Thatcher opens depot
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PRIME MINISTER Margaret Thatcher has officially opened Michael Gerson Ltd's new portal frame warehouse in Whetstone, North London.
The 24,200sqft warehouse has twin loading docks, one for pantechnicons, and the other for containers, which can be stacked four high.
Mrs Thatcher opened Phase 1 of the Gerson complex four years ago. In welcoming her back, Michael Gerson told her that the company's turnover has since increased by 80 per cent and staff by 20 per cent.
The company now earns £1.1m a year from North America and Canada, and handled 6,000 shipments in 1981, compared with 1,000 in 1971.
To bring the floor level in line with the transit warehouse, 12,000 tonnes of fill were used. And during construction, 200 tonnes of steel re-inforcement and 61,500 tonnes of concrete were used for the floor.
Handling of the containers is done by three liquified petroleum gas fork lift trucks, the largest of which has a side shift, and lifts to 24ft, while the smallest has a low mast and side shift enabling it to drive into the containers for handling cased traffic.
Mrs Thatcher praised the "flair and initiative" of the company and the "enthusiasm" of its staff.