Bell B50D ADT prepares for mid-2004 launch

Production models of Bell Equipment's 50t ADT will be available in May or June next year. The company already has a verbal agreement for an order of six units.

Bell UK director George Wilson expects the B50D to have a 40% to 50% price premium over the 40-tonner but said it carries an additional 6t to 8t of payload and uses only slightly more fuel.

The pre-production 50-tonner is being tested against some 50t rigid trucks on a three-shift basis and is performing well - using about half the fuel of the rigids, said Wilson. Utilisation of the 6x6 will be better than the 4x2s when the weather worsens, although as the haul distances increase, the ADT's advantage reduces, he said.

Bell is taking the pre-production machine on a roadshow around some mining and quarrying companies, which will have a chance to evaluate the vehicle.

"UK underfoot conditions are trying, and if we haven't got the footprint right it won't work," he said, although he is confident the machine will perform well.