Engineering the first 50-ton ADT

While it could be said that the articulated frame truck is now a mature concept, Bell Equipment moved the goal posts by redefining both the weight class and application range for this versatile machine.

Following the announcement of Bell Equipment Co.'s fourth-generation D-series articulated dump truck (ADT), the South African-based manufacturer of agricultural, forestry, construction, and mining equipment used the Electra Mining Show in Johannesburg to announce the addition of the 50-ton (45-t) capacity B50D to its five existing models in the 20- to 40-ton (18- to 36-t) D-series, directly replacing the C-series that has been in production since 1999.

The decision to include a larger capacity model was finalized during the very early stages of D-series development. It was essential that some unique additional engineering and productivity enhancements be considered to accommodate the over 28-m³ (37-yd³), 45,000-kg (100,000-lb) payload requirements of the larger machine.