Milbank’s special Volvo FH is ‘price’-led

Drawing upon his 14 years experience in machinery movements, Milbank driver Sean ‘Taff’ Price has specified his stunning new Volvo FH-520 I-shift drawbar unit with a 45 tonne-metre Fassi crane from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia.

Continuing Milbank’s policy of naming its trucks after mythical gods, ‘Demetrius’ rides on Alcoa rims all round, shod with 315-60R22.5 front and 295-60R22.5 tyres on the rear all helping to reduce overall ride height and centre of gravity.

Taff has designed the complete vehicle around the customer requirement to move lathes and milling machines for Mills machines all over the UK and Ireland from their base at Leamington Spa. Taff highlighted the need for a flexible solution as many industrial units and machine shops are in locations that can best be described as “out of the way”. “The easy bit is driving the truck. It’s the loading and installation that takes the time,” Taff explained.

Sliding canopies have improved loading times, doing away with the need to sheet the precision machinery carried within. Fourteen steel lashing rings each on the truck and trailer mean the machines are firmly secured in transit and lockers are fitted to both sides of the chassis for carrying straps, chains and slings required for the job.

Taff has paid great attention to detail, paying several visits to the trailer and body-builders to make sure his specifications were met and he is full of praise for all those involved, including his boss, Milbank Managing Director, Dave Watson.