To ease the management and improve the usability of its graders and articulated dump trucks (ADTs), heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment’s use of shared technology – such as proximity detection systems (PDS) and the company’s Fleetm@tic telematics system – increases safety, reliability and productivity.

Designed in-house, the Fleetm@tic system connects Bell’s graders and ADTs for real-time insights into equipment productivity, machine health and fuel efficiency.

The system enhances mine safety through real-time tracking of every machine’s location, speed and operating status while automatically issuing alerts for fault codes, unsafe tipping and even geofence violations.

The geofencing and zone-based control features of Fleetm@tic enable operators to define safe zones, enforce speed limits and prevent tipping in hazardous or prohibited areas, says Bell Equipment product marketing manager Jeremiah Mokhomo.

“The real appeal of Fleetm@tic lies in its simplicity and accessibility. With a secure login and password, customers can monitor their machines, and only their machines, from anywhere, whether at home, in the office, or even while travelling abroad,” he explains.

By consolidating the equipment’s diagnostic and location information, Mokhomo says mine site managers can identify bottlenecks, balance workloads and schedule proactive maintenance to reduce unforeseen downtime.

“Fleetm@tic improves productivity across mixed fleets of graders and ADTs by providing contractors and site managers with a single telematics platform to monitor, measure and optimise their operations.”

By providing enhanced visibility of machine activity, detecting unsafe conditions and supporting preventative maintenance, Fleetm@tic helps to “enforce safer operations and prevent accidents before they occur”, adds Mokhomo.

The system will also track load cycles, payload and adherence to demarcated haul routes for ADTs.

The Level 9 PDS and collision avoidance system (CAS) not only warn equipment operators of hazards but also actively intervene by slowing or stopping machines to prevent imminent accidents, thereby enhancing compliance with mining safety standards.

“The PDS is designed to detect potential collision threats and warn the operator visually and audibly, while the CAS intervenes with the vehicle to prevent or reduce the severity of collisions between equipped vehicles and pedestrians,” states Mokhomo.

Mokhomo notes that sharing a technology-agnostic platform enables contractors managing mixed-fleet operations to choose their preferred PDS or CAS system for the fleet.

Moreover, by standardising platforms, such as machine controls – including Bell Equipment’s sealed switch module, B-drive and colour display – the company ensures that operators and technicians can seamlessly work across graders, ADTs and other equipment with familiar controls, diagnostics and technology.