Submitted by Barry Page
Local 1863 Retirees Tour the Volvo Motor Grader Plant on Maitland Road
A nostalgic tour of the Volvo CE motor grader manufacturing facility was arranged for a party of IAM Local Lodge 1863 retirees. The tour was probably the last time the veteran employees would be able to see the manufacturing and assembly of the machines they knew so well.
Thanks to Alan Ball and four other Volvo representatives, the retirees were shown around the facility; much of which had changed over the years. Some of the visitors expressed amazement at the new assembly procedures. For example, the two-bin (Kanban) system and special tools used for precision bolt torquing were unknown when the retirees worked at the plant. There were additional welding robots, too. Of course, there was some friendly banter as the visitors recognized old colleagues still at work.
A photo opportunity for a group picture with an antique Champion Highway Patrol horsedrawn grader was a fitting conclusion to the event.
Canada Day Parade and Volvo Picnic 2009
August 2008 Bayfield Parade
July 2008 Canada Day Parade
July 2007 Canada Day Parade
Thanks to Ted Rowe for providing all the names for this group picture taken July 1992
