(VIDEO) Hydex articulated water tanks now available in North America

Hydex articulated water tanks will be sold in the U.S. and Canada under the name Hydex USA in partnership with Hydex Solutions Ltd and Hills Machinery. 

Hills Machinery is a full-service equipment sales and rental operation based in Columbia, South Carolina, with 14 locations throughout the southeastern and mid-Atlantic areas. The Hydex articulated water tanks are designed for integration with the Rokbak articulated truck chassis but can be outfitted on any truck chassis. 

The partnership will boost Hydex sales in the U.S. and Canada

The Hydex articulated water tanks will be integrated and supported by Hills Machinery's expansive new facility in Wilson, North Carolina, and at a joint manufacturing centre in Seattle, Washington. 

At the core of the product offering is two water tanks matched specifically to Rokbak articulated dump trucks: a 6,000-gallon water tank (AWT6) matched to the 370 horsepower RA30, and a 9,000-gallon water tank (AWT9) matched to the 444 horsepower RA40. Each truck chassis is built for off-road hauling.

Each tank will also be outfitted on the articulated truck chassis, as the design allows for upfitting and integration with all major manufacturers of articulated trucks. The tanks can even be outfitted on a used articulated truck chassis if a business owner is looking to get a little extra life out of an old truck body. 

The hallmark of the Hydex USA AWT6 and AWT9 articulated water tanks is the smooth and safe operation in all off-road conditions thanks to baffle valves in both transverse and longitudinal directions for stability. 

Each water tank is fully customizable to each job site, which includes: 

• Water is shot from an American-made Elkhart water cannon to more than 213 feet, and water pressure can be manually adjusted to flow rates of 320, 480, or 630 gallons per minute based on the application. 
• A front bumper sprayer, vertical side sprayer, and rear spray bar with more than 82 feet of coverage gives the operator extreme water spraying versatility and customization. 
• An electric Hannay hose reel capable of holding 100 feet of 1 1/2-inch diameter hose with an adjustable nozzle is also available to help the operator reach hard-to-reach areas. 

Additional standout features include: 

• An American-made Berkeley water pump driven by the truck's hydraulic system for optimal performance. 
• 3-inch heavy-duty sprayers are fully adjustable and individually controlled from the cab. 
• A rear dribble bar that sprays water from the bottom of the tank. 
• A 3-inch coupler that allows for easy loading from hydrants, and an optional suction loading system for filling from lakes and reservoirs. 
• A rear lighting kit with a rotary beacon and work light for optimal job site visibility and awareness. 
• Extremely simple and intuitive in-cab controls - including an in-cab water level indicator. 

Optional features include a rear backup camera and top-of-tank safety rails for easy access to the top of the tank. 

Hills Machinery supports equipment and service needs

Hills Machinery will also back each water truck with its Uptime Operations lifecycle fleet management and real-time equipment monitoring service. The company has also pre-stocked an extensive inventory of parts to ensure immediate availability as trucks begin to hit job sites, mines, and quarries throughout North America.  

"Dust suppression and access to water is a growing demand throughout North America as job sites get bigger, mines and quarries get busier, and as local regulations become more restrictive," says Jim Hills, president of Hills Machinery and Hydex USA. "The combination of the wildly popular Rokbak articulated truck chassis and the engineering excellence of the Hydex water tanks represents the premium off-road dust suppression and water delivery solution available to the North American construction and mining markets today."  

"We work with Rokbak on a daily basis and believe those to be the two best trucks to outfit these tanks with, and we also recognize that some contractors will want to keep their fleet standardized with other brands of trucks — we're happy to work with everyone to solve their dust suppression and water access needs," says Hills. 

"We are dedicated to delivering premium heavy equipment and off-road solutions that help construction, mining, and site development contractors improve their way of doing business — the Hydex USA articulated water tanks meet and exceed that dedication," says Hills. "We're excited to work with contractors and fleet managers throughout the U.S. in delivering the best water trucks on the market."