Rokbak’s new product manager Graeme Blake is bringing valuable hands-on experience from the factory to the company’s product management team, where he will work with customers to help shape the future of Rokbak trucks.
Blake started his career on Rokbak’s factory floor in Motherwell, Scotland before moving into fabrication and testing roles, and recently joining the product management team.
“I’ve gone from building the basics of a truck to testing it in extreme conditions,” Blake said. “Now, I’m excited to help shape the product itself.”
Blake joined the Volvo Group in 2014. He began his career as a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinist where he received a nomination for apprentice of the year. He then worked in fabrication and testing positions before stepping into the product management team.
This hands-on background taught him valuable skills and gives him a practical edge. Blake understands how parts behave under pressure, and how to translate that knowledge into improvements or features that serve customer needs.
“Customer input is essential to us at Rokbak,” Blake said. “Whether it’s ergonomic feedback from operators or lessons learned from field experience, it’s all valuable information. Operators spend a lot of time in their trucks, so they need to be comfortable. If something can be improved – whether it’s greater visibility, the ergonomics of the controls, better HVAC or more seat comfort – we listen.”
From Motherwell, Rokbak leverages a purpose-built test track and a team of engineers to develop its ADTs. For Blake, who about 10 km from the factory, it’s a facility that’s close to home and central to the company’s quality control.
“We’ve got everything we need here to design and build robust and reliable haulers – the people, the knowledge, the skills and the infrastructure,” says Graeme. “I learnt a lot in my previous job as a test technician and I’m looking forward to utilising that insight in my new role, where I’ll be focusing on product updates and developments.”
