Make light work of heavy equipment transport

Transporting machines, tools and piling materials onto sites is a major job, but one made so much easier with the use of Jetland ramps.

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Like many owner operators, Geoff Torres of Melbourne-based Rockend Drilling loves his machines.

Not only does he appreciate their performance and contribution to a successful business, but also how they are made and how they look.

It's a passion instilled from early experience operating as an excavator, and then later when he became interested in drilling work.

"I have always loved machinery, from the time I operated my first excavator," Geoff said.

"One of the attractions to drilling was that I really like the machines.

"I take pleasure in their appearance and the way they efficiently perform the often challenging tasks that are encountered when working on sites, from civil infrastructure and commercial developments to residential construction.

"I find everything about the drilling environment extremely satisfying. I really enjoy drilling and find it quite therapeutic.

"We have an equally enthusiastic team of six people that includes experts in ground engineering, drilling operators and project management."

The Rockend Drilling equipment fleet includes a PowerROC T35 drill and a Soiltec 15.5-tonne model S60, a multi-purpose, specially designed self-erecting drill rig that is capable of drilling up to 20 metres deep with a maximum pile diameter of 1200 mm.

"The S60 is very versatile, as it has a low headroom mode that means it can be operated with just 5.5m of overhead clearance," Geoff said.

"We also have a Hitachi ZX65USB and a 13t Hitachi ZX130-5 excavator, and an Isuzu 950 tray truck.

"The excavators are used for various drilling support tasks, such as tool carrying and removal and management of drill spoil material."

The transport challenge

Geoff acknowledged that transporting machines, tools and piling materials onto sites was no minor task.