- Home
- Case Studies
- Mickleham Distribution Centre
The Challenges
The Mickleham Distribution Centre, Australia’s biggest distribution centre, was a landmark project, consisting of insulated panelling for a separate freezer cold store with multiple refrigeration zones (sized at 10,500m2) and a thermally controlled distribution warehouse (73,200m2), all on an expansive 28-hectare site.
The freezer and chiller refrigeration plant was not completely designed when Bondor was engaged, with the design of the refrigeration penthouse only a prototype for each zone. As such, there were many challenges in perfecting the design of the penthouses in order to provide bespoke panelling solutions.
To meet this challenge, Bondor sat down with Vaughan Constructions and the refrigeration contractor to work through ideas and come up with solutions for the design of these penthouses. Bondor shared product design data, including doors and heat-trace, so this could be incorporated into the overall design.
Vaughan Constructions chose MetecnoPanel® and MetecnoInspire® to create a well-designed and insulated large-scale distribution centre.
The Solution
This world-class facility saw Bondor install over 73,000m2 of MetecnoPanel® and MetecnoInspire®.
Vaughan Constructions Project Engineer Adrian Elderhurst said the team reached out to Bondor to help on this project due to their known reliability from past projects.
“Bondor has an extensive library of panel, door and heat-trace details that the Vaughan Constructions consultants could work with to incorporate into the design, making them the best choice for this project,” Mr Elderhurst said.
Bondor worked with Vaughan Constructions on the high-pressure freezer penthouse units to modify their doors and hatches so they would function effectively and without fault in this low temperature environment.
All panelling provided in the freezer area had to provide stringent thermal control with varying temperature zones throughout the facility, which is what MetecnoPanel® with high thermal performance provided.
Both systems offer a superb finish with shorter construction times and reduced labour periods on site, allowing the Mickleham Distribution Centre to be completed quicker than otherwise possible.
Mr Elderhurst said the collaborative partnership with the Bondor team made the project easier, despite the challenges and restrictions posed by COVID-19.
“Bondor’s team was always available for Vaughan Constructions to approach and query, flesh ideas out and to meet with the contractors and consultants,” Mr Elderhurst said.
“We could rely on the Bondor team’s knowledge and proactive approach.”
The work done alongside each other, demonstrating the determination and hard work of both teams, ensured a distribution centre was created like no other. This collaborative partnership has been highly successful, with Bondor and Vaughan Constructions also working together on an upcoming project in Clayton.
