Hendon to Blackpool switch for Duple coach production
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• Because the demand for coach badywork has declined rather than expanding to fill the capacity available, Duple Motor Bodies Ltd. is to cease coach production at its Hendon works and transfer this to the Vicarage Lane, Blackpool factory. This ex-Burlingham works at Blackpool is to be extended slightly, and the Willowbrook fac:ory at Loughborough will continue to build bus bodywork. The Blackpool produc ion of plastics and accessories by Bifort E gineering Co. Ltd. will continue unchanged
Commercial Motor was assurd this week that the move to Blackpool ii1 not
mean any reduction in the range of coach bodywork available from the Duple group. Duple Motor Bodies (Northern) Ltd. will be changed in name to Duple Coachbuilders Ltd. and the parent firm will become a holding company.
The group's total output has remained steady in value, at about £4m annually, but over the past two years coach body production has declined by about 16 per cent. The company feels it can no longer maintain the spare capacity at Hendon, which is affecting profitability. The reorganization is expected to mean that profits will temporarily dip to little or nothing for 1968 /9, but dividends will be paid out of reserves.
Hendon will retain service, sales, administrative and technical functions, including design, but the rundown will affect about 375 employees by the end of September. No new bodywork will be started at Hendon after August 2, but production there will not cease completely until the spring of next year. The Duple board has several possible plans in mind for the Hendon factories— though their sale has not been ruled out. The site and production facilities, on the fringes of north west London, are obviously of considerable value. The board foresees a considerable increase in profitability in 1969-70 and beyond. Concentration of production will result in a reduction in working capital required.
Bodybuilding has been undertaken at Hendon since 1927 without a break, except for the war years when aircraft were built in the works. The chairman of Duple, Mr. H. W. Sydenham, has stressed that during the reorganization, production standards will be maintained, and customers' requirements satisfied, whatever the cost.
At present Hendon is building the Viceroy, Vista, Commander and Bella Vega models.