Fuwa K Hitch Office, Warehouse and Workshop Facility

Scope of Works

Shelford's Design & Construct scope included:

• Approximately 5,000m² warehouse and workshop
• Two-storey office
• Concrete hardstand and car parking
• Concrete panel construction
• Structural steel roof framing
• Reinforced concrete footings and slabs
• Cantilevered warehouse canopy
• Relocation and integration of existing gantry crane
• Fire sprinkler system
• Standalone fire pump room
• 520,000-litre fire water tank
• Hydraulic, electrical and mechanical services
• On-site wastewater treatment system
• Office fit-out and staff amenities
• External façade and corporate branding elements

Key Features

Purpose-Built Warehouse & Workshop

The approximately 5,000m² warehouse and workshop forms the operational heart of the development and was designed around Fuwa K Hitch's specific storage and business requirements.

Concrete panel construction, reinforced slabs and structural steel framing provide a robust industrial environment, complemented by extensive external hardstand.

Existing Gantry Crane Integration

A particularly interesting feature was the reuse of the client's existing gantry crane.

Rather than installing an entirely new system, the crane was transported from Fuwa K Hitch's previous premises and incorporated into the new building.

The process required coordination with the original contractor responsible for installing the crane more than 15 years earlier to ensure it could be successfully integrated into the new facility.

Major Fire Infrastructure

Comprehensive fire protection infrastructure was incorporated throughout the office and warehouse.

The sprinkler system is supported by two diesel fire pumps housed within a standalone fire pump room and a 520,000-litre fire water tank, providing dedicated fire protection infrastructure for the facility.

On-Site Wastewater Solution

With no mains sewer available in the area, the development incorporated an Aquarius Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) together with two flat-bed leach drains.

This provided a purpose-designed wastewater solution suited to the site's available infrastructure.

Contemporary Corporate Office

The two-storey office creates a professional customer and staff environment alongside the industrial operations.

The front elevation incorporates aluminium framing and glazing, steel-framed CFC awnings and contrasting dark window frames, while Fuwa K Hitch's distinctive corporate green provides a strong visual identity.

Internally, the office incorporates a large reception area, open-plan workspace, tiled finishes, glass stair balustrading with stainless-steel handrails, staff lunchrooms and joinery with Caesarstone benchtops.

Construction Challenges

Cantilevered Warehouse Canopy

One of the most technically demanding aspects of the project was the construction of the large warehouse canopy.

Due to its substantial weight, the steel canopy structure needed to be tied back into the main warehouse to create an extensive cantilever.

This required precisely positioned cut-outs within the concrete panels, with very limited tolerance for error when coordinating the structural elements.

Relocation of Existing Gantry Crane

The client's requirement to reuse its existing gantry crane created another significant coordination challenge.

The crane had to be safely removed from Fuwa K Hitch's existing premises, transported to the new facility and incorporated into the new warehouse design.

Coordination extended to liaising with the contractor responsible for the crane's original installation more than 15 years earlier, helping ensure the existing equipment could be successfully accommodated within the new building.