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Guinne, Is iways At Hand

22nd December 1961
Page 40
Page 40, 22nd December 1961 — Guinne, Is iways At Hand
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Highly Developed Maintenance System Ensures Good Results With Large Dublin Fleet

I N view of the fact that the availability graph is not only a constant reminder of "the state of the market" but is also by way of being a key to the efficiency of the maintenance system, it is surprising that this feature is to be seen in very few road transport depots. Particularly interesting are the availability percentages calculated from year to year for they reflect with clarity the success, or otherwise, of those charged with the acquisition and maintenance of the various units in a fleet.

For this very reason, Mr. A. G. Milne, road transport engineer to the huge Guinness organization in Dublin, maintains comprehensive statistics. They show that for over a decade the company's vehicles at the St. James's Gate Brewery have been ready to carry out traffic duties for 96 per cent. of their time.

Unique Fleet

This is a fleet that appears to have almost everything. It includes a wide variety of transport units, a bulk grain carrier, a display caravan, a breakdown wagon (largely built-up in the garage itself), a bus for the brewery-port service which carries the Guinness shipping workers, several representatives' cars, and even a scooter for the inspector to examine pressurized casks at the customers' premises. All of this finds ample work for the garage staff, Onthe transport side, the keynote in vehicle selection is adaptability, for which reason bulk tankers are now a thing of the past so far as the Guinness organization is concerned. This policy was the c4

subject of comment in a. review of the fleet which appeared in The Commercial Motor two years ago. Greatly increased use is now made of platform vehicles with trailers which will carry casks or transportable tanks. So equipped, each unit can be given a full week's work on either city, local or long-distance journeys.

As a matter of policy, the company require chassis giving a low loading line so as to keep handling effort at a minimum. Likewise, the aim is to have cabs that provide good heating and ventilation with, at the same time, the best practicable sound insulation and easy access for the driver.

Fm economic reasons the practice is to build all bodywork at the garage, even for the numerous specialist vehicles employed. The breakdown vehicle already mentioned is a case in point, the chassis being acquired second-hand and suitable equipment fitted. The crane, which was bought out, has a turret mounting so that it can turn a full circle. To this the department has fitted an 8-ft. jib extension which, among other things, will enable the large transportable tanks to be removed from a broken-down vehicle.

Little Wear

Over recent years trials have been carried out with the use of low viscosity oils, coupled with engine temperature control, in consequence of which average figures for cylinder wear have been reduced by 2-1times. Particularly good results in this connection have been achieved with the 18 heavy long-distance oil-engined vehicles where the highest readings up to 250,000 miles cylinder wear of only 0.003 in heavies reached this stage witho ing reboring and one toppet miles without overhaul.

Especial care is taken in the injector maintenance, not only efficiency, but also because ti relations aspect makes it impo the Guinness vehicles shall black fumes.

Close attention is given to t tenance, the objective being fo fitters to inspect every cover e: Initially the tyres have an av of about 35,000 miles, but b• the care with which they are m two remouldings are normal, et a further 30,000 miles.

Fluorescent Paint

To supplement the extcusi equipment that is already in u vehicles, wing tips have beet with fluorescent white pair warning signs on the long-distc are also given fluorescent tret well as being illuminated di hours of darkness.

The staff at the Guinnes numbers 65, which inch mechanics, nine bodybuildei painters, two electricians and fitters as well as a number c workers, who maintain a corrq recording system. The success been achieved in maintenance i! in the fact that units in the transport fleet, which used to ciated over five years, are now financially over eight years. actual fact, of course, many still have plenty of useful life 1 end of that period.

The practice of keeping ma systems under constant survey pays good dividends.


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