FRUIT DRINK DISTRIBL
Page 50
Page 51
Page 52
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
'ION BY 400 VEHICLES A Survey of the Activities of Thomas and Evans, Ltd., Producer of Corona Specialities, Marketed from Nearly 80 Centres in England and Wales 0 NE of the most go-ahead concerns amongst the manufacturers of non-alcoholic drinks is Thomas and Evans, Ltd., with headquarters at Porth, Rhondda, and which now claims to be the largest producer, not only in Great Britain, but in Europe. Much of its success has been bound up in the intensive employ
ment of driver-salesmen, the majority of these operating motor vehicles, and the business being conducted direct with the consumer.
Some 30 works and 45 stores are spread throughout England and Wales, and the productive capacity of the various plants is 700,000 cases of four bottles each per week, or 36,000,000 cases (representing 144,000,000 bottles) per annum during usual working hours. The vehicles run 5,300,000 miles yearly, and the average annual mileage per vehicle is 14,000, representing a petrol consumption of approximately 500,000 gallons.
At the moment the fleet consists of 382 vehicles, but this is being rapidly increased. This year the new business is being shared between Commer and MorrisCommercial products. The present constitution is as follows :—Morris-Commercial, 2.37; Commer, 88; Guy, 26; Daimler, ; Leyland, 3; Morrison Electric, 3; Ford, 2: ,A.h.C., 1; Dennis, 1. Then there are 11 James a32 Ha.ndyvans and 5 private cars, the capacities of the vehicles ranging from 12 tons for the Guy Goliath down to a few cwt.
The maintenance work on the fleet is carried out at five centres—Porth, Birmingham, Leicester, Devonport and Willesden. An Eccles caravan has been equipped as a mobile worksb,op with tools for servicing vehicles in remote j:t.rts, such as North Wales and Pembrokeshire. This caravan -is• drawn by an ordinary 30-cwt. vehicle to the depot required, when the drawing vehicle takes the place of that to be serviced. The caravan has sleeping quarters and carries a full sot of spares, and its service round is organized according to the mileage of the vehicles maintained.
The work done consists of decarbonizing and the fitting of pistons and rings. All used pistons are returned to the depot for reconditioning, which consists of skimming out the grooves and fitting new rings. The travelling fitter sends in a weekly report to show the work done.
In the scheme of operation Mr. Edwin Hibbert, the engineer, who is also a director of the company, believes in allowing a vehicle to go no farther than 20 miles from a factory, thus eliminating much non-paying running. If the area has to be extended then a new depot is started.
Records are kept on the Kardex system. This indicates (1) time for decarbonizing; (2) when a vehicle is due for overhaul ; (3) due for p.ainting. Every vehicle is varnished and painted alternately every 18 months at the special finishing departments at Birmingham, Forth and Willesden. Returns are received every week from depot and factory managers, giving the petrol and oil consumption and the mileage. A. full record is kept of tyres, but the spare is ignored, as this is ,always part-worn.
Comprehensive insurance is taken out, and by a new scheme which has just been put into operation the drivers will share in the no-accident bonuses. Every driver is a member of the Safety First Association, and several of them have won silver medals. Mr. Hibbert believes that this has a very goad effect and he is strongly sympathetic to the Safety First movement.
Bulk transport vehicles, as distinct from those used for door-to-door delivery, are also employed, and for this purpose use is made of the Guy 12-tonner, Commer and Morris-Commercial 3-tonners and Leyland 4-tonners.
Many of the bodies are made at the Forth works and they are so designed 'that the load can be told at a glance. For instance, three tiers of cases make a full load for a 25-cwt. machine. A small but interesting point is that the facia-boards are broughtdown below the level of the side rails, thus permitting the use of wording and improving the appearance. Steel corner plates are used at the ends tO protect the sides against damage by bumps, which are frequent at • these points. Horsed transport is still employed in certain areas, but is gradually being replaced; for instance, at Reading two Morrison battery-ele,ctrics are being tried out for this purpose.
On account of the new taxation, the company has discarded over 20 old-type heavy vehicles and replaced them by lighter models. The saving in three years on licensing, petrol, oil and running costs is estimated to equal the cost of these replacements.
The company considers that well-kept vehicles and smartly uniformed drivers constitute a fine advertisement of efficiency and cleanliness and give a good character to the business. To improve the appearance of the vehicles hub-caps and radiators are plated.
The men are well paid, the average driver-sales man making £4 10s. per week in the summer ; this, of course, includes wages and commission on sales. Every driver is expected to become acquainted with the company's own instruction book in addition to that issued by the respective makers ; he is also re sponsible for the lubrication of his vehicle and has to wash it Once a week.
Every depot justifying the expense has one or more Tan gye single-gun electrically driven washers. At Birmingham and Perth, however, where there are fleets of 40 or more vehicles, a night staff attends to washing, lubricating, cleansing, petrol-filling, etc. This staff also reports any defect to the maintenance depots.
The company has an arrangement with the oil suppliers under which each depot is provided with an oil cabinet to which oil is pumped direct. This avoids handling, as cleanliness is of vital importance in a drink factory.
The vehicles run mostly on Dunlop tyres, and the company is very pleased with the service it receives from the maker. Dunlop inspectors have the right to take air pressures at all the depots and report to the head office in respect of the condition and pressure of the tyres. All the vehicles run on commercial spirit, National I3enzole and Shell being used.
As a result of seeing in The Commercial Motor a report on cylinder wear, issued by the Institution of Automobile Engineers some months ago, Mr. Hibbert realized the great advantage of utilizing thermostats for many vehicles of his fleet which make a minimum of 100 stops per day, so that in the ordinary course the engine 'never gets warmed up to its work. One hundred and fifty thermostats were therefore obtained from S: Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., and by fitting these wear and tear and the consumption of oil
and petrol have both been most materially reduced.
In addition to its other activities, the company has• between 70 and 80 grocery shops in South Wales, and the delivery of groceries is carried out by MorrisCommercial and Commer 20-25-cwt. vans. , Many thousand gallons per week of Corona pure malt vinegar are produced at an up-to-date brewery in Worcester. This vinegar is delivered from door -to door at 6d. per 14-pint bottle. Another product is hop hitters. The fruit drinks can, also be supplied as concentrates, and in winter peppermint, ginger wine, etc., are marketed.
At Worcester the large roof of the factory acts as a landmark for airmen, as the words "Corona Worcester" have been painted on it in large letters, thus combining utility with excellent publicity.