developments'
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• New Duple coach designs should be ready for showing at Earls Court in 1972; before then, the company will have announced "Revolutionary new developments" in the field of coach safety, which are now being tested. This news was given on Tuesday by Mr Frank B. Ford, chairman of Duple Motor Bodies Ltd, at a press conference under the title ."The First Hundred Days"—referring to the period during which the company has been under new management since its purchase by Mr Ford.
The chairman said that many exciting projects were being examined (and had been announced in CM in recent months) and the Duple team had been strengthened by additional research, design and management staff. Considerable rationalization is being undertaken at the two Blackpool factories and the Willowbrook factory at Loughborough. Spares and service facilities have also been increased.
Mr Ford said the financial results for the period immediately before acquisition will show a heavy loss when published shortly, but he forecast a substantial profit for the group in 1910/71. A production gross of some 10 per bent a year for both buses and coaches is foreseen.
Asked about composite construction, the new group engineering director, Mr John McHugh, said that while this was satisfactory for Britain it gave rise to problems overseas, but the company was working on plans which would overcome this.