Ness Engineering Marks 40 Years with Flagship Volvo FH540 Crane Truck

The Challenge: Island Logistics & Extreme Marine Weather Exposure

Operating across the Shetland Islands presents two relentless operational challenges: payload restrictions across island ferry crossings and rapid vehicle corrosion caused by heavy sea salt air.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary in business and replace an existing 2020 second-hand truck, Shetland-based Ness Engineering commissioned a new flagship vehicle for their site-services division. The vehicle needed the capacity to transport heavy plant, generators, welfare cabins, and solar infrastructure across Shetland’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector—while turning multi-vehicle delivery runs into efficient single movements.

Because the fleet works constantly exposed to harsh coastal weather, safeguarding build longevity, corrosion protection, and long-term residual value were paramount factors in choosing a bodybuilding partner.

The Solution: A Turnkey Drawbar Outfit Engineered by Mac’s Trucks

Engineered, painted, and finished in-house at our Huddersfield production facility, Mac’s Truck Sales delivered a complete turnkey drawbar outfit built to withstand demanding island work:

1. 360-Degree Lifting with Mac’s Patented Twin Front Legs

To unlock complete 360-degree crane lifting capacity over the cab without sacrificing vehicle aerodynamics, the Volvo FH540 Aero features Mac’s patented twin front stabiliser leg configuration. Concealed discreetly behind the Aero front grille and controlled directly via the crane remote, the setup delivers full structural stability over the cab without cumbersome front bumper extensions seen on other competitor builds.

2. Fassi F705 Heavy-Duty Power & Long-Reach Fly Jib

Mounted behind the cab is a heavy-duty Fassi F705RA2.26 crane featuring six hydraulic boom extensions providing a 16.5-metre main reach. To tackle complex, long-reach infrastructure lifts, the setup includes:

• An L436 hydraulic fly jib with six additional extensions.
• A JDP dual power system to optimise capacity at maximum reach.
• A heavy-duty V20 hydraulic winch for precise placement of components.

3. SDC Drawbar Combination: One Truck Doing the Work of Two

The rigid chassis is fitted with a heavy-duty Mac’s cheesewedge body featuring durable Keruing hardwood flooring and integrated 20ft container twist locks. Paired with a bespoke, matching SDC drawbar trailer, the complete outfit allows Ness Engineering to transport a welfare cabin, fuel bowser, and generator in a single movement across ferry crossings—effectively doubling payload productivity and eliminating surplus vehicle runs.

4. Salt-Air Corrosion Protection & Driver-First Detailing

To guard against the corrosive Shetland environment, the build underwent a meticulous paint process.

• Full treatment with a high-zinc primer, followed by two complete coats of premium undercoat and topcoat to ensure lasting rust protection and safeguard residual value.
• Finished in striking Fassi Red, complemented by Alcoa alloy wheels and brushed stainless-steel mud wings.
• Fitted with a Kelsa top light bar and a bespoke stainless-steel illuminated headboard featuring the Ness Engineering logo precision laser-cut into the plate.

“When serving other islands, the drawbar trailer is a game-changer for payload flexibility[cite: 5]. The heavy-duty Keruing hardwood flooring and integrated 20ft twist locks allow us to combine bulky items—like a welfare cabin, generator, and fuel tank—into a single movement, effectively allowing one vehicle to do the work of two.

Because we operate surrounded by the sea, the salt-laden air creates a significant corrosion risk. Protecting against that is essential for both vehicle uptime and future residual value The main reason Mac’s won this work was their meticulous approach to body building, including treating the build with a high-zinc primer followed by two full coats of premium undercoat and topcoat This gave us absolute confidence in the vehicle’s longevity.”

— Alistair Leslie, Managing Director at Ness Engineering

Planning your next specialist commercial build? Speak to our engineering team today on 01422 311 999 or browse our ready-to-work crane trucks in stock