Hydex Solutions, which specialises in customising construction machinery, 聽has adapted Rokbak RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers into high-capacity water trucks for customers in North America.
Hydex is working with US equipment dealer Hills Machinery to offer a solution that pairs articulated hauler performance with dust suppression capability.
Their new range of water trucks are based on Rokbak RA30 and RA40 articulated dump trucks (ADTs), fitted with water tanks, to be deployed across quarries, mines and infrastructure projects under the Hydex banner.
The RA30, with its 370-horsepower engine, carries a 6,000 gallon or 22,712 litre (AWT6) water tank, while the 444-horsepower RA40 is matched with a 9,000 gallon or 34,069 litre (AWT9) tank 鈥� both equipped with spray and pumping systems for water distribution.
鈥淭his is about using a proven platform to meet a pressing and growing need,鈥� said Robert Franklin, Rokbak鈥檚 director of sales or the Americas. 鈥淭he RA30 and RA40 give contractors the power, manoeuvrability and durability they need in a base machine 鈥� and now, with this adaptation, we鈥檙e showing just how far that platform can go.鈥�
The idea to repurpose articulated haulers as water trucks came from Hills Machinery, a long-time Rokbak dealer based in North Carolina.
鈥淲e work with Rokbak on a daily basis and believe those to be the best two trucks to outfit these tanks with,鈥� said Jim Hills, president of Hills Machinery and Hydex. 鈥淏ut we also recognise that some contractors will want to keep their fleet standardised so we鈥檙e happy to work with everyone to solve their dust suppression and water access needs.鈥�
Hydex is supporting the rollout through Hills鈥� dealership network, with tank fitting taking place at a joint facility in Seattle, Washington, and distribution coordinated through Hill鈥檚 premises in Wilson, North Carolina.
The tanks themselves are engineered to meet demanding performance specs. Water is shot from an American-made Elkhart water cannon to distances of more than 213 ft (65 metres), while operators can adjust pressure to 320, 480 or 630 gallons per minute. Multiple spray bars and nozzles 鈥� including vertical, side, front bumper and rear dribble 鈥� offer customisation depending on site needs.
A rear-mounted electric hose reel, Berkeley hydraulic water pump and optional suction system for drawing water from lakes or reservoirs round out the functionality.
鈥淭丑别蝉别 tanks are serious pieces of equipment in their own right,鈥� said Hills. 鈥淏ut what makes them truly effective is the machine underneath 鈥� the Rokbak hauler that keeps everything moving and delivers the power, even in the roughest terrain.鈥�
Rokbak, formerly Terex Trucks, is part of the Volvo Group. The trucks are still manufactured in the old Terex factory in Motherwell.
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