Scottish engineering, Northern Irish grit:
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Loughran Rock’s new RA30 articulated hauler from Scottish manufacturer Rokbak is the latest fleet addition at the company’s quarry in Northern Ireland.
At their nearest point across the Irish Sea just twelve miles lie between Scotland and Northern Ireland…Now the two nations’ close relationship can write another chapter thanks to Scottish articulated hauler manufacturer Rokbak.
Sleator Plant, a leading supplier of construction machinery in Northern Ireland, has delivered a Motherwell-manufactured Rokbak RA30 articulated dump truck to Loughran Rock Industries, a renowned family-owned quarrying and aggregates business based in County Armagh.
Since its establishment in 1985, Loughran Rock has invested in high-quality equipment that supports its extensive operations, which range from concrete production to stone supply for major infrastructure projects.
“We’ve not only reinforced our quarry operations with the addition of the Rokbak truck, but we believe we’ve also strengthened our position as a trusted supplier in the region,” says Colin Loughran, a Loughran Rock quarry manager.
Moving on up
Loughran Rock produces approximately 500,000 tonnes of aggregate every year. Its production supplies local contractors, housing developments and farmers, so high uptime from all its equipment is a necessity.
As the authorised dealer of Rokbak trucks in Northern Ireland, Sleator Plant reassured Loughran Rock Industries of the RA30’s durability and performance, built to the highest standards in Scotland, and its efficiency in moving earth and materials across challenging sites.
“We proposed the RA30 to Loughran Rock for the truck’s agility, dependability, independent suspension for operator comfort and the ability to carry lighter products efficiently,” explains Aaron McCaul, a General Manager at Sleator Plant.
The RA30 articulated hauler has a 28-tonne maximum payload and a 17.5m3 (22.9yd3) heaped capacity. The fully independent suspension and wheel movement is provided by a double wishbone design. This is coupled with 4 x hydraulic dampers/coil over springs.
The truck is predominantly utilised to transport stone, sand, rock-fill and muckshift across the quarry to the main crusher and fill up concrete bins for lorries and block machines.
The hauler was customised with body side extensions to maximise load capacity, enabling the transport of lighter materials while maintaining optimal efficiency.
“We needed an agile and robust machine to navigate the site’s challenging conditions,” says Colin. “In contrast to rigid trucks, we find the articulated hauler much more efficient on the stockpiles.”
Solid as a Rock.
Since arriving at Loughran Rock, the RA30 has received positive feedback from its Loughran Rock operator Cathal Devlin, with praise for its visibility, driver comfort and fuel efficiency.
“Visibility is important on any site, especially a big quarry such as this,” says Cathal.
“The rear vision camera and monitor and heated mirrors makes my life a whole lot easier when I’m reversing into tight spots, and when you’re driving around quarries, you need comfort. I’ve been operating for three years now with trucks of all sizes, and the Rokbak truck is definitely the comfiest machine I’ve driven to date.
“I’ve also been impressed by its fuel efficiency. With our previous truck we had to fill it up approximately every two days. With the Rokbak it’s now every three to four.”
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