Commer Production Decentralized P RODUCTION of Commer six-cylindered models, the construction
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of appropriate bodywork, and the machining of certain components are now concentrated at the Aldermoor factory, Coventry, of Commer Cars, Ltd. The I.uton factory deals with the manufacture of Commer four-cylindered vehicles and all models in the Karrier range, including municipal types.
The Aldermoor plant was originally one of the Rootes aircraft shadow factories and encloses a ground area of about seven acres. The main building has a floor area of 200,000 sq. ft., all under one roof, with treble and singlestorey blocks of offices on the east and south sides respectively and a twostorey canteen, with boiler house and electrical installations in the basement, on the north side.
Chassis assembly and test occupy some 25,000 SCI. ft. of floor space. In this department, the assembly conveyer, built on the power-pulled, endless-chain principle, is in two sections, totalling 350 ft., and is connected by an overhead chassis " turnover " plant.
Geared to give a mean production of one complete vehicle each 15 minutes, this line is fed by means of two overhead conveyers—one for components and the other for wheels and tyres. 'Engines and cabs are assembled on manually operated trolleys alongside the main track, and are fed to their stations by overhead runways.
On completion, the engine output and gearbox transmission of each vehicle arc proved on a modern roller test olant.
In the body shop, which has an area of about 14,000 sq. ft., standard platform and drop-sided bodies are built on a floor conveyer, consisting of a continuous circuit and fitted with a variablespeed device.
A further area of 17,500 sq, ft. is occupied by the running shop, where completed and tested vehicles are finally checked in readiness for delivery. Alongside is the dispatch bay, covering 25,500 sq. ft., where finished vehicles are held pending collection The machine shop and the stores department each account for some 43,000 sq. ft.