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Fodens to end axle Ind gearbox making?
Page 26
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IE PROPOSED cuts in the workforce at Fodens (see page 5) 11 probably mean the end of that company's gearbox and axle anufacture writes the technical editor.
Plans to produce a replacenit for its existing eight(or it 12?) speed gearbox have idently been shelved.
Fodens will now use Fuller arboxes and Rockwell :les, but according to Bill den, the company's chief acutive, this doesn't exclude ler manufacturers.
If there are better alternves, Fodens will use them, said.
aipart from Leyland, Fodens re the last British manufac-er to produce their own dor drive line components. -Iowever, they have realised tt it is no longer practicable or cost effective — to make !se themselves. Like other manufacturers they will become assemblers using bought in parts, except of course for the cab which is made entirely by Fodens.
The Foden worm drive axle was very reliable, but its design meant large frictional losses and high weight.
To continue to build this and a gearbox solely for its own use is no longer viable.
In addition, Fodens hope to build up vehicle production from the current break even point of 40-50 vehicles per week to at least 60 per week.
It would be difficult to envisage its own drive line manufacture facility being able to keep up with this. Production capability at the computer-controlled Sandbach factory is 120 vehicles per week, however.
According to Bill Foden, Fodens should be in profit by April next year.
The decision to re-enter the double-deck bus market — CM October 5 — was, he said, taken partly because of the Leyland Park Royal plant closure.
However, he stressed that Fodens have no intention of building coach chassis or indeed any single-decker buses apart from those it already exports to developing countries.
Bus production could be up to 120 units per year although Mr Foden said the company would sell as many as it could make.
Production will start on the double-decker within the next 18 months.