Boom in Fire-engine Business Over
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE post-war re-equipment demand for fire appliances was almost satisfied. In the home market. more than a gradual return to normal replacement business could not be expected, says Mr. David J. Grimes, chairman of Dennis Bros., Ltd., in his annual report. He adds: "We must also expect a falling-off in the demand for specialpurpose heavy vehicles for the Government departments, but we shall be at the ready to return to this type of production whenever required. Our commercial and municipal vehicle business, however, is still increasing and we remain in full production.
"The wastage of labour, mostly to Government-sponsored undertakings whose values are often disproportionateto market conditions, is a constant source of concern," Mr. Grimes states.
rhe loss of personnel has to some extent been made good by adjustments in our manufacturing methods, but the diverse nature of the company's products still necessitates an unusually high percentage of skilled craftsmen, and the loyalty of these men is an important factor."
Advantages that might be obtained from extensive mechanization were Continuously to be sought.
The London Fire Brigade had bought a number of new heavy-duty oilengined appliances and had ordered a further 17. There had been a rise in the number of deliveries of municipal vehicles. Spain had placed a substantial order for Paxit II refuse collectors.
NEW GEAR-OIL FORMULA
A NEW specification, C.S.2758, for r*I extreme-pressure gear oils, has been issued by the Chemical Inspectorate of the Ministry of Supply as the result of the establishment of suitable axle-testing procedures, using British gears and components.
An independent body, the gear oil qualification panel, has been set up under the chairmanship of Dr. F. T. Barwell, of the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, to advise upon the approval of extreme-pressure gear oils for the Services.