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of F. Perkins, Ltd., Deliver Factory , Collect Materials and Form Mobile for New Engine Designs: Maintenance 9n Weekly Inspection, Particular wtion Being Given to Tyre Life
Mechanical handling is fully exploited at the company's Eastfield works to the extent that there is no loading bank. Suppliers are encouraged to use pallets, special containers having been made for fuel-injection equipment, for example. On arrival at the factory, a lorry drives down the central roadway and is unloaded by a fork-lift truck beside theappropriate production line.
Fork-lift trucks have been employed at Eastfield since 1947, when the factory was built. There are now six of these machines, Stacatrucs and Conveyancers with Perkins engines or battery-electric power, as well as, some 30 other works appliances.
At the end of the production line, engines are stored in racks awaiting transPort. Engines are painted according to type," vehicle engines being silver, marine engines light blue and so on. Deliveries to vehicle makers comprise " complete lorryloads and regularity is maintained daily with such supplies. Deliveries
to Perkins signholder entail the 1c.4ing of perhaps six consignments on one vehicle. The rule is that, subject to exceptional circumstances, no vehicle leaves the factory unless fully loaded.
A few articulated outfits are operated, with two semitrailers to each tractor. A shuttle system is worked between Eastfield and the main store at Polebrook⢠aerodrome, 11 miles away, near Oundle. Semi-trailers can be left overnight, loaded and picked up again the following morning.
Thousands of Perkins engines are directly exported every year. If a lorry is delayed at the docks for many hours, as often occurs, the output schedule can be affected by the late return of the vehicle with materials.
Mr. P. Scatting, the company's transport superintendent, told me that, notwithstanding dock difficulties, his biggest problem was that of turning away applicant drivers. He had, he said, a waiting list of 40 names. He has 56 men under his control in the transport section