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MASS PRODUCTION OF ONE TON CHASSIS.

25th May 1920, Page 17
25th May 1920
Page 17
Page 18
Page 17, 25th May 1920 — MASS PRODUCTION OF ONE TON CHASSIS.
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A Visit to the Extensive Ford Factory at Trafford Park.

RECENTLY \via had an opportunity of visiting the Ford factory at Trafford. Park, Manchester, where, in. addition to the ubiquitous Ford Gar, . the well-known one-ton "truck" is produced. It is generally supposed that the Trafford Park factory is purely an assembling shop, where components imported from America are merely put together, but at the present time such is hardly the case. Quite a large number of items are made at Manchester, and a large proportion of the material employed is produced in. this country.

In conversation with Mr. Bate, the managing director of the Trafford Park factory, we learned, that in regard to such material all those factors which have operated against production in this country, and hindered progress, have been felt just as severely by the Ford people at Manchester as by anyone. Nevertheless, Mr. Bate informed us that in spite of the

• difficulties production has now reached a much higher level than could have been anticipated some time ago. Vehicles are being produced with gm-eat regularity, and output is increasing day by day. At the present time the weekly output nearly reaches four figures, approximately one-quarter of these vehicles being -the popular one-tonner. But this output, large though it may be, as outputs go in this country, is not neaxiy sufficient to meet the tremendous demand which exists.

The Manchester factory, like the huge parent works at Detroit, is organized an most up-to-date and original lines. It is, of course, mach smaller, but apparently, all those methods of rapid production whieh have become associated with , Detroit are in -operation, though en a smaller scale. The inter-geared conveyor system, which, more or -less, sets the pace of the factory, and on which the components are assembled, and then delivered to the chassis, which is completed as it slowly moves along, is one of the

outstanding features of the plant. , Many interesting processes are to be seen in operation, and in the ingenuity of their methods the engineers at Manchester have all the benefit of association with Detroit. It is, therefore, not surprising that the weekly output should be extraordinarily high for the size of the plant. The factory contains a very fine equipment of presses, and in addition to innumerable small parts, the wings and body panels are produced in the requisite quantities, huge dies for this work being made in the factory toolroom.

Engine assembling is carried out on a moving bench with extraordinary rapidity. This bench is a. fairly recent installation, and as evidence of its efficiency it may be stated that within eight weeks of thealate it was installed nearly 200 engines per day were being turned out. After assembly the engines are.coupled for a few minutes to an electric motor, which rotates them, and ensures that they are free to trun;before installation in the chassis, but they are not run under their own power until the complete,vehiele is, started up. This occurs when the vehicle is completely finished and comes off the end of the chassis-conveyor. The back wheels are then pushed on to two rollers on. the floor, by which means the engine is started. When the engine starts a pneumatis_ jack lifts thethassis off the rollers, and it goes off on test, the driver having previously taken his seat.

The methods by which the various parts and components are conveyed about the factory ismeost,complete and interesting, and when it is realized that all movement is synchronized•sciithat.everything, arrives at the proper place just when it is• required,' its win be appreciated that an enormona amount of forethought had to be exercised in the lay-out.

The enamelling processes are specially interesting. Parts such .aa wings and wing irons are hung+ on tor an endless chain, which passes over a number of vats, thence on through a drying chamber. Carried On this ehain, the parts are automatically dipped in the. vats, and arrive at the other end :of the drying chamber ready for use.

Everything is painted by dipping, :including the frames. In going round the factory one comes across many interesting machines. There is, foriinstartee, the press on which the radiator'fineare made. The sheet material is in the form of a, roll on one side of the press. It is drawn through the press, the holes punched for the radiator tubes, the edges of the sheet are. turned and flattened, and it is cut off to the proper length A vast number are produced daily. The radiatbr fins are mounted in one fixture, and the tubes in another, and at a single operation the whole 01 the tubes are pressed in, and the radiator black is complete. The Ford petrol tank is round, and lends itself to production by rolling in an amazingly short space of time.

Though it is extensive, the impression one gets of this very interesting factory is that, compared with the average works in this country, the output is extraordinarily high for the size of the plant. This fact alone necessitates more than usual efficiency of organization. The daily output is so high that it is imperative that it he cleared immediately, otherwise Trafford Park would soon be congested with Fords. Consequently there must be very close liaisonbetween the works management and the selling organization.

At Trafford Park the output is forecast a week ahead, to enable the delivery arrangements to be ready the following w.eek So close a check is kept upon progress throughout the plant that its hourly variation is known.In his office, Mr. Gorst, the energetic works superintendent, has an hourly bulletin board, which shows him throughout the day just how many cars are going through. Thus he has his

finger always on the pulse, of production. It is by such methods that the demand for the Ford onetonner is being met.

Tags

People: Bate, Gorst
Locations: Manchester, Detroit

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