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First Sea Lord Sees Shell Research

28th May 1948, Page 30
28th May 1948
Page 30
Page 30, 28th May 1948 — First Sea Lord Sees Shell Research
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TN the presence of many leading 'members of the motor and other industries, and senior officers of the Fighting Services, including Admiral of the Fleet Sir John D. Cunningham, First Sea Lord, Mr. G. LeghJones, managing director of the Shell Refining and Marketing Co., Ltd., last week formally opened the Shell Research Centre at Thornton-le-Moors.

Cheshire.

The laboratory was constructed in 1940 and was in full operation in 1942, and during the war was engaged on vital. Government work: Since that date facilities have been progressively extended, and last year the various units were welded into the present Research Centre, under the control of a director of research. The opening last week marked the completion of a new fuel laboratory.

The centre occupies a 30-acre site and has a floor space of 730,000 sq. ft Seventy-eight engines of various types are used in the different sections, as well as a number of rigs and appliances for small-scale work. The centre is staffed by 895 people, with Brig. R. A. Bagnold, 0.B.E., F.R.S., at the head. . Mr. Legh-Jones described the establishment as " the brain centre of the already huge contribution which the petroleum industry is making in support of the British export drive." He said that the discrepancy between oil production and demand was caused largely by shortages of steel for equipment and of ships for transport.

Lieut.-General J. H. Doolittle. director of the Shell Union Oil Corporation, New York, and famous during the war as an air commander, spoke of the magnificent achievements of the oil industry in the prosecution of the war. Admiral Sir John Cunningham paid a similar tribute.

The work of the Thornton Research Centre was described in detail in "The Commercial Motor" dated July 4. 1947. The apparatus used in testing fuels and lubricants for petrol and oil engines is ingenious and varied, and the research programme is extremely comprehensive. Work is proceeding in connection with the supercharging of oil engines and with the starting of power units at temperatures down to —60 degrees C.


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