Outfoxing the Competition

Location:	Erskine Park, Sydney
Country:	Australia
Client:	Linfox Logistics
Download:	Download Case Study - Outfoxing the Competition (725 KB)

Australasia's largest privately-owned supply chain solutions company, Linfox Logistics, has grown from one man - Lindsay Fox - and his truck. Delivering soft drinks in the summer and fuel in winter, the company has come a long way from its Melbourne origins, circa 1956, and has ‘outfoxed' a lot of other companies along the way.

Today, the massive Linfox Logistics business operates more than 1 million sqm of warehousing and almost 5,000 vehicles across 10 countries, while more than 18,500 staff delivers sophisticated supply chain services to a wide range of leading businesses.

The Linfox Property Group (LPG) was established in 1985 and its portfolio has grown to include some interesting properties including large industrial properties, an airport business park JV, a race track and others.

Linfox Property Group also holds reserves of prime industrial land. It recently, on land adjoining Linfox Logistics' NSW office in Erskine Park (western Sydney), LPG contracted BlueScope Buildings to supply a pre-engineered building solution for a new fleet vehicle service centre for NSW.

Global Perspective

BlueScope Buildings is the world's largest supplier of custom designed, pre-engineered buildings, using the proven BUTLER™ building system developed in the USA and now tailored for Australian conditions.

Being a global organisation that understands the importance of international experience, strength and financial stability, it was natural for LPG to contact BlueScope Buildings.

"Linfox has workshops nationally for its fleet and this new facility for NSW covers about 3,500 sqm, with about another 25,000 sqm of external hardstand. It's replaced a facility at Wetherill Park and the pressure was on because we had a deadline to be out of there," said Stan Sackson, LPG's General Manager Construction.

"The fist sod was turned in late November 2010 and we were keen to use BlueScope Buildings to trial the BUTLER™ building system. BlueScope Buildings was included as an integral part of the design process, well before construction commenced. BlueScope Buildings was engaged as structural engineers for the steel structure design as well as the structural steel contractor.

"I'd have to say it seems the earlier you get BlueScope Buildings involved the better the results you get from the BUTLER™ building system.

"Now that they've finished on-site, Sonia Pasley, BlueScope's project engineer, has provided LPG with a list of suggestions for the next workshop because they've learned from this one how they can help us improve what we're already doing.

"The first facility we built, in Melbourne, we built conventionally. But because we were time limited with this job and spent more time in the initial design process than intended, we crunched the building time. Even so, BlueScope Buildings delivered on time and on budget," Stan said.

In addition to a suite of offices and staff facilities it incorporates two automatic, drive-through truck wash bays that recycle their water; two full-length pits so the undersides of vehicles can be worked on and six regular truck service bays. There's also a sophisticated, undercover refuelling facility.

The massive hardstand provides parking for major events like fleet changeovers and the start and finish BlueScope Buildings were an integral part of our design process LPG General Manager Construction, Stan Sackson " " of customer contracts, as well as normal vehicle servicing movements.

The BUTLER™ Advantage

For the Linfox Property Group the BUTLER™ advantage comes from streamlined design, simplified management and a fast build time.

The BUTLER™ building system employs a unique combination of software, design methodologies, fabrication techniques and supply chain management that take a commercial building design concept and turns it into a finished structure.

A key area where the BUTLER™ building system saves time and money is the use of factory-punched secondary structural members to ensure a precision fit on the jobsite. This helps speed installation, lower construction costs and creates low-maintenance structures for greater life-cycle cost savings.

Major savings are also achieved by the use of tapered beams; cut from plate and fabricated on pull-through welding machines using a technique only a handful of companies in Australia have mastered. This method reduces the amount of steel required in construction, saves weight and reduces the intrusion of the beams into the finished building.

The structure is built using steel portal frames clad externally in a mix of COLORBOND® steel and pre-cast wall panels. Roofing utilises the BUTLER™ building system's industry-leading MR-24™ roof system: the most innovative standingseam roof system in the world.

New to Australia but proven on commercial buildings globally over 40 years, more than 186 million square metres of MR-24™ roofing have been installed world-wide since 1969. Central to its success are unique design features like seams that are mechanically field-rolled 180° to complete a 360° Pittsburgh doublelock seam. Other manufacturers simply crimp or snap seams into place, forming a loose and vulnerable seal.

Designed and manufactured to exacting standards, MR-24™ acts like a single steel membrane that protects the entire structure. Its exclusive features ensure weathertightness and all accessories and integrated panels are pre-engineered for exact fit, accommodating roof movements and temperature swings while virtually eliminating leaks.

"The whole roof locks together really well and I'm quite pleased with it," said Stan. "In this instance we chose roofing made from COLORBOND® steel to minimise reflections and it looks good, although we don't normally use coloured roofing."

"I would like to use this system again for future projects" concluded Stan. "Anyone looking to build a major structure should certainly consider BlueScope Buildings and the BUTLER™ building system. It's a good design system that goes together well and is backed by good support."