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The Gate
The Auckland distribution and deliver to site hub
In 2005 Winstone Wallboards received approval to expand its warehousing and distribution operations in Auckland. In keeping with the company’s core strategy of “Service and Operational Excellence supported by Solutions” the upgrade of its Auckland based infrastructure will enable the company to meet both the current and future needs of the building industry to 2011.
The New Zealand building industry has grown to appreciate the large and comprehensive range of GIB® product offerings, as well as specialised delivery services to both building merchants and Auckland based building sites. In fact, the company’s service sector has proven so popular it has outgrown its existing facilities in Felix St, Penrose.
Construction of the new distribution centre began in May 2005 on the last two sites currently under development at The Gate,
Macquarie Goodman’s Industrial Development on Neilson Street, Onehunga.
It comprises of a new 7,000m2 purpose built warehouse coupled with more than 4,000m2 of undercover, load out canopies. Winstone Wallboards previously operated its three, standard service offerings – exworks’ pickup; freight into store; and Auckland metro site delivery - out of its Penrose site and a short-term lease site at Wiri. The Gate now handles Freight Instore Distribution and Auckland Site Delivery services.
Construction milestones included the erection of all structural steel in the main warehouse building and inward and outward canopy areas. In October 2005, construction teams focused on the preparation of the warehouse floor slab which required 1,340 cubic metres of concrete; the equivalent of nearly 300 truck loads.
Externally, civil works progressed on the canopy loading platforms, external yard areas and office development. A number of other support projects were begun in October to ensure that distribution and warehouse operations start on time in February 2006.
These included the purchase of heavy-duty 7-tonne forklift equipment, purpose built house-lot order storage racking and specialised transport equipment to manage stock transfers between the Penrose site and the new facility.
After handover on the 23rd of January, the project team set up the offices, stocked products and established the operating systems needed to support key service activities. The team also installed purpose-built racking systems for house-lot order storage under the loading canopy, and video surveillance systems for the marshalling of trucks through the loading process.
The warehousing teams took delivery of three 7-tonne forklifts fitted with double pallet lifters for improved handling efficiency of bulk product between warehouse locations and internal operating functions. Customer operations, including the Auckland Site Delivery, the North Island Freight Instore service and regular Ex Works deliveries, started on 13 February. Transport service provider CV Compton Limited services daily stock transfer activity between the Penrose manufacturing site and the facility using specialised transport equipment.
The new facility is operated by personnel from the Penrose site, 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday.
