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Cleaner and Easier Handling of Meat

25th November 1955
Page 43
Page 43, 25th November 1955 — Cleaner and Easier Handling of Meat
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THE latest developments in the hygienic tranAport of foodstuffs, principally meat, were demonstrated on Tuesday at Fleet, Hants. The occasion was an exhibition of the combined products of County Commercial Cars, Ltd., Walker and County Cars, Ltd., and Market Transport, Ltd.

One of the most interesting innovations by Market Transport is the Market Loader, the prototype of which appeared last year (The Commercial Motor, August 27, 1954). Its basis is a hydraulically operated device which relieves the porters of the task of lifting the meat in and out of the body. When loading, the meat is elevated to a point where the hooks are automatically linked to roof rails, and thereafter the load can be dealt with by a pole.

This loader has made possible the introduction of a vehicle for dealing with sides of beef which may measure 9 ft. long. The vehicle is backed up to the abattoir and the sides of beef can be loaded direct from the abattoir rails.

It is claimed that this transporter is the only one of its kind in the country. 'This new vehicle is operated nightly between Reading abattoir and Smithfield Market and is said to be giving entire satisfaction. The payload capacity is 6 tons, made up of 42 sides plus offal.

Apart from the labour-saving aspect of these Market Loader vehicles, there is the important question of hygiene. In no case where the loading device is used do the carcasses make contact with the body floor, and neither need the porter enter the vehicle. What might be termed the standard meat transporter is known as the Litex, with a payload of 4 tons. In designing a body for the transport of meat, the material employed in its construction must be of a nonabs orbent character. Hence the Litex body has a steel frame panelled throughout in light alloy.

All the joints are sealed, and there arc no mouldings which can be easily damaged.

The largest version so far made is the Litex 10-tonner, which was shown on an Albion Chieftain six-wheeled chassis. A typical load would be 90 quarters of beef, plus offal, or up to 140 pigs.

In this case the body, including the floor, is insulated with 4-in, bitumen. bonded glass-fibre. The floor is sealed and made waterproof. The vehicle was designed for the bulk transport of fresh or frozen meat over long distances.

A further development of the Litex Market Loader which was shown was a 7-tonner with Marco refrigeration equipment. it is claimed that a temperature between 30° F. and 40° F. can be held indefinitely. A 1-hp. mainsoperated unit is used in conjunction with four Winget Dole hold-over plates.

For the hygienic transport of other types of goods, there is the Litex 6-ton container, the body of which has light-alloy ribs. If required for meat

transport it is panelled and can be fitted with the special loading device.

The address of the body department of Market Transport, Ltd., is 166 Weir Road, London, S.W.12.

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Locations: London

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