RUBBER INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 10

RUBBER INDUSTRY

CENTRALISATION TREND IN U.S.A. MODERN METHODS IN USE Tho growth of the rubber in' in tho United States of America the trend toward centralisation of interests in the fact that several amalgamations are pending is told by Mr. Frank D. Pidgeon, Auckland, manager to E. W. Pidgeon and Company, Btd., New Zealand distributors for the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Company. Mr. Pidgeon returned by the Niagara from the U.S.A., where ho spent much time in the Goodrich factory. He holds that over-production there had caused business depression, but tho Americans were most optimistic of tho future. Most of his time was spent at Akron, Ohio, where there was a factory working 24 hours a day. Ho was amazed at the many laboursaving devices used there, anu the general high standard of work which was being carried out.

“One could not help but bo taken aback when walking into tho factories* there to see the mass of modern machinery which in recent years has taken the place of the old.” said Mr. .Pidgeon. Great advances had been made in the mixing of rubber. With the old machinery, 350 pounds was mixed in 40 minutes, but with tho new machinery which had been installed it was possible to mix half a ton at a time in four minutes. Whenever any new machinery was brought along which could show some definite advantage, it was installed and the old was thrown out. in spite of the huge waste it entailed. STRINGENT TESTS Mr. Pidgeon was particularly interested in one department of the factory, where there was a system of checking at the different stages of the construction of tyres. To every six machines, there was an inspector in charge. He was an expert and did nothing else but “0.K.” the tyres as they passed through their various phases of construction. For testing purposes there was a large fleet of cars and trucks, the heaviest being about six tons. These were run day and night, irrespective of the weather conditions, and covered about 600 miles a day, the drivers working eight hours a day. At different stages the wheels wore changed and the tyres were checked for tread wear, traction and braking ability. In the department for the manufacture of hose, Mr. Pidgeon found that 4,000 feet at one time was being cured, as against o; ; 300 feet previously. The Goodrich Company recently absorbed the Hood Rubber Company and the Miller Rubber Company.