Bruce Rock Engineering (BRE) is a trailer manufacturer based in Western Australia which has grown into a national leader in Australia’s road transport industry since being founded in 1980.
Operating out of four locations within the state and having a network of servicers and repairers along the east coast, BRE designs and delivers high-quality, innovative transport solutions to suit various applications nationwide. It also specialises in Performance-Based Standards (PBS) equipment and a diverse range of trailer combinations including side tippers, end tippers, dog trailers and more.
One of the OEM’s latest innovations, BulkEX, will be showcased this month at the Brisbane Truck Show. The new model was launched just at the end of last year and is the first clean slate redesign of a BRE grain tipper in 30 years.
Designed specifically for grain, fertiliser and lightweight products, the product’s one-piece body is constructed with 3mm Hardox 450 which offers increased durability over its predecessor which utilised 3mm high tensile steel. The trailer model is available in the following combinations as standard: 26m B-double, 26m slider B-double, 26m stag B-double, 27.5m pocket road train, 30m A-double, 36.5m AB/BA-triple and larger combinations.
According to BRE Managing Director, Damion Verhoogt, BulkEX replaces BRE’s pre-existing grain tipper models with an updated and simpler application.
“From our point of view, it streamlines our quoting, engineering and manufacturing process by allowing us to cater for more combinations with the same model range,” he says. “We’ve had the same base design with tweaks and upgrades along the way, but never a clean slate redesign.”
BRE undertook a much more modularised approach for the model to make it as versatile and practical as possible. The biggest difference with BulkEX, Damion says, is that it features a range of standard parts that have traditionally been optional extras in the past.
“We’ve been able to integrate a lot of things into the build which simplify tare weights and processes,” he says. “It has many improvements over its predecessor.”
These upgrades include single-piece Hardox panels on the body sides with better wear characteristics for an increased life span; a reduced hoist well area for improved weight distribution; a larger tailgate (1.7m-high on 2.2m bodies and 1.5m on 2.0m bodies) with greaseless hinges for reduced maintenance; an aluminium tailboard; a corrosion resistant stainless steel grain door with nylon slide tracks for smooth operation; telescoping stainless steel tarp handles; stainless steel scuff plates at chain points and tailgate locks.
Other key aspects of the model include a refined and innovative body profile which not only looks great but reduces material hang up, low tare weight and an increased cubic capacity to weight ratio.
“It might look similar to the previous models at a glance, but there’s lots of subtle differences,” Damion says. “We have increased the tipper’s capacity while still maintaining our unique BRE bowl slate. It’s also stronger and more wear-resistant at the same tare weight, meaning operators can achieve the same payload as they were getting with the previous models.
“In addition, the body is cleaner and smoother in appearance. This results in great cleanout and discharge abilities which are critical for the grain and other materials it’s supposed to carry.”
The durability of the trailer is achieved through Hardox 450, a material BRE has been using as its material of choice for many years with successful results.
“Customers are always looking for ways to increase the wear life of their equipment as well as achieving higher impact toughness,” Damion says. “Hardox is just the right wear plate to satisfy those needs.”
The increase in hardness of the steel plate has also been seen to improve abrasion resistance on BRE’s combinations. In many cases, it has also translated to double the service life which, for BRE, proved to be perfect reasons to utilise it once again through BulkEX.
BulkEX will also be joined by a higher capacity scrap steel tipper as well as a coal spec side tipper at the Brisbane Truck Show. Damion says these units are some of the best examples of BRE’s latest bulk tipper offering.
“We’ve very much got a tipper flavour this year, and that is essentially our bread and butter,” he says. “We’ve never displayed a scrap tipper before so this will be something new for us.
“The scrap tipper is a Hardox high-volume wedge body with 5mm and 6mm hydraulic bat wing tarps and a lot of operator safety specs such as pinpoints and access features. We sell a fair bit of these trailers into the east coast, so we’re excited to bring it along with the new grain tipper and the side tipper as well.”
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