en.Wedoany.com Reported - The G160 and G200 mining grader series, independently designed and manufactured by Bell Equipment, won the "Surface Mining Innovation Award" at the awards ceremony of the South African Mining Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMSA). This series is the first mining grader product locally designed and manufactured by a South African company, with a localization rate exceeding 70%.
These two models were launched locally in South Africa in June 2025 and are currently used in various operational scenarios, including coal and manganese mines. According to Jeremiah Mokhomo, Product Specialist for Graders at Bell Equipment, the equipment is designed to address the need for reliable, durable, and efficient haul road maintenance in surface mining. Its core innovation lies in the adoption of a sealed slewing ring bearing system, which prevents contaminants from entering and eliminates wear parts commonly found on traditional graders, solving downtime issues caused by contamination.
The sealed design eliminates the need for adjusting shims and replacing wear parts, reducing maintenance requirements, improving precision, and decreasing downtime associated with component replacement. Mokhomo revealed that the lubrication interval for this system has been extended to 500 hours, and the lifespan of the slewing ring system can reach approximately 18,000 hours. The grader is pre-configured with the necessary interfaces for integrating a Collision Avoidance System (CAS), enabling functionality without additional components, thereby reducing CAS installation time from the original approximately 40 hours to two hours.
In terms of operational performance, the equipment is equipped with an automatic differential lock that improves traction on difficult ground conditions. Its fully automatic transmission with shuttle shift function shortens work cycles and simplifies operation. The six-wheel drive system supports wheel speed adjustment to enhance maneuverability in challenging conditions such as sand or mud. For large earthmoving tasks, its parallelogram ripper system maintains a constant attack angle at all ripping depths, ensuring consistent penetration and ripping performance. When not in use, the ripper can be neatly folded and stowed, improving the machine's departure angle and maneuverability on uneven terrain, while reducing the risk of damage during transport.
The equipment integrates Bell Equipment's Fleetm@tic telematics platform, which monitors fuel consumption, equipment usage, and health in real time, enabling mines to optimize operations, monitor fuel usage, and reduce unplanned downtime. The platform also supports geofencing and speed limiting functions, allowing high-risk areas to be set as geofences so that machines automatically slow down when entering these zones. Its open API allows customers to connect data to external AI platforms for predictive maintenance, safety optimization, and operational decision-making.
Mokhomo also noted that the grader's technology-agnostic architecture enables compatibility with slope control systems from multiple suppliers, including Leica, Trimble, and Topcon. In terms of operator comfort, the equipment's development considered features such as advanced air suspension seats, an adjustable steering console, an automatic transmission, and shuttle shift functionality to reduce operator fatigue during long shifts. Regarding localized manufacturing, the project's advancement has fostered 25 new suppliers in South Africa, positively impacting local industrialization, job creation, and supply chain development. Mokhomo concluded that the equipment's autonomous-ready platform, CAS-ready design, and telematics capabilities demonstrate that South African engineering capabilities are aligned with the future direction of the global mining industry.
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