E.R.F. in Australia NEWS IN BRIEF E .R.F. LTD., of Sandbach,
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Cheshire, has formed an associate company in Australia to assemble and distribute E.R.F. vehicles throughout Australasia, with the initial exception of Western Australia. The new company, Booth (E.R.F.) Pty. Ltd., is based on Lidcombe, N.S.W., and is a joint venture with Booth Industries Ltd., of Sydney.
Mr. P. Foden and Mr. J. Booth, managing directors of E.R.F. Ltd. and Booth Industries Ltd., respectively, are both on the board of directors of the new company, which has placed an initial £150,000 order for a special range of fourand six-wheeled vehicles designed for the Australian market.
Booth (E.R.F.) Pty. Ltd. is establishing an assembly plant and a chain of service depots which will enable vehicles to be supplied ex-stock, and also an efficient spares and service organization to be maintained. The new company will also supply custom-built vehicles designed and manufactured at the U.K. factory.
Better Sales for Bedford: Sales of Bedford commercial vehicles in 1963, at 84,131, showed an increase of nine per cent over the previous year's figures. Home sales were 38,487, whilst 45,644 were exported. Mr. W. Swallow, chairman and managing director of Vauxhall, said that demand for all the company's products was very strong and forecast that 1964 would be another record year.
Plessey Expansion: The Plessey Co. (U.K.) Ltd. has bought a 49 per cent share of the equity of Ticket Equipment Ltd. The cost, including tools, plant, stock and manufacturing rights, was £220,000. Ticket Equipment LtcL was previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of the old-established ticket manufacturers, Mycalex and T.I.M. Ltd.
Street Cleaning Appliances: The Minister of Transport and the Minister of Power have together made regulations to allow local authorities to use modern, street-cleaning appliances, whether mechanically propelled or not, on pavements. Except in certain circumstances, such use is restricted to vehicles weighing under 1 ton, and they must not travel at a speed exceeding 5 m.p.h. The regulations will come into force on January 20. Rickards Take-over: The Charles Rickards Group Ltd. has acquired the business of J. Ramsay (Automobile Electricians) Ltd. The location of the company remains at Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London, W.13. (Tel.: Ealing 5500 and 6786/7.) E.C.G.D. Sheffield: The Sheffield office of the Export Credits Guarantee Department has moved to 8/12 Furnival Gate, Sheffield, 1. (Tel. 29151, Telex 54244.) Spelt Out: As from January 1, the name of VW Motors Ltd., U.K. concessionaires for Volkswagen vehicles, has been changed to Volkswagen Motors Ltd.
Overseas Agencies : The Blackwood Hodge companies in India, Pakistan and the Sudan have been appointed overseas agents for R. A. Dyson and Co. Ltd.
Record Year for Bamford: Sales turnover in 1963 for J. C. Bamford (Excavators) Ltd., of Rocester, Staffs, increased by 60-4 per cent over 1962 and 52 per cent more machines were sold. Nineteen-sixty-four will see the introduction of several new JCB machines, including two larger hydraulic excavators, the JCB7 and JCI38. Last year a further 5 per cent wage increase was awarded to all employees—the third in three years.