In less than five years, bespoke trailer manufacturer Robuk Engineering has grown from a three-man team to a staff of close to 60 people.
Based in the Port of Brisbane, Robuk designs and manufactures premium custom-built aluminium and steel trailers for the bulk haulage market.
A commitment to the highest quality standards and continuous improvements based on customer feedback has helped the brand develop a loyal following.
Robuk’s story began in June 2020, when James Yerbury started building his own trailers from a small shed in rural Queensland.
“There were just three of us in the beginning, and then orders started picking up. We quickly grew to a group of 12 employees, all living on-site during the week before heading home to our families on weekends,” recalls Darren Riedel, who has been with the company since day one.
With growing demand, the team soon needed a larger space. In February 2021, the business moved to its current site in Hemmant, which is now undergoing a major expansion. Stage one of the project is set to begin in early April and will be completed before the end of the year.
At Robuk, the focus has always been on evolving and improving.
“When we started, there was a huge boom in the grain industry, and we predominantly built grain tippers. Now, we’ve just passed 800 trailers in operation,” said Darren.
James remains heavily involved in daily operations, whether he’s out on the workshop floor, travelling for servicing, or working on new product innovations. The close-knit team ensures that every trailer delivers reliability, quality, and value to customers.
“The expansion of our production facility will allow us to increase output and reduce lead times. With harvest coming up, we want to ensure we can get trailers to customers as quickly as possible. Speed to market is critical for us.”
Trailers and dollies carrying the Robuk badge can be found operating across the eastern seaboard, from Townsville to Adelaide and everywhere in between.
Along with its highly sought-after grain tippers, Robuk also manufactures dangerous goods trailers for mining and explosives, moving floor trailers, side tippers, and high-volume side tippers for the waste and mining industries.
To support continued growth, Robuk has strengthened its team with new hires across all areas, including workshop staff and sales representatives.
Matt Huigens, who joined the sales team in early 2025, highlights what makes a Robuk trailer stand out: “It ticks the boxes with quality, tare weight, and resale value. That’s how Robuk’s customer base has grown so rapidly. We provide high levels of customer service and after-sales support, and that is reflected in the loyalty of our customers.
“We’re always improving our trailers by listening to our customers’ needs.”
Jeremy Glover, who is based in Victoria, shares the same commitment to putting customers first.
“Providing ongoing support is just as important as delivering a high-quality product. We make sure our customers feel supported long after they take delivery of their trailer.”
Ensuring top-tier quality in every aspect of the manufacturing process, Robuk also partners with trusted suppliers.
“We put a lot of trust in our suppliers because it’s the Robuk name on the side of the trailers,” explained Darren.
“For example, we predominantly use Hendrickson axles – a choice largely driven by customer preference. They provide a reliable product and excellent service, which aligns with our values.”
With new innovations on the horizon and an ever-growing commitment to customer satisfaction, Robuk continues to evolve – always listening, always improving.