FEEDING A FACTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20508, 9 January 1935, Page 11

FEEDING A FACTORY.

Tons of Raw Material Necessary.

In feeding the Ford factory at Dagenham, 375,000 tons of ore, 250.000 tons of coal and 365,000 gallons of sulphuric acid are used annually. Thousands of tons of raw materials are now being unloaded daily at the Ford jetty, Dagenham, to cope with the everincreasing output of the largest motorcar factory in Europe. The new De Luxe. Ford, now added to the company’s extensive range of cars, commercial vehicles and power units, has made an instant and world-wide appea\ and its production in large numbers has naturally called fos an enormously increased and uninterrupted supply of materials.

Craft of every kind are arriving day and night, laden to their full capacity, and the giant electric unloaders and cranes which dominate the 1800 ft jetty —the largest and best-equipped on the Thames—are landing up to 600 tons of material an hour. Iron ore, coal and limestone—“ food ” for the enormous blast furnace and coke ovens—are the principal cargoes which go to the making of Ford products, and these are being continually unloaded in almost incredible tonnages.

Based on present figures. 375,000 tons of ore, 250,000 tons of coal, 65,000 tons of limestone, 12,000 tons of sand and 365,000 gallons of sulphuric acid are absorbed annually at the factory. Most of the coal at present comes from Durham and Northumberland, the limestone is shipped from Wales, and the ore largely from Newfoundland. SAFE BRAKES. Brake efficiency is an important factor in safe driving. Look to it at once. The braking can be said to Vie up to the highest standard when it can be stopped in 30 feet from 30 miles an hour. If it is not possible to have a car tested by machine at a garage, try out the brakes on a level road. Hold the car at 30 miles an hour for some distance before the braking point is reached. Have the foot on the brake in readiness, and apply it when the radiator reaches the chosen mark. The test can also be made at other speeds and the stopping distances for 100 per cent efficiency at 40. 50 and 60 m.p.h. are 53, 94 and 120 feet respectively. Brakes should have an even pressure on all wheels.