BUSINESS NEWS
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Leyland loss
Leyland Vehicles' light/ medium division is expected to make a substantial loss this year.
General manager of the light/medium division Ian McKinnon blamed this on the lorry drivers' strike in January and the recent engineering two-day-a-week strikes. The plants concerned are both in Scotland; at Bathgate where the Terrier and Boxer models are made, and at the old Albion plant in Scotstoun, home of the Chieften and Reiver.
Mr McKinnon reported that output had been almost on target between February and July, but during the engineering strike had dropped to 40 per cent in August and just 35 per cent in September. He went on to say that demand, however, was still strong, particularly for the Terrier and Boxer models.
Strike hit
York Trailer Group is blaming the recent engineers' series of two-day strikes for its poor performance in its third financial quarter.
The company is not releasing actual figures for the three months to September 30, but says that the strike has "destroyed the growth for the third quarter and, with it, our expectation of a reasonably good year in 1979."
It reports that it was worst affected by late deliveries from suppliers and the inability .of customers to collect their equipment. York is "phasing down" production at the Scammell plant in Hoveringham and in future Scammell trailers will be made at the York plants in Corby and Northallerton.
Take over
The Dutch holding company owned by the Transport Development Group, ETOM, has taken over another Dutch haulage company, Priems Beheer.
Priems Beheer specialises in carrying abnormal loads, primarily for the construction industry, and its fleet of 54 vehicles and 83 trailers operates from two depots at Son and Goirle in the south of Holland.