Large Vauxhall Plant Extension
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'THE new 852,000-sq.-ft, extension to 1 the factory of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., at Luton, was formally opened on Tuesday. It is designed to suit the latest practices in mechanical handling.
• The new plant is responsible for all gear production and for the menu' faeture and assembly of Bedford 'engines, axles, cabs and bodies, and • houses the main Bedford assembly line. The extension is the first stage in a • five-year modernization plan which will cost £11 m. The present factory was laid out for an annual production of 35,000 vehicles. Last year, 84,000 vehicles were built, but labour and handling costs were high. In addition, much of the equipment has become obsolete.
In the new plant, specialized machines are used on a large scale, and the amount of electric power employed per man closely approacliet American standards.
Steel for the framework of the building could not be obtained at home, so fabricated sections were obtained from General Motors, the parent company in the U.S.A. These were modified to fit the Vauxhall company's plans, and the first stanchion was placed in position in May, 1949.
BACK TO HORSED BUSES?
iN Skye and the Outer Isles, operators 1 have raised their fares to try to keep their companies running, but bad roads, broken springs and extra maintenance costs mean diminished profits. It comes to this—that motor transport soon will disappear altogether and some of the areas will go back to horses."
Mr. A. Robertson, Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority, made this statement in Inverness last week. Neil Beaton, Ltd., Port ree, had applied to curtail drastically its bus services in Skye during the winter months.
TOO FEW BUSES IN ,LONDON WHEN asked by Sir Thomas Moore VY last week whether he would limit the number of buses on London streets between 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., the Minister of Transport, in a written reply, stated that too few buses were already operated. The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee was studying the congestion • problem, and the Minister promised to examine its recommendations when they were received.
SPARES FOR BRUSH FOURWHEELERS QERVICE and the supply of spares for Brush four-wheeled batteryelectrics, production of which has been discontinued in favour of the Pony three-wheeled and Brush industrial trucks, have been ensured for 10 years by Brush Coachwork, Ltd., Loughborough.
Surplus components, not needed for spares requirements, have been bought by Hindle, Smart and Co., Ltd., Manchester maker of Helecs electric vehicles.
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