It is no secret that the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe is one of the most over-worked pieces of kit in the industry due to its versatility, and rightly so. A TLB digs dirt like an excavator and moves dirt like a loader, however, it is also used in the construction, contractor and plant-hire for; landscaping, pipe laying, planting underground cable, foundation for buildings and drainage systems, small demolitions, powering building equipment, breaking asphalt and paving roads.
The backhoe bucket can also be replaced with powered attachments such as a hammer, grapple, auger or a stump grinder.
Bell has launched a new addition to its current model range of TLBs, the 315SJ Work Pro. The new model includes a multipurpose front bucket with fold-over fork arrangement, rear extendible backhoe dipper with auxiliary hydraulics for attachments and heavy duty wheel-sets which include a 17.5R25 rear wheel-set for the tough construction industry.
Said Llewellyn Roux, Bell Equipment Product Marketing Manager: “With the introduction of the Work Pro, our intention is to offer the market a workhorse that can be used in all applications across the entire construction site and provide even more value to the customer.
“The Work Pro offers the operator freedom to use his machine in many more applications other than the traditional jobs by consolidating the tools into one unit. The multipurpose bucket with fold-over forks offers various configurations; the bucket is used for general materials clearing, a dozer blade for push piling and site clearing, scraper for back filling, clamshell for grabbing/moving pipes and timber as well as forks for transporting and loading pallets of building material. The extendible dipper ensures the TLB operates more efficiently when digging trenches as well as offering the reach for those difficult sites with steep gradients without compromising safety.”
Continued Roux: “A construction site is one of the toughest industries for the TLB, which is why we decided to introduce the heavy duty wheel-sets to ensure that the job is not interrupted by punctures. This will improve machine uptime as well as add to our customer’s bottom-line by reducing the unnecessary waste of expensive tyre repairs and/or replacements.”
The 315SJ Work Pro is fitted standard with a 69kw, John Deere 4045T turbo charged engine and a 4WD transmission with multi-disc Mechanical-Front-Wheel-Drive (MFWD) clutch for on-the-fly engagement. The limited-slip MFWD axle provides excellent 4X4 performance and a mechanical diff-lock for the best-in-class tractive effort
Exclusive features on the 315SJ Work Pro include replaceable wet-type spin cast cylinder liners to offer uniform cooling, reduced oil breakdown and reduced ring wear for longer life and increased uptime. The single, self-adjusting serpentine belt reduces maintenance time and eliminates the need for inspection or adjustment. The Spring Applied Hydraulically Released (SAHR) brake completely neutralises transmission and applies automatically with engine shutdown. It is independent of service brakes and never needs adjustment and is thus designed to last the lifetime of the machine. The John Deere Powershift transmission provides quick, smooth, twist grip, on-the-fly, clutch free gear shifting for increased productivity through faster loader cycles and a more comfortable operator. Cruise control is set at the rpm dial throttle to improve operator comfort during roading applications. The digital monitor offers the best in class on-board diagnostics, calibrations and machine information while the solid-state electronics translates to fewer relays and wire connectors for improved durability and reliability. Same-side ground-level daily service points allow for easy inspection checks, reduced inspection time and ensure service checks are done. This ensures improved machine uptime and resale as well as lower daily operating cost for the customer over the life of the machine.
Commenting on the introduction of the Bell 315SJ Work Pro, Roux said: “Since localising the manufacture of the Bell TLB in 2005, the company has targeted its TLB market share and its efforts have paid off. Bell has enjoyed year-on-year growth in the southern African market, which has seen its market share grow from about 8% to its current share of over 20%. Simultaneously Bell Equipment has fast emerged as one of the top selling TLB brands in the country and one of the market leaders in the industry.”
Added Roux: “This growth is even more remarkable when one considers that it has been sustained in the face of the current global recession and a declining yellow-metal market, which is down by 42%. We attribute this success to the fact that our product is readily accepted in the marketplace as a stable product that delivers performance and durability. We have also actively targeted different sectors of the market including agriculture and the government sector so as not to rely too heavily on any one particular sector.
“Until now Bell Equipment has been gaining ground in this highly competitive market with essentially only one model, the 315SJ, which is available as a 4x2 or a 4x4 unit. The introduction of the 315SJ Work Pro is geared to narrow the gap between our competitors who have many more machines in their product offering.
Bell Equipment’s Richards Bay factory manufactures TLBs for the worldwide market and supplies machines, in particular, to Hitachi and John Deere for the Australian, North American and South American markets as well as the rest of Africa.
