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Bearing Production in a Country District

28th July 1944, Page 28
28th July 1944
Page 28
Page 28, 28th July 1944 — Bearing Production in a Country District
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RECENTLY we accompanied a party of Parliamentary and other guests, which, at the invitation of Mr. S. P.

a Loosen, the chairman and managing director of the Anti-Attrition Metal Co., Ltd., visited the works of that concern. Two purposes were served in this way—the visitors were able to view, from first to last, a most modern production centre and, secondly, to investigate the possibilities of a wellplanned garden city intended to house the workers in post-war days in a country area not far from London. It would, under, ordinary conditions, be difficult to attract and accommodate workpeople in sufficient numbers to meet the anticipated needs of a works which is likely to experience a steady expansion

Business Established Nearly 90 Years Ago The business was founded in Southwark Street, London, in 1856, and moved to Glengall Road in 1910. In his introductory remarks the chairman mentioned that he had been with the company 40 years, and that it had grown to such an extent that, since August of last year, it had produced overa2,000,000 separate parts.

As is well known, the main work is the production of bearings, bushes, pump bodies, etc., in non-ferrous metals. Previous to the war, it was supplying a great number of the world's railways, hoth steam and electric, with bearings for axle boxes, motors, etc., whilst the largest railways in this country were also being provided with white metal for the bearings of their locos, carriages and wagons_ Many of the leading makers of motor vehicles were, and still are, employing this company's bearings and other products, whilst the overhead equipment for London Transport's trolleybus systems and for that of other important British towns, utilizes the company's collectors.

Now, of course, many alterations in • shapes and sizes have had to he made to meet war needs. However, in these works, the change from war to postwar production should be quite a simple one, being merely a question of altering drawings and jigs.

Building of the present factory started at Christmas, 1940, and deliveries were first made from it in the following August. The site occupies 13 acres, and has covered-in space amounting to 90,000 sq. ft. The foundry alone occupies one-third of this area and includes 30 furnaces, serving the moulding machines and chill-stick department. A special reconditioning plant takes used sand from the moulds, waters it, adds various ingredients, dries it to the right humidity and then returns it to the moulding machines, into which it is dropped by the pulling of a lever. Castings pass through the fettling shop, where runners and risers are removed, and they are prepared sufficiently to go on to the machines, but ‘' not before they are carefully inspected for flaws. All finished parts go to a well-arranged inspection department, and thence by a conveyor to the packers.

Of the 400 employees, about 75 per cent. are girls, trained at the factory. All the machines are operated by girls, with a setter for each seven, and they produce an average of over 40.000 finished parts per week. It is interesting to note that the whole of this modern works and equipment has been developed without any financial assistance from the Government,. although, naturally, various Government departments have given their co-operation. All the plant comprises the most up-to-date machines for precision production. They are of both British and American make.

Wide Variety of Alloys in Constant Use Going through the factory constantly are some 15 different alloys to suit various purposes, and they involve the use of a similar number of different metals. Great care has been given to the recovery of these materials, this being assisted ,,by an up-to-date laboratory which ensures that each alloy agrees with the required specification in respect of tensile strength, hardness and ductility.

One of the main factors in the whole scheme is to give better conditions to the workers. There is a hostel for a certain number of women, and the company has purchased houses for its key men, whilst the land which it is intended to allocate to the new housing estate will bring this within 10 minutes of the works and will, if the scheme eventuates, accommodate MO people.

According to the plans, there will be gardens, shops, a church",_ a cinema, public houses, a block of garages, tennis courts, and an efficient sewage plant. Sites have also been arranged for a station and a school, but the company does 'not feel that it can itself cover the cost of such a scheme. It is, therefore, hoped that the Government will meet this, as the estate appears to be of the type which it is in the Government's mind to construct in other areas.

How the Cockney reacts to country conditions was referred to by Mr. Loosen. He stated that, in general, the Londoner fell in love with life in the country and is quite prepared to match his potatoes against those of other growers.

Tribute to Chairman's Industrial Statesmanship Mr. Arthur Greenwood, P.C., M.P., Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of H.M. " Official " opposition, who was the chief guest, said that in the future we must maintain the British way of life and its standards. He also paid tribute to the industrial statesmanship of the chairman.

Those present also included Messrs.

R. Andrews, architect of the company ; Herbert Bridge, managing director, De La Rue. Plastics, ,Ltd.; Greville Collins, managing director, Prefabricated Constructors, Ltd.; Major Cyril Dennis, Deputy Director, W. B. Dick and Co., Ltd. ; Alderman W. Dobbie, M.P.; Sir Robert Gower, M.P., K.C.V.0_, O.B.E.; Mr. C. W. C. Hine, a director of the company; Captain B. V. Kirby, M.P. ; Messrs. S. N. Loosen, a director of the company; J. Loverseed, A.F.C., M.P.; Sir Charles McLaren, K.C.B„ Director-General H.M. Ordnance Factories; Messrs. Alfred Rayner, a director of the company; George Reakes, M.P.: W. A. Sales, Deputy Director, Aircraft production, M.A.P, ; Major

S. V. Sippe, D.S.O., 0.B.E., sales manager of the company ; Alderman H. Round, J.P. ; Councillor G. A. Harrison, J.P.; Messrs. C. C. Camel!, a director of Arthur Balfour, Ltd.; E. Walkden, M.P.; and T. M. P. Priestley, a director of the company.


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