Rokbak RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers have been given a new lease on life after Hydex expertly re-imagined them as high-capacity water trucks.
The innovation comes as quarrying and aggregates operators look for dust suppression methods in the North American market to meet stringent enviromental regulations.
The collaboration between Hydex and Hills Machinery saw the Rokbak haulers equipped with high-performance water tanks. These will be deployed across quarries, mines and infrastructure projects.
“This is about using a proven platform to meet a pressing and growing need,” Rokbak director of sales for Americas Robert Franklin said.
“The RA30 and RA40 give contractors the power, manoeuvrability and durability they need in a base machine – and now, with this adaptation, we’re showing just how far that platform can go.”
The RA30 features a 370-horsepower engine with a 22,712.47 litre (AWT6) water tank while the RA40 has a 34,068.71 litre (AWT9) tank alongside its 444-horsepower engine. Both are fitted with advanced spray and pumping systems. The American-made Elkhart water cannon can reach over 213ft while operators can adjust the flow rate to suit. The Multiple spray bars and nozzles offer further customisation for operations.
Hills Machinery saw from its customer base that contractors need versatile machines which could suit multiple applications. Hydex supported the project’s roll-out amongst Hills’ existing dealership network. The Rokbak Halls were transformed at a a joint facility in Seattle, Washington, and distribution coordinated through Hill’s location in Wilson, North Carolina.
“We work with Rokbak on a daily basis and believe those to be the best two trucks to outfit these tanks with,” Hills Machinery and Hydex president Jim Hills said.
“But we also recognise that some contractors will want to keep their fleet standardised so we’re happy to work with everyone to solve their dust suppression and water access needs.”
Hydex has ambitions to scale production of these water tanks further and deploy more into quarries and infrastructure projects in America. It provides an innovative solution for dust supression particularly in America’s arid environments like California, Texas and Arizona which have plenty of quarries and mines.
“These tanks are serious pieces of equipment in their own right,” Hills said.
“But what makes them truly effective is the machine underneath, the Rokbak hauler that keeps everything moving and delivers the power, even in the roughest terrain.
“We’re just getting started. When you’ve got a reliable chassis and a clear market need, the opportunities are endless.”