Bell Equipment Sales Representative, Blake Phillips (right) congratulates Owen Philpott of Owen’s TLB’s 4 Hire on purchasing three Bell TLBs for his fleet.

Owen Philpott, owner of Owen’s TLB’s 4 Hire in Ballito has joined the growing family of Bell Equipment owners worldwide after taking delivery of three Bell 315SJ Tractor-Loader-Backhoes at the end of February.

Owen started his business in Ballito four years ago and hires out TLBs and tipper trucks. The company has become one of the market leaders in the area cutting platforms for new homeowners in the prestigious Zimbali, Simbithi, Dunkirk, Brettenwood and Palm Lakes residential estates. Additionally the company specialises in clearing of all sites, cutting platforms, preparing and digging foundations for homes etc, and removal of soil from sites.

Owen is no stranger to Bell Equipment. Before relocating to South Africa with his family in 2007 he owned a business in Botswana that had a fleet of 34 TLBs, of which six were Bell machines, as well as three Bell Wheeled Loaders. “Having owned Bell equipment previously I know the machines to be robust and manufactured to a high standard.”

Owen decided to standardise his TLB fleet with the Bell 315SJ TLB saying: “Experience has taught me to be loyal to one product. By sticking to one product you standardise spares and can more easily identify whether problems are due to the machine or operator abuse.”

Other contributing factors are that Bell Equipment has a Customer Service Centre conveniently located at Umhlali, just outside of Ballito, and the Richards Bay factory is just over an hour away. Commented Owen: “Bell has come to the party in terms of providing a professional service. All my telephone and email requests have been dealt with immediately and they have done exactly as I have asked. In my business I want to give exceptional service to my clients and in order to achieve this, I need suppliers who are able to give me exceptional service.”

At the machine handover he thanked Bell Equipment for their warm welcome and said: “I look forward to developing a strong working relationship together. It is assuring to know that I have the support of an established, efficient and local company such as Bell. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my clients for their loyal support and look forward to many more prosperous years together.”