Press-button Conveyor System
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OFFICIALLY opened last week by the Minister ot Supply, Mr. G. R. Strauss, the new assembly plant of-the Austin Motoi Co., Ltd., at Longbridge, is claimed to be the most advanced of
its kind in the world. Whilst it is employed for the assembly of cars, the layout and methods used represent a production plan which could be applied to the manufacture of all types of vehicle.
Departing basically from "normal practice, the tracks are supplied with major compolents, such as engines, bodies and axles, from an underground tunnel. In th2 initial stages, the chassis is eonveyee through marshalling stores, and the requisite number of small part, in unit sets is placed on the track for the assembly of the components.
These travel on a complicated system of chain conveyors along the 1,000-ft. tunnel, the level of which corresponds with the groend level of the original plants, where they are loaded.
Arrival at the assembly track is timed electrically by an operative working in a control romi; the components are raised through the floor and are carried over the tracks in readiness for lowering on to the chassis. There is no manual handling at any point on the conveyor system. Misplacement is impossible and the chance of faulty assembly is practically eliminated.
Interesting features of the assembly track include an electrostatic spray booth (charged to a potential of /50,000 volts) and an overhead lubrication plant which travels a short distance with each chassis.
Addressing over 600 guests after the official luncheon, Mr. L. P. Lord, managing director of: the 'company, stated that the new plant would increase the total production of cars and commercial vehicles to 4,000 a week. He said that the construction and equipping of the building was an all-British effort.