After taking two Bell Equipment wheeled loaders on trial, Marshalls Plc, has committed to the long term lease of both machines after receiving a complete seal of approval from its drivers on the loaders’ quality.
Marshalls, which manufactures a wide range of natural stone and innovative concrete hard landscaping products, decided to review its loading operations at one of its main sites at Brookfoot in Halifax. While its drivers have been loyal to familiar brands of loader in the past, Marshalls was interested in testing their reaction to a change of brand.
This process included a one week trial of a Bell Equipment’s 1706 Wheeled Loader alongside models from other manufacturers. After the trials were complete the drivers ranked Bell higher than the other loaders showing a distinct preference for the Bell loader’s performance and cab specification.
Jonathan Galvin, Senior Group Buyer at Marshalls, explains more: “As a the market leader in the hard landscaping industry, we are extremely reliant on superior earth moving equipment that will stand up to the demands required at our numerous operations around the country.
“Quality and reliability are critical components in our machine selection process, as any equipment used needs to meet the challenge of materials handling across our extensive product range. However it’s our drivers that have the soundest knowledge of how machines really perform when put to the test.
“We want our operatives to feel confident in the capabilities of the equipment they use as well as its ergonomic aspects, so we enabled a process of feedback whereby machine selection decisions can be made on a site specific basis in conjunction with looking at the lifetime cost of running the machines (including maintenance and fuel burn). Over the years we’ve put a number of wheeled loaders from different manufacturers through their paces – all of which have offered quality, but not necessarily cost effectiveness.”
When the latest opportunity for change arose at the Brookfoot operation in Halifax, Bell Equipment offered its 1706 Wheeled Loader on trial and it was this machine – which benefits from the quality and power of a John Deere engine, as well as exceptional fuel efficiency – that came out on top, having been rated the preferred loader of the trial models by the operators.
Jonathan says more: “It was a unilateral choice to select the Bell machine. Our drivers were impressed with so many of its aspects, including the more powerful, longer arms that enables operators to effortlessly reach from the aggregate bays into tall batching plant hoppers, and the ergonomic cab that offers greater, practical comfort.
“In addition, this invaluable ‘trial’ exercise has been a superb opportunity to test what’s actually out on the market at present, and how machines really compare, as well as the options to purchase or hire.”
The successful selection of the machine at the Halifax operation subsequently led to Marshalls requesting a similar demonstration trial its Sittingbourne operation in Kent, where drivers were equally impressed with the equipment, and once more, a Bell Wheeled Loader was introduced as the latest addition to the fleet.
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