The unveiling of its own motor grader range in 2025 marked a major milestone in Bell Equipment’s strategy to develop and enhance its OEM products. Headquartered in Richards Bay, South Africa, the OEM’s entrance into this market segment comes at a time when the global motor grader market is witnessing robust growth globally, driven by increasing demand across sectors, particularly in road construction, mining and agriculture.
According to Market Growth Reports, the global motor grader market size was valued at US$1,62-billion in 2024, and is projected to grow from US$1,8-billion in 2025 to US$4,7-billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11,4% during the forecast period. In 2023, over 32 000 units were sold globally, on the back of a noticeable increase in government infrastructure spending, especially in emerging economies.
Despite this growth, the market is highly competitive, featuring a mix of large, established premium OEMs and new players with ‘value’ offerings. Given this fierce competition for market share, innovation is central to competitiveness. With that in mind, Bell Equipment has left nothing to chance in terms of R&D, leading to the development of what product manager Jeremiah Mokhomo terms “a compelling offering”.
The initial three models, the G140, G160 and G200, place value on four key elements – precision, technology, intuitive cab and the ZF hydromechanical transmission – which Mokhomo believes set this range apart from competition.
Precision
The importance of precision in grading applications – especially in projects with strict final-level cutting tolerances such as highways and airport runways – cannot be stressed enough. With that in mind, Bell Equipment cast a special design focus on this area.
“When it comes to precision, we have set a new benchmark through the standardisation of a sealed slew ring across the range. This is one of the key differentiators from most of the competitor offerings that come with an open cycle system,” says Mokhomo. “The sealed slew bearing delivers consistent mouldboard accuracy due to minimal wear. It also requires less maintenance compared to open gear designs which come with expensive brass inserts and require frequent adjustment.”
The sealed slew ring features integrated seals that form a robust barrier, keeping dirt, dust, moisture, and other contaminants out of the internal raceways. This is ideal for harsh construction and mining environments where motor graders are deployed. The effective contamination prevention and reduced wear also contribute to a longer service life, reduced maintenance costs and increased reliability.
In addition to the sealed slew ring, a larger hydraulic pump ensures smooth hydraulic functions, thus maximising precision. A motor grader, he says, operates up to 15 hydraulic functions, and a larger hydraulic pump therefore provides high flow rates and immense power output necessary for the multiple functions and heavy-duty tasks, resulting in precise control and increased efficiency.
Technology
As part of the technology focus, Bell Equipment’s motor graders come with a standard proximity detection system (PDS) or Collision Avoidance System (CAS) interface, a key feature for compliance-focused sectors such as mining.
Bell provides a PDS gateway controller (ISO 21815-2) that enables third-party PDS or CAS to connect to the machine. This means customers can select the PDS/CAS solution that best suits their specific needs and budget.
“Our PDS/CAS interface is a plug-and-play system that ensures seamless integration of any third-party PDS/CAS system. This eliminates the need for complex, custom retrofitting efforts for each different system, saving engineering time and effort for customers,” explains Mokhomo.
The same agnostic approach applies to machine control technology, with Bell motor graders designed to seamlessly integrate with Leica Geosystems, Topcon and Trimble grade control systems, depending on customer preference.
Intuitive cab
Another major design feature is the intuitive cab. The range features a spacious and comfortable cab with intuitive control options, including a choice between traditional antler controls or advanced joysticks.
The operator environment, explains Mokhomo, was engineered with ergonomics and simplicity in mind to enhance operator comfort and ultimately high productivity and precision. The controls layout, the sitting position and switch placement all speak to ease of operation.
“Control is a crucial factor in motor grader operation and the Bell range offers intuitive controls with a 30-button sealed switch module (SSM) and a sealed 6 WD controller for applicable models. The 7-inch colour display serves as a multi-functional monitor for machine operation and diagnostics, navigated by an automotive-style mouse (B-drive),” he says. “The diagnostic information is also available to the fleet owner through our Fleetm@tic® telematic system.”
ZF Transmission
One of the standout innovations on the Bell motor grader range is the ZF cPower hydromechanical transmission on the G160 and the G200 models – making Bell the first motor grader OEM to deploy this system, according to Mokhomo.
Smooth transmission, he says, is a fundamental requirement that translates directly to the accuracy, efficiency and quality of the final grading application. The cPower hydromechanical transmission maintains a steady, uninterrupted flow of power to the wheels and hydraulic systems for consistent grading.
Power interruptions, common in rough gear shifts associated with conventional transmissions, can cause the machine to lunge or slow unexpectedly, compromising the smoothness of the grade. The smoothness of the transmission also translates in fuel economy and operator comfort.
Positive feedback
In a staged approach, Bell Equipment is initially rolling out the range in Stage 3 markets such as Africa, Australia and South East Asia. Initial commercial units have been deployed in a mix of construction, road maintenance and mining support applications in South Africa and Namibia. Bell is currently running several demos in Australia.
Feedback to date, he says, has been positive, largely because Bell incorporated the ‘voice of the customer’ from design to development. Consequently, operators and fleet owners have seen immediate value in precision, reliability and ease of operation.
From next year, Bell will be rolling out the range to international markets. Customers will be able to choose between joystick and antler control options, giving them choices in line with their operational needs. A case in point is Australia, where over 80% of the market is joystick-driven.
“We have seen great interest from international markets, especially in regions where reliability, simplicity and total cost of ownership (TCO) are key buying factors. Operator acceptance has been exceptional as well, with the sealed slew ring and the hydromechanical transmission standing out for many operators,” concludes Mokhomo.
