Grass roots
With a combined 20 years in the crushing and screening industry….hundreds of years if you take into account family history. I think its fair to say that it was only a matter of time before the Fitzpatrick brothers stars aligned.
The Fitzpatrick/Dougan story begins in the mid 70’s when Pat Dougan (Caolann and Danes Grandfather) joined Powerscreen as Managing Director. He was one of the most driven leaders at that time in Northern Ireland. Developing the export market through the dealer network, Pat established some of todays largest Powerscreen dealers from the philosophy of selecting Salesmen and Servicemen from the factory. These were guys who knew the equipment and could stand on their own two feet thousands of kilometers away from home.
Paddy Fitzpatrick (Caolann and Danes Great Grandfather) had a successful Quarry and contracting business in South Co.Down, Ireland. Paddy built roads all over Ireland during the early 1900’s.
Moving into the 90’s- The decade Dane and Caolann were born. Their father Ciaran Fitzpatrick was the Powerscreen dealer for Ireland and Uncle Adrian Dougan established Powerstone the Polish Powerscreen dealership. Paul Dougan (Uncle) ran a successful crushing and screening hire company in the UK.
The boys remember cars filled with Irish Road maps, brochures and their father never off the phone! Fast forward 20 years and there was only one path for Dane and Caolann.
In 2016 Dane spent a year playing Rugby in Christchurch for Shirley Rugby club and fell in love with the Kiwi way of life. After his year playing Rugby in New Zealand Dane had the opportunity to work for Blue Southern, the Powerscreen dealer in South of England. He worked along side some of the industries legends, learning and growing in confidence and gained a wealth of experience. Following his time at Blue Dane set his sights back on New Zealand and started working for Crush and Screen LTD Hiring Crushers and screeners, Indeco Attachments and Screenpod he got to know many customers throughout New Zealand, This is what gave Dane the drive to start Rokbro dealing in used machinery, importing from Europe. Before Joining forces with his brother Caolann.
Caolann moved to New York in 2015, he spent a year working in the crushing and screening industry. In 2016 he made his way to Sydney Australia and met up with an old legend in the name of Roy Watterson. Caolann will never forget the day, it was like talking to his grandfather Pat. Both cut from the same cloth. Roy and Caolann met in a hotel beside the airport around 2 o’clock on a Tuesday and hit it off. In true Roy fashion he wanted a decision then and there! “Are you coming to Brisbane to work for the A team or not?”. Caolann hadn’t discussed anything with his partner and didn’t know what he was getting himself into.
“Right, il call you at 7 o’clock tonight and you will have an answer for me”. Sure enough at 7 on the dot Caolann’s phone rings. “Caolann!… What time is it, that’s the way we operate around here…are you coming?” Caolann accepted the offer. “ok, good. Don’t unpack your bags. Your on a flight 6am Thursday morning”. Till this day Caolann reckons the flights were already booked before Roy made that phone call. For the next 6 years Caolann worked for Lincom until the decision was made to steer his own ship. Caolann will always remember the influence Roy and the rest of the Lincom family had on him and will be forever grateful.
Meet the team
027 2575 667
dane@rokbro.co.nz