Plastics Cut Cost of Ice-cream Body
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BY forming the roof and rear corners of Cornette 1-.) mobile ice-cream vehicles, based on Bedford 10-12-cwt. chassis, in plastics instead of aluminium. Smith's Delivery Vehicles, Ltd., Gateshead, IL have been able to offset increased costs of materials and labour and maintain the price of the bodywork at the existing figure.
In addition, the production of roof domes in glass-fibre reinforced polyester resin is quicker than in aluminium. Light metal was hand-rolled to shape by skilled men, whereas the laying-up of the plastics is performed largely by semi-skilled female labour.
The company use moulds made of mild steel. Resin is supplied by B.I.P. Chemicals, Ltd., and glass fibre by Fibreglass, Ltd. Thixotropic Gelcoat is applied to the mould, after a coating of separating agents has been brushed on, and then the fibre mats and polyester resin are laid in.
After trimming, the mouldings are o32
Attaching the plastics sections of a Cornette body in position. The chassis isa Bedford. The roof and rear corners were previously made in
light alloy.
left in the moulds overnight to dry. When removed from the moulds, the components are left for two or three days more before being erected.
Moulds for several other• parts of
different types of body have been developed by the company. These are made of glasspol, which has been found more satisfactory than steel for, smaller components.