Black metal side tables and wire chairs for a commercial project in Melbourne
A repeat order of black powder-coated side tables and wire-frame chairs, made by a metal workshop we had used before, checked once after bulk production and shipped as one full 40HQ container.
A repeat metal furniture order that filled one 40HQ
This Melbourne order was a repeat. The client’s list was built on metal side tables and chairs we had already shipped to them, so the look and the standard were known before a single frame was welded. The goods were produced by a metal chair and table workshop we had bought from several times, checked by our own team once bulk production was finished, and shipped as a single full 40HQ container.
On black steel furniture, the problems a contractor meets on site are rarely dramatic: a scuffed top, a patchy coat on a leg, a chair that rocks on an uneven floor, a frame that has shifted out of square in the carton. Most of our effort went into making sure those small things were caught in China, where they can still be fixed.
Project type
Containers
Destination
Order
Two product lines, one container
Each line had its own check points, fixed before the goods were finished.
01
01 · Metal side tables
- Powder-coated steel frames
- Flat top panels and lower shelves
- Open square frame units
Materials and finish. Black powder-coated steel. At the inspection the team looked at welds and corners, coating coverage on frames and panels, whether the frames sat square and level, and measured the key dimensions.
Quantity. Our record gives no per-item count; the tables made up part of one full 40HQ container.
02
02 · Wire-frame chairs
- Black wire seat and back shells
- Black and white leg frames
- Protective caps on the feet
Materials and finish. Bent steel wire with a black coated finish. Seat and back widths and overall height were measured, the chairs were checked for balance, and the coating was reviewed at the points people touch.
Quantity. No per-line count in our record; the chairs travelled in the same container.
03
03 · Packing for export
- Foam sleeves on legs and edges
- Poly bags and cartons
- Carton marks checked
Materials and finish. Dark coated steel shows every rub mark, so the packing was treated as part of the product: leg protection, bagging and carton condition were reviewed before sealing.
Quantity. Volume and weight were estimated when the order was placed so the goods would fill one 40HQ.
From a known product list to a loaded container
01
Product list confirmed
Because the list came from earlier shipments, the job was to re-confirm every detail for the new order: model, size, finish and colour, quantity, packing and destination.
02
Written terms with the workshop
The client received our proforma invoice, and we signed a purchase contract with the workshop covering specifications, quality requirements, packing and agreed dates, with penalty terms for late delivery.
03
One inspection after bulk production
When bulk production was complete, our own team inspected the goods once before shipment: appearance, dimensions, welds, structure and stability, coating and colour consistency, accessories, quantity, carton marks and packing. The report went to the client. Clients are welcome to join this inspection.
04
One full 40HQ loaded
We checked the container before loading, supervised the loading order, recorded what went in, and sent the client loading photos, shipment details and export documents.
Why the paperwork mattered after the goods left
The client had the purchase file, the inspection report and the loading record for the same order in one set. When the container reached Melbourne, the receiving team could check cartons against what had been photographed at loading, and any question about a piece could be traced back to the workshop that made it.
A larger office order for the same city is covered in our Melbourne office furniture case study. How we source chairs, tables and storage for workplace projects is on our office furniture page.
Questions about this project
What was in this Melbourne order?
Black powder-coated metal side tables and wire-frame chairs for a commercial project in Melbourne. It was a repeat order and filled one 40HQ container.
Who made the furniture?
A metal chair and table workshop we had already placed several earlier orders with. We do not publish factory names; the client dealt with us as the single contact on the China side.
What did the inspection cover?
It was done once, by our own team, after bulk production and before shipment: appearance, dimensions, welds, structure and stability, coating and colour consistency, accessories, quantity, carton marks and packing. Clients are welcome to join this inspection.
Can FBM Furniture repeat an earlier order for our project?
Yes. Send the product list or the earlier order reference, with quantities and the project destination. We re-confirm each specification with the workshop before production rather than assuming nothing has changed.
More from FBM Furniture
Have metal tables and chairs to quote?
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