3. “Dexion had to manage a construction plan
that delivered completed sections on given dates
to accommodate the delivery of boxes.”
Following some poor advice and a bad “We were confident that a records
experience with its previous storage management company offering a tailored
supplier, Fort Knox turned to local package for its customers would be
Melbourne Dexion Supply Centre, Dexion successful. Rather than tell our customers
Citiport, for advice regarding its new how we will store their records we’ve
4,780m2 facility. The Dexion solution created a business based on ‘tell us
included the design and installation of how you want your records stored” he
a three-tier mezzanine storage system said “and being a new business we
within an extremely tight time line. were determined not to be dictated to by
Fort Knox is a family owned business industry standards.
that boasts 8 self storage, 3 wine storage “We’ve invested in the O’NEIL records
facilities in Victoria and a Records management system, arguably the most
Management warehouse located in Altona state of the art package available, and this
North 10 minutes from the city centre. enables us to offer tailored billing, reporting
Fort Knox Records Management is a and records management options” he said.
Government Approved Storage Supplier “We basically started the business from
that endeavours to provide the most the ground up, we knew there was “The key to records management is we always planned to go to a mezzanine
comprehensive Records Management potential but we had limited experience in storage density, how many boxes you can system in the long term, we didn’t have
package available. store in a given foot print as well as how enough business to warrant that sort of
this area. As you can imagine the Victorian
records management industry wasn’t quickly the pickers are able to locate and investment immediately.”
The Fort Knox records management
about to welcome us with open arms so retrieve any given order” said Wilson.
business was launched in 2003 following Fort Knox was advised that bays of shelving
12 months of research into the industry. we researched the best storage and “In 2003 we employed a specialist storage would suffice in the short term and that a
According to Guy Wilson General Manager, retrieval techniques by examining interstate company to advise us regarding our mezzanine could be added to this shelving
conducting the research wasn’t easy. operations” he said. storage requirements” he said “although at a later stage.
Dexion Case Study – Fort Knox
4. “We realised it was an extremely tight time line but
Dexion said they could meet the dates and we put
our faith in them and they delivered on their promise.”
At the same time Fort Knox was tendering side of the warehouse, and construct
for new business and expected to grow new shelving with structural uprights,
and understood its storage partner would in preparation for the mezzanine, on the
be an integral element of future plans. western side.
“As the business grew we added to the Dexion had to manage a construction plan
shelving until we tendered for and secured that delivered completed sections on
a major government contract. It was at this given dates to accommodate the delivery
stage we realised our storage partner had of boxes.
provided the wrong advice, that the shelving
“We realised it was an extremely tight time
couldn’t be integrated with a mezzanine
line but Dexion said they could meet the
and that our storage approach had been
dates and we put our faith in them’ said
wrong from the word go” said Wilson.
Wilson “and they delivered on their
Fort Knox pitched for and won a significant promise”.
order and were contracted to receive a
According to Matt Bell, Account Manager
certain number of boxes every day, 5 days
from Dexion Citiport this was an important
a week. “It’s at this stage we met with
project for the company “Once the
Matt Bell and the guys from Dexion Citiport”
decision was made to go with our plans
said Wilson.
we had to manage the construction
Dexion Citiport quickly assessed the process in an extremely tight time frame”
situation and were able to plan, advise he said.
and show via 3D computer graphics how
“To further complicate matters we were
the warehouse needed to function.
faced with the challenge that, due to the
The decision was taken to abandon the national steel shortage, product wasn’t
existing shelving installed on the eastern readily available and we had to manage
Dexion Case Study – Fort Knox
5. “After our initial problems we now have a facility
that we can be really proud of and we’re now
very happy with our choice of storage partners.”
resources efficiently” he said “and with the on a narrow gauge mesh featuring a smaller
support of the Operations Team at the aperture to allow easy movement. Boxes
Manufacturing Plant in Sydney we were are stored so that staff only have to move
able to manage the issue seamlessly”. one box to get to pick a required order.
The mezzanine is designed around a With the help of a local company
central loading area that services each recommended by Dexion Citiport Fort
level and incorporates a central walkway Knox had manufactured specialist picking
capable of handling 2 pallet widths. trolleys incorporating a ladder with box
storage capacity.
The pallet racking based structure has
3 levels of storage covering a total area of “After our initial problems we now have a
9828 square meters. It’s fitted with steel facility that we can be really proud of” said
mesh flooring and mesh decks. Citiport Wilson “and we’re now very happy with
worked closely with fire engineers to our choice of storage partners. We’re
ensure the fire prevention systems particularly grateful to Dexion Citiport for
installed throughout the structure meet managing this complex project and
strict guidelines and industry’s best assisting to position this company in such
practice. Accurate modelling of the a positive light” said Wilson.
mezzanine assisted in creating the highly
sophisticated fire prevention systems now
in place.
Being a Government Approved Public
Office Storage Supplier occupational
health and safety is key issue for Fort
Knox and the storage system is designed
with the pickers in mind. Boxes are stored
Dexion Case Study – Fort Knox
