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Altrad Belle || A Construction Brand Through the Years
Belle is a well-known brand in the construction industry, with its distinctive orange colour representing a range of lightweight equipment.
The company was founded in the 1950s by Doug Blackhurst, who needed a cement mixer while building a new house. Finding no small portable mixers available, he decided to design his own. This led to the creation of the now-famous Belle Mini Mixer.
Similar to L&S's beginnings, where Wyn Lees and Alan Shaw engineered products for local customers, Doug Blackhurst initially manufactured the Belle Mini Mix for local tool hire shops. This was during a time when tool and plant hire services were just emerging in the construction sector.
Following the success of the Mini Mixers, Belle expanded into other construction areas. The company began producing generators, and in 1990, it started manufacturing Skid Steer Loaders.
The company experienced rapid growth after 1995 when Doug Blackhurst's son Ron became Chairman of the Belle Group. This change led to several acquisitions that expanded the product range to include machinery for compacting, mixing, concreting, cutting, breaking, and moving.
From the start, a strong technical foundation was essential for the company's growth, both in the UK and internationally. Through ongoing investments in CAD technology, Belle has developed "one of the most advanced engineering centres in the industry." In 2008, Belle received the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade for its success in the export market.
A significant change occurred in 2009 when the Altrad Group acquired the Belle Group, ending over 50 years of independent ownership by the Blackhurst family. From that point, the company became Altrad Belle, a major supplier in the construction industry.
We offer a wide range of Belle spares, including mixer, trowels, power screeds, and many more!
Copyright Notice: All information and images used for informational purposes only, no copyright infringement intended. Please see http://www.altrad-belle.com/?p=history & http://www.altrad-belle.com/de/aboutBelle/history.html for the full history of Belle.
