For Quick Deliveries
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MOBILE CONTAINERS FOR LOADING FOODSTUFFS
THESpar grocery wholesalers who operate this Austin-ECG outfit (left) with Bonallack Weightsaver body, using a mobile container loading system, have found that deliveries formerly requiring nine man-hours can now be accomplished by one man in two hours. The Weightsaver, of 8 tons capacity, has been modified to accept Firmitainers made by H. Hope Ltd. of Northampton. These are 10 cwt-capacity pallets fitted with castoring wheels and detachable tubular metal sides held vertical by rubber stretchers and hooks.
The vehicle, equipped with a Pope electro-hydraulic, 1-ton-capacity tailboard lift, is designed to accommodate up to 27 loaded Firmitainers stacked three abreast; these are retained in place by transverse webbing straps hooked into bolts spaced at 33 in. centres, located in steel channel sections running along the interior of the body sides at waist level.
Measuring 27 ft. long by 7 ft. 6 in. wide and high, and mounted on an ECG straight-frame chassis with Taskers automatic coupling, the body has been designed to allow 2 ft. headroom above the containers, thus leaving space for lightweight packages such as cornflakes to be carried above the load. The pallets are of sufficient size to provide a single delivery to an average-size grocery shop and, as they are pre-loaded and sealed with nylon nets in the warehouse, delivery errors are eliminated.
Empty containers picked up from retailers on the return journey are dis
mantled by the driver and stacked into one another—eight containers stacking into the space required by two assembled units.
In addition to collapsible containers, rigid units of similar design and size are provided for the handling of bacon sides, which can carry up to 12 bacon sides hung from centre rails mounted across the top of the container framework. The steelwork on these carriers is finished with white polyurethane resin paint and galvanized steel drip trays are mounted on the laminated ply pallet floors.
The light alloy body has an ambertinted, full-length plastics panel inserted in the roof to provide good natural lighting within the body interior; to allow smooth running of the containers, the floor is a one-piece, I-in.-thick plywood unit. To protect the body sides, a timber guard-rail is fitted around the body.
The vehicle services more than 100 Spar retailers, including four of the company's own shops, and the company has now placed a further order with Bonallack and Sons Ltd. for' a similar unit and also for a rigid 7-tonner designed to operate on the same principle.
Order on Roydon Transport Rescinded
TN the Chancery Division last week Mr. -IJustice Buckley rescinded the order he made three days earlier for the compulsory winding-up of Roydon Transport Ltd. The petition was dismissed by consent.