

The system makes uses of a fully reactive hydraulic suspension on the front axle and a simple but highly effective double stage sandwich block system on the rear axle. The front suspension continually monitors and reacts to road conditions while the mechanical system on the rear improves the ride while the truck is unladen.

 

Jones said: 'A 66 per cent improvement in operator whole body vibration exposure levels measured for the total cycle was achieved during on-site testing.

 

'On long, bumpy hauls greater comfort allows the operator to travel faster, particularly while unladen, which leads to significantly reduced cycle times and increased productivity,' he said.

 

Linked to driver comfort is noise reduction, the levels of which have been further eroded in Bell ADTs thanks to focused changes including a new headliner, hydraulic damper and additional strategically placed insulation in the cab.

 

Outside of the normal ISO sound tests, trucks were measured during operation to identify which specific frequencies led to discomfort for the operators. Once these frequencies were identified they were then individually targeted and minimised to achieve a significantly improved perception of the noise levels experienced by the driver.

 

The most visible changes to the ADT in terms of the Mark VI upgrade can be found in the cab where the gear selection and bin-tip lever are now incorporated into a fully sealed-switch module. Apart from reducing wear and tear, this arrangement has also optimised the cab's ergonomics by placing important controls within easier reach of the operator. The layout is also significantly simpler and easier to operate.

 

One of the most innovative additions is the keyless start feature, which is now on all Bell ADTs. The keyless start can be protected by a numerical code, which would need to be entered by the operator before the truck can be started. The design of different packaged options, which can be set up to allow easy on-site management and automatic expiry of codes, will give site management greater control of who can operate which vehicles and when.

 

The keyless engine stop also includes a standard turbo spin-down feature to regulate spin-down time according to how hard the engine has been working.

 

Furthermore, a pitch and roll measurement device has been fitted to the rear chassis to allow engineers to include additional technology into the machine's software.

 

'Safety features are becoming increasingly important in the marketplace and our engineers have incorporated industry-leading improvements to the Mark VI ADTs,' continued Jones.

 

For example, the park brake application is automatic when selecting neutral, and neutral cannot be selected at speed.

 

Jones explained: 'Improper use of the park brake is often identified as the root cause for on-site accidents, yet by automating the application the possibility of operator error is greatly reduced.'

 

Jones said that, importantly, most of the changes were simple yet highly effective.

 

Examples of this simplicity include the 'Hill Assist' feature, whereby the inclinometer measures the angle of the vehicle and cross-references this with Bell's unique on-board weighing feature. Bell believes it is the only manufacturer to offer this feature to customers.

 

'The beauty of this feature is that the park brake will only be released once a pre-programmed engine torque has been reached to ensure a controlled pull away with no rollback, even on the steepest of inclines,' said Jones.

 

Similarly, the machine angle and payload are cross-referenced on pull-away, so that if the vehicle is unladen and on relatively flat terrain it will automatically pull away in second gear. Apart from guaranteeing a smooth pull-away and shifting, this feature also saves fuel by cutting out the unnecessary shift from first to second gear.

 

The roll detector can also be used on site to set limits for when the bin tip function can be activated. If the vehicle is sitting at an angle where lifting the bin might cause instability, the software will prevent the bin from tipping. The operator will be warned of the potentially dangerous action on the display monitor. Bell customers can set up the limiting angle for site-specific conditions.

 

Other new features aimed at safer operation include the option to activate an automatic horn, which will sound when changing between drive and reverse as well as when the payload has been reached during loading.

 

As a preventative measure the customer can also now choose to have the vehicle automatically enter a 'limp home' mode if it is significantly overloaded. This will limit the vehicle speed to ensure safety but will still allow the vehicle to finish the haul cycle.

 

Coupled to the electronic innovations are enhancements to Bell Equipment's global fleet tracking system, Fleetm@tic. With the second generation Fleetm@tic system, Bell Equipment is the first heavy equipment OEM to offer its customers a fully global remote fleet management system with pole-to-pole coverage.

 

Fleetm@tic manager Philip Nel said benefits of the new system included the introduction of a unique driver identification enabling customers to create an individual ID for each driver. The ID will be recorded and appear on Fleetm@tic reports with a driver scoring rate to assist customers in identifying drivers who may need more training.

 

Other changes include shift reports, as customers now have an option of up to three shift reports, starting at customer-selected time intervals.

 

Nel added: 'For customers in the rental sector there are time bar reports to indicate when a machine has been working.'

 

Customers are also able to use Fleetm@tic to create a virtual 'geofence' around a machine, thereby limiting it to operate only in a specific geographic area with the option of limiting the machine's speed should the machine travel outside its set boundaries.

 

To add further value for customers, Fleetm@tic sends notification to the customer and their nearest service centre when a service is due to ensure that scheduled maintenance takes place to increase the machine's availability.

 

The Fleetm@tic machine status check sends fault codes on a daily basis and also provides an automatic oil life report.

 

For the first time, Bell is providing its Fleetm@tic Standard version with all Mark VI machine purchases. Customers have the option of upgrading the improved Standard package to the Max or Max Plus versions.

 

Fleetm@tic Standard provides owners with daily shift reports for each of their machines, which are sent either by email or accessed on a secure webpage. Information provided with this package includes machine operating hours, total tonnes moved, average fuel burn, driver behaviour (monitoring of service brake applied time versus retarder activated time), driver identification, service information and reminders, exact machine location and machine error codes from the previous day's operation.

 

Meanwhile, along with the standard features of the Mark VI upgrade, customers are also able to choose from a variety of new safety-focused options including tyre pressure monitoring, reverse cameras, lock-out kits and full ISO handrails.

Jones said: 'Features included in the Mark VI upgrade, coupled with the existing advantages of low fuel burn, low daily operating costs and high productivity, reaffirm Bell Equipment's position as the world's leading ADT innovator.'