Bell Equipment founder Irvine Bell passed away at his home in Empangeni on 11 October at the age of 91.
“His enquiring mind and innovative spirit will live on as a legacy to the company,” said his son Gary Bell, chief executive of Bell Equipment.
“Irv touched many people’s lives and we are proud and thankful for his founding principles and the fine example he was to all of us. Everything that’s been achieved at Bell Equipment is built on the sound foundation he established. He will be greatly missed.”
Gary Bell described his father as humble, quiet and unassuming, with an enquiring mind. Under the leadership of Irvine, and later his sons, Bell Equipment has developed into a recognised global player in the heavy equipment industry.
The company has been instrumental in shaping mechanisation in the sugar industry. Among Irvine’s inventions were a self-loading sugar cane trailer and a gantry crane for local farmers. In the early 1960s, Irvine revolutionised the cane industry when he designed a hydraulic three-wheeled cane loader that could pick up and load the harvested crop.
In 1987, Irvine received the President’s Order for Meritorious Service Award for “exceptionally meritorious service” in the general public interest.
However, the highest recognition of his contribution to technology innovation in the heavy earthmoving industry may have been in 2009, when a Lifetime Achiever Award was bestowed on him at the Technology Top 100 Awards. – Robyn Joubert
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Caption:
Bell equipment founder Irvine Bell (second from right) with his sons (from left) Peter, Paul and Gary.
COURTESY OF BELL EQUIPMENT
