Bell introduces 4x4 articulated dump truck for small and medium sized facilities

Bell Equipment, with U.S. offices in Houston, has introduced the Bell B30E 4x4, an articulated dump truck (ADT) that will be displayed at Intermat 2018 April 23-28 in Paris. The B30E 4x4 is suited for small to medium-sized quarries with integrated aggregate production facilities.

According to Tristan du Pisanie, Bell product marketing manager, the Bell B30E 4x4 is a supplement to the company's traditional 6x6 ADT range by providing an alternative to those customers who have had to choose between tipper trucks, rigid dump trucks and 6x6 ADTs. In addition to smaller quarry operations, the truck will also target specific markets, such as tunneling.

While not possessing the extreme off-road capabilities of a 6x6, the B30E 4x4 still offers all-weather characteristics on haulage roads and light terrain and is designed to maneuver better in confined material handling areas or stock yards. Having one less axle is designed for reduced tire wear compared to 6x6 applications on hard ground. The front tires are typical 23.5R25 tires.

The new two-axle truck is based on the 6x6 model Bell B30E and shares the front chassis and oscillation/articulation joint. Real-time data is collected by the truck’s sensors (onboard weighing, pitch/roll sensor, etc.) and are controlled by embedded software in the truck controller. The wet brake system is the same as the B30E on the front axle while the rear axle has a larger set of brakes from Bell’s 6x6 B40E.

With an identical payload to the B30E 6x6, the major differences are the shorter rear chassis with a solidly mounted Bell 36-t axle and the shorter bin. The short bin is designed for optimal loading times for silo discharge or with wheel loaders and is also compatible with the more typical excavator loading method.

All Bell ADTs include the company's satellite-based fleet management system, Fleetmatic, designed to provides customers with information that assists them to improve production and safeguard machine condition.