Although we're still sifting through information gained from Conexpo, there are some news items that have trickled out since that deserve attention. We don't want them to be lost in the digital pile. Here's a sampling.
Rokbak, we hardly knew ye
In 2014, the Volvo Group acquired the off-road product line from Terex Trucks and established a new division within Volvo Construction Equipment.
Terex had ADTs and Volvo had its own well-respected ADTs. Something had to give.
It took seven years, but Volvo launched the Rokbak brand in September 2021 with the RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers. The haulers were designed and built in Scotland.
Flash forward to 2026 with the announcement that production of Rokbak ADTs will stop in the second half of the year.
Parent Volvo CE cited rising operational and supply chain costs combined with global trade challenges such as the U.S. tariffs as significantly impacting financial performance.
Continued operation was deemed unsustainable.
How to safely operate an ADT
For fleet owners, Volvo CE said it will continue to deliver dedicated support and "dealers and customers will receive aftermarket services support throughout the transition and into the future."
A core Rokbak team will remain in place to deliver parts, sales, technical support, and training, the company said in a statement. The closure is subject to the completion of a collective consultation process expected to conclude by Q3 of this year.
Trimble taps another tech outlet
Increasing its market reach beyond its Sitech stores, Trimble continues to add dealers as Trimble Technology Outlets.
The latest is Brooks Tractor, serving South and East Wisconsin.
Brooks Tractor will now sell Trimble grade control, site positioning systems, and correction services technology directly to customers using John Deere earthmoving equipment, including dozers, excavators, motor graders, mini-excavators, and compact track loaders, as well as Deere, Level Best, and Worksaver attachments.
Never enough training, or YouTube
JLG University has launched its very own YouTube channel, the official YouTube channel of the JLG Traning Center. That's right, accept no substitutes.
It includes a broad library of established training content, and new and upcoming videos produced for JLG University that reflect customer and trainer feedback and address common field questions. This approach makes key machine operation and service topics more efficient to access and understand through video.
Is MEWP training lifting safety?
“The JLG University YouTube channel features more than 150 videos organized into easy-to-navigate playlists, including Instructor Resources, Equipment-Specific Videos, Machine Accessories Spotlights, Service & Maintenance, and Connected Solutions,” said Logan Cunningham, senior manager – product training, JLG.
“The content is designed to complement guidance found in JLG Operation and Safety Manuals and formal JLG training by reinforcing key concepts, highlighting equipment features, and demonstrating best practices.”
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.