The Night and Day Difference of Takeuchi

Rick Bell Construction Inc. out of Heyworth, IL began in 1987 by Rick and Kim Bell who built their family-owned business from the ground up. They started out doing small remodels and custom home projects as they worked to build their company into a successful small business.

Since he was about 15 years old, Brandon Bell has been involved in his parents’ business. He could be found working on jobsites and running equipment throughout his teenage years, which led him to choose a career in construction as well.

Today, Brandon and his wife, Julie, are the sole owners of RBCI, and they have several family members who work with them. Brandon’s mother, Kim, passed away in 2013 from breast cancer, and Brandon purchased the company from his father, Rick, in 2018. The Bell family continues to do remodels and build custom homes, in addition to grade work, general contracting, and project design for customers. 

Several years ago, Brandon operated a friend’s Takeuchi TL130 skid steer. He was so impressed with the power and functionality of the machine that he reached out to Central Illinois Ag to demo one for himself. Seeing its performance firsthand made it an easy decision for the Bells to purchase their first Takeuchi.

Today, they run a TL12R2 track loader and a TB257 compact excavator and could not be happier with the machines. “Switching to Takeuchi was not a price decision; it is just 100% a better machine,” says Brandon.

Its capabilities make it physically easier on the operator, while the speed of loading and unloading make their operation more efficient. Due to the difficulty of finding labor recently, it is necessary to find solutions that can maintain their productivity with a smaller crew, and Takeuchi has done just that. “These Takeuchis are essential for a small family-owned business and crew,” says Brandon. “They easily make a two-man job into a one-man job.”

Brandon also points out that the hydraulic distribution is better than that of previous machines he has operated. There is less loss of power when using two functions at once, and greater power means greater performance.

While many of the features make Brandon prefer a Takeuchi, the one that stands out is the cab. “Considering the cab alone, this machine is night and day better than what we used to run,” says Brandon.

It is high quality, spacious, and built for all-day comfort. With the large windows, rearview camera, and sloped rear deck, it provides exceptional visibility to the operator. Additionally, Brandon says the roll-up cab door of the TL12 makes all the difference, and he will not buy another machine without one. 

The cab door rolls up to open and allows the machine to operate with the door open or closed. Brandon says this has had a huge impact on communication while on the jobsite, being able to operate and speak with each other through the open door. He also points out the safety aspect of it; other manufacturers have a door that swings out, but Brandon likes the comfort of knowing that in the event of an accident if his machine were to roll over, he would be able to roll up the door and not be trapped inside. 

Takeuchi has provided the Bell family with equipment they can depend on, helping to ensure the longevity of their operation. Brandon says salesman Adam Davis and the service department at Central Illinois Ag have also been reliable and great to work with over the years.

Brandon is excited for the future of the business and is grateful to have his own son who loves to help out on jobsites, just as he did growing up. “We are one of the last few small construction businesses around where the owners are hands on in everything we do, from designing to framing to construction, which is unique to find today.”