Toughening up: the devil is in the detail for Rokbak

Rokbak’s reputation for manufacturing highly reliable articulated haulers on the market is growing, with the new brand representing the continuation of its strong hauling heritage with a future-focused vision...

Company rebrands can sometimes confuse audiences. For example, when Facebook and Weight Watchers shifted to Meta and WW respectively, there were more than a few questions wondering why.

On the other hand, when Terex Trucks announced its name change in September 2021, there were no such questions. That’s because it was a natural shift to a new name – Rokbak – that needs no explanation and was immediately understood by customers.

“It’s a name that embodies rock-solid strength, robustness and our brand’s promise to always have the backs of customers,” elaborates Rokbak’s Managing Director, Paul Douglas. “Our customers were already referring to our haulers as ‘rock trucks’ so it made perfect sense. We talked to our dealers and customers about potential new names, and ran research and focus group exercises. Our team found the Rokbak name worked really well across all international markets, instantly conjuring up the sense of power, performance and reliability.”

Getting better every day

Since the Motherwell, Scotland-based company became part of the Volvo Group almost eight years ago, Rokbak has introduced multiple improvements with the aim of delivering new benchmarks in terms of hauler power, performance and total cost of ownership.

Perhaps the most recent and immediately apparent improvement in this regard would be the up to 7% reduction in fuel consumption by the emissions-compliant engines of both Rokbak haulers, which are fully in line with the latest EU Stage V standard. The RA30’s Scania DC9 provides gross power of 276 kW (370 hp) and a maximum torque of 1880 Nm (1387 lbf ft), more than enough to comfortably transport 28 tonnes, or a heaped capacity of 17.5 m³, while the 38-tonne RA40, with a heaped capacity of 23.0 m³, relies on the 331 kW (444 hp) Scania DC13 engine, with its maximum torque of 2255 Nm (1663 lbf ft).

This efficiency is complemented with transmissions that are not only perfectly matched to each engine but have been carefully selected to deliver class-leading rim pull for superior performance and productivity. The RA30 integrates ZF’s 8F/4R EP320 fully automatic gearbox to enable a top speed of up to 55 km/h (34 mph). With a high overall gear ratio spread, equal ratio steps between gears and optimised gear shifting with partial load shifts, its smoother gear shifting not only supports reductions in fuel consumption but higher levels of operator comfort and faster cycle times.

The RA40, meanwhile, can enable faster load cycles by reaching speeds of up to 64 km/h (40 mph) via the 6F/1R Allison HD4560 transmission. With its automatic adaptive shifting capabilities and a pre-selected two-speed transfer box, along with longitudinal and limited-slip transverse differential locks, the hauler is able to deliver excellent performance and productivity in virtually any terrain.

But just as importantly, these transmissions promote higher productivity by virtue of their extended service intervals, not to mention simplified maintenance procedures. In addition to the 6000 hours of uninterrupted uptime it provides for the RA40, for instance, an electronically activated exhaust brake and a six-stage modulating transmission retarder offer the benefit of longer brake component lifecycles. And amongst the full suite of on-dash diagnostic and machine health check data that maximises uptime by reducing intervention time are the prognostics for the transmission, whereby the operator can immediately check the health of the component, including fluid level, fluid life, filter life, clutch life and more.

“One especially well-received improvement to our products in recent years has been the new transmission for the RA30, which provides extended, 4000-hour oil-maintenance intervals and also improves shift quality,” Douglas verifies. “The complete drivetrain calibration has even reduced fuel consumption by up to 5% over the previous model.  

“Then there’s the enhanced hydraulic system of the RA40, which uses magnetic suction filters to reduce the risk of contaminants entering the circuits. This results in cleaner hydraulic oil, prolonging hydraulic component lifecycles and enabling 4000-hour intervals between hydraulic fluid maintenance periods.”

Hidden talents

With Industry 4.0 / IoT now enabling a host of amazing productivity-boosting functions and applications across a multitude of industries, what else does Rokbak have in store for operators in coming years?

“We cannot comment on specific innovations in the pipeline, but we never stop learning and improving. Becoming a member of the Volvo Group has allowed us to make major improvements in every part of our business, including a stronger focus on operator wellbeing, so you can expect to see plenty more innovative technologies and design improvements in the future,” Douglas teases.

“Volvo Group is a world-leader in autonomous transportation, so there is no doubt in my mind that Rokbak will examine all such developments relevant to our business. But again, there is nothing we can be specific about at the moment!

“Likewise, there are no firm plans to announce any new hauler models at present. Our current range has proven to be a big hit with our customers, and we are focused on ensuring that those machines are the best in the business. However, we do have a well-defined roadmap for new product development that is aligned to the needs of our customers as well as meeting our own goals for improved sustainability. We’re looking forward to sharing more news on this when the time is right. Whatever the future holds for our industry, our customers can count on us to provide rock-solid Rokbak articulated haulers to help them deliver better success on their projects…” 

On demand

With so many enhancements to its reputation as a result of new technologies and stronger branding, Rokbak is well-placed to capitalise on an articulated hauler market that is booming virtually the world over. Last year’s global total sales of around 8,200 units is predicted to grow as high as 9,000 units in 2022 thanks to major infrastructure projects in several key markets.

“We are seeing huge demand for our RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers, with dealers and customers excited to get hold of the new machines,” states Guy Wilson, Global Sales Director. “Generally speaking, the market continues to go up and we are seeing strong demand in all regions.”

With North American customers currently accounting for about half of the total articulated hauler market, the US is leading demand as a result of its huge current infrastructure investment. The UK is the second largest market, with demand primarily driven by the HS2 rail project that will connect towns and cities in the south, Midlands and north of England.

“It’s one of the most important economic regeneration projects in Great Britain for decades and it’s already helped the UK articulated hauler market jump from an average of around 400 machines a year to over 700 in 2021 – and it’s expected to increase further this year,” Wilson elaborates.

“The RA30 and RA40 are being used for preparatory work and transporting materials, including vegetation clearance and earthwork for tunnel portals and compound facilities. The HS2 project will also lead to an increase in the demand for UK aggregate production, which will again create a positive impact on articulated hauler sales.”

Making good

Rokbak hasn’t just concentrated on enhancing its haulers in recent years – the advances it has made in the sustainability of its manufacturing processes are equally worthy of note too.

As you might expect from a brand of the Volvo Group, the current focus is on emissions reduction. All electricity at its Motherwell factory is now produced from renewable sources, and it is currently transitioning from gas heating and cooling to electric systems, as well as replacing its diesel-poMwered forklift trucks with electric models to decrease its carbon footprint even further. And although the site is already practically landfill-free, the company is actively working with its suppliers to reduce the volume of materials consumed in the first place.  

“We are already starting to address future product roadmaps around our commitments to Science Based Targets (SBT), which means a minimum 30% emissions reduction for our company’s operations by 2030 and zero emissions by 2040,” reveals Paul Douglas. “The targets we have set ourselves at Rokbak are tough, but I believe they are achievable.”