Every time we share a photo of or display this machine, it sparks a lot of interest. There is something about that unmistakable vintage silhouette that clearly holds a special place in the hearts of the Australian construction community.
Since there’s always so much curiosity around this industry pioneer, we thought we’d share the story of the machine that truly started the vibratory revolution in Australia.
Engineering Ahead of Its Time
Manufactured in Bath, England, the RD28 and W28 were engineering marvels of the late 1950s and early 60s.
The “Swan Neck” Design
Its elegant, curved tubular frame wasn’t just good-looking. It allowed the front drum to vibrate freely, delivering exceptional manoeuvrability on tight suburban streets and patching jobs.
The Powerplant
Powered by a famously tough Lister air-cooled petrol engine, both the RD28 and W28 had a distinctive tone that echoed across Australian suburbs for decades. These engines were renowned for their durability, built to handle harsh conditions long before “Australian spec” became a selling point.
The Operator’s Station
The seat pictured is actually a modification, as they initially started as a dedicated pedestrian roller. No suspension seat. No touchscreen display. Just a metal pan seat, a vertical steering wheel assisted with chains, and three brass instruction plates etched in metal, designed to survive heat, dust and time. Operator comfort meant good visibility of the front drum edge, and with the modification, the operator sat over the rear drum and delivered absolute mechanical reliability.
It was simple. Purposeful. Built to work.
The Vibroll Revolution
Before vibration technology arrived in Australia, compaction was about brute static weight. If you wanted results, you needed a 10-ton roller at a minimum.
The RD28 and W28 changed that with vibration.
Weighing just 900kg, its internal vibration delivered a compactive force far beyond its size, which had never been an option on construction sites prior to this. Pound-for-pound, it rivalled static rollers many times heavier.
It quickly became a favourite of local councils and road construction and patching crews, small enough to tow on a simple trailer, powerful enough to build a solid road base, and capable of producing a “glass-like” asphalt finish.
In fact, even today, some restored units still find work rolling cricket pitches on some of Australia’s most famous cricket grounds, a quiet reminder of how far compaction technology has come.
Built on One Bold Decision
Conplant didn’t begin in a corporate office or a sprawling yard.
It began with one man and a deep understanding of where the industry was heading.
That first Stothert & Pitt Roller wasn’t just equipment. It was proof-of-concept. It showed that specialised compaction, backed by responsive service and straight-talking advice, could build more than just roads. It could build a business.
More than six decades later, that same mindset remains a big part of Conplant’s DNA.
From those early days in a chicken shed to a national network of compaction and construction equipment supporting infrastructure projects across Australia, the business evolved steadily, practically, and in step with the industry.
Technology changed. Equipment improved. Standards lifted.
But the thinking behind that first decision still matters:
Stay curious.
Back good equipment.
Understand where the industry is heading.
That mindset has been part of the journey since 1961.
Technology may have changed, however, our service has not.
