Container swops in rationalization plan
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AS PART of a rationalization plan in its distribution operation the North Western Electricity Board has started to replace its normal 3-ton vans with vehicles equipped with container equipment and bodywork by Freight Bonallack.
The rationalization plan is for 15 seperate stores of appliances to be replaced by a single 20-acre store at Bolton, Lancs. The container bodywork will be grounded at this central store and loaded by a permanent staff — replacing the present system of the van crews loading the vehicles themselves. With the new system the loaded container is simply exchanged for an empty one, using a fork lift truck to do the container transfer.
The Ford 'chassis being standardized by Norweb have a gross vehicle weight of 7.37 tons and are fitted with Ratcliff tail lifts. The lifts are Ratcliffs Cleardeck model in which the side columns are telescopic, enabling the chassis to be left clear for loading or unload ing the containers.
For deliveries from the outlying appliance centres in the Norweb area, three containers at a time will be taken to them on a single articulated unit overnight. This will replace empty containers by full ones, ready for the next day's delivery by the vehicle at the appliance depot.