Case Study: Sadleirs Global Logistics

Freight distribution facility | Built by QDC | Safety by Verge

When Sadleirs needed safety protection for their new freight distribution facility, the scope came to us through repeat client QDC (Q Design and Construct), the head contractor on the project. Sadleirs offer personalised service of a family-owned company with world-class expertise, and this site was built to deliver that in spades!
What set this project apart was the rail link. Sadleirs incorporated a full rail siding into the main warehouse for streamlined transfers from rail to road transport.

What We Installed

We worked with QDC to fit out the site with a combination of barrier, gates and driver protection. The bulk of the job was a continuous internal pedestrian walkway running around the facility, giving staff a protected path to move through the site without stepping into forklift or vehicle zones.
Verge HD Barrier: 243 linear metres protecting the internal pedestrian walkway and high-traffic forklift zones.
Verge V-Gates: 42 pedestrian gates fitted along the walkway for controlled, safe crossing points.
Driver Safety Zones: 8 external driver safety zones, giving drivers a marked, protected area to stand clear of moving plant while loading and unloading.
Dock Office Protection: HD Barrier installed around the dock office to shield the structure and the people working in it from forklift impact.

Why the Driver Safety Zones Matter

Driver safety zones have become a real focus point. More sites now require a designated, physically protected area where a driver can stand clear of forklifts and trucks while their load is handled. We built eight of them in the external awning of the Sadleirs site. Well done to Sadleirs for investing in Driver Safety from Day 1!

Multiple Types of Traffic, One Layout

Most warehouses deal with forklifts and truck traffic. Sadleirs had to manage these plus the additional risk of freight trains moving through the facility. The walkway and barrier layout had to account for both, keeping pedestrians separated from forklift traffic inside while also respecting the rail corridor. The HD Barrier does the heavy lifting here: it is solid steel, high-visibility, and it physically holds the line between people and plant.

Why It Matters

A facility this size only works if people can move through it safely without slowing operations down. The walkway, gates and driver safety zones let staff get where they need to be while forklifts, trucks and trains keep moving. Building the protection in alongside QDC during construction meant it was designed into the site rather than bolted on afterwards, which is always the better outcome for compliance and for cost.

Planning a New Facility?

If you are building or fitting out a distribution centre, we can help with the high-risk zones, product selection and layout before the slab goes down. Verge manufactures a full range of steel and polymer barrier solutions, and our installer network covers projects right across Australia. Talk to us early and we will recommend the right product for the application.

Get in touch with Verge Safety Barriers to scope your site.