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IT has been computed that the wages I paid annually in connection with the handling of materials reaches the £300.000,000 mark. The expenditure of this huge sum in no way .adds tothe value of the products handled; but is an overhead which industry as a whole has to pay in moving its goods from the .4actories to the shops or the place of use
• On Tuesday, Olympia opened its doors on the 1950 Mechanical Handling Exhibition, at which 170 . concerns are displaying equipment, and demonstrating methods, designed not only to reduce this enormous nonproductive overhead, but to introduce greater efficiency and increased production in Britain's workshops and factories.'
Eight British Fork Trucks
Of the mobile units, the fork-lift truck is undoubtedly the most important. in that not only is it the essential partner of the pallet and other types of unit load, but it functions as A hoist. Eight British makes of fork-lift trucks are represented.
Among new models is the Cleco straddle-type high-lift fork, truck. which. by reason of its design. can lift 2,000 lb,, and needs no ballast weights. The Coventry Climax T.S.M. strikes a new notein that it will pass through a 3-ft. doorway. It has a four-cyiindered petrol engine and handles loads up to 1.500 lb. Another T.S.M. model. of 2,240 lb capacity, has 'a two-cylindered oil engine, and possesses all ' 'the" manceuvrability of the petrol-engined truck,
• The Hirst mechanical truck. which is shown for the first time, might be described as a pods-vehicle chassis in ininiatu:e. It is based on Ford components, the chassis design bearing evidence of sound engineerinc practice.
Yet anoth ,r newcomer is the Matting tractor, which, powered by a four-cylindered petrol engine can haul
up to 10 tons. Only 3 ft. wide, it has an exceptionally short wheelbase. A new version of the Brush Pony is to be found in the Pony Cob, which, is a short-wheelbase edition of the Pony.
The new Douglas Ape is a threewheeler, designed by Piaggio, of Genoa. It has a 125 c.c. two-stroke engine giving 4 b.h.p, Both rear wheels are chain-driven off a cross-shaft embodying a differential.
This Exhibition, which is all British, will derive an international atmosphere from its visitors, of whom contingents have arrived from' 43 countries, Exhibits are describedand illustrated on pages 525-527 of this issue. ..
100 STACATRUCS FOR SWEDEN
BELIEVED to be the largest single .1-)export order ever received by a British manufacturer of fork-lift trucks, a contract with Salen and Wicander AB, Stockholm, for the supply of 100 battery-electtft Stacatrues of I-ton and 30-cwt. capacity, has been signed by I.T.D., Ltd. The order, including ancillary equipment, is valued at £125,000. and will be carried out by Austin Crompton Parkinson Electric Vehicles. Ltd., Birmingham.