22 x 40HQ of metal filing cabinets for office projects in Australia and New Zealand
A repeat account with an office renovation company: metal filing cabinets from a specialist metal cabinet factory in China, inspected once production was complete, corrected before loading, and shipped across 22 x 40HQ containers.
One product, repeated orders, 22 x 40HQ containers
FBM Sourcing supplied metal filing cabinets to an Australian office renovation company that delivers commercial office projects in Australia and New Zealand. The client has many years of experience in commercial office projects and has placed repeated orders with us for filing cabinets, office chairs, office sofas and other workplace furniture from China. On this account, metal filing cabinets were the key product category, and the orders eventually covered 22 x 40HQ containers.
A filing cabinet order looks simple, but on repeated commercial shipments the client needs consistent dimensions, surface finish, hardware performance, carton strength and supplier accountability every time. Every cabinet had to look clean, open and close smoothly, stand steadily, and arrive without dents, scratches, missing parts or obvious finish defects — because an office renovation company hands finished spaces to its own customers, and a defective cabinet affects that handover even when the problem started at the supplier.
Client type
Containers
Destination
Order pattern
What was specified before the factory was chosen
Metal office storage has many quality risk points that do not show in catalogue photos, so the specification was fixed point by point before supplier selection and became the inspection standard.
01
01 · Cabinet body and finish
- Cabinet type and size
- Steel thickness
- Powder coating finish and colour requirement
Materials and finish. Steel panel flatness, welding quality, edge treatment, paint adhesion and colour consistency were the points that decided whether a cabinet looked clean in a shared workspace, where visible defects are easy to notice.
Quantity. The record for this account does not break the 22 x 40HQ down by cabinet type or by shipment.
02
02 · Drawers, doors, locks and hardware
- Drawer or door structure
- Lock system
- Handle style
Materials and finish. Smooth drawer movement, drawer runners, lock installation and reliable locks were treated as project requirements, because office storage may be opened many times every day and moved during renovation work.
Quantity. Part of the same repeat orders across the 22 x 40HQ.
03
03 · Packing and carton marking
- Packing method
- Carton marking
- Loading plan
Materials and finish. Corner protection, foam placement, carton quality, pallet or stacking method and label accuracy were checked before loading, because metal cabinets are heavy and can be damaged by impact during handling and ocean freight.
Quantity. Carton marks and loading records were kept so each shipment could be identified after arrival in Australia or New Zealand.
From specification to 22 loaded containers
01
A specialist factory for metal cabinets
The cabinets went to a factory that specialises in metal filing cabinets, whose main markets include Australia and the United States. We reviewed its specialisation, production scale, metal processing ability, powder coating quality, assembly process, packing method and export experience — a factory with general office furniture products may not control metal cabinet details closely enough — and whether it would confirm specifications clearly, follow purchase contracts, accept inspections, correct defects before shipment and support after-sales responsibility.
02
Written terms and production follow-up
After the client confirmed the cabinet specifications, a procurement contract with the factory set out product specifications, quality standards and warranty terms. We followed production progress and clarified technical details between the factory and the client, so the client did not need to contact the factory every day. Batch consistency was the focus: colour, handle, lock or structure changes had to be documented before they could affect the client’s orders.
03
Inspection once production was complete
When mass production was completed, our team inspected at the factory: appearance, surface finishing, panel condition, dimensions, colour consistency, lock function, drawer or door movement, hardware, accessories, quantity, carton marks and packing strength. Inspection reports and photos went to the client. Defects were pointed out to the factory for repair, replacement or rework before shipment.
04
Loading and shipping
Our team checked container condition, supervised the loading order, recorded the loaded goods and made sure the cartons were arranged safely, so that heavy cartons did not put pressure on vulnerable panels. Each loading record told the client what was shipped and how the cartons were arranged, which made receiving checks easier in Australia and New Zealand.
A repeat account, not a one-off order
We have worked with this client for years and supplied many filing cabinet shipments for their office projects. Because the goods are checked before shipping, the cooperation has remained stable without major complaints. After shipment we continue with documentation, supplier communication and after-sales follow-up: if an issue appears, we check the order records, inspection photos, loading information and the supplier’s responsibility terms, then take it up with the factory and arrange a practical solution.
Once supplier standards, contract terms, inspection methods and loading procedures are established, later orders move faster and with fewer uncertainties. For the office categories we source and the test reports behind them, see office furniture; for another repeat office account in Australia, see our reception tables and sofas case.
Questions about this project
What did FBM supply on this Australia and New Zealand account?
Metal filing cabinets for an office renovation company delivering commercial office projects in Australia and New Zealand, on repeated orders that eventually covered 22 x 40HQ containers. The same client has also ordered office chairs, office sofas and other workplace furniture from China through us.
What was specified before the factory was chosen?
Cabinet type, size, steel thickness, powder coating finish, drawer or door structure, lock system, handle style, colour requirement, carton marking, packing method and loading plan. That specification became the reference for choosing the factory and for the inspection.
Why use a specialist metal cabinet factory?
Steel panel flatness, welding quality, edge treatment, lock installation, drawer runners, paint adhesion and colour consistency decide how a filing cabinet performs, and a factory with general office furniture products may not control those details closely enough. On repeat orders, a specialist factory also has to keep specifications stable across shipments.
When were the cabinets inspected, and what happened with defects?
When mass production was completed, at the factory. Our team checked appearance, finish, panels, dimensions, colour, locks, drawer and door movement, hardware, accessories, quantity, carton marks and packing strength. Defects were sent back to the factory for repair, replacement or rework before loading.
Can FBM Furniture run the same process for our office projects?
Yes. Send your product list or FF&E schedule with quantities, the specification or a reference photo for each item, and tell us where the project is so we check the standards your market requires. Where your project fits our service, we can quote one product group first as a reference; if quality and terms fit, we continue with the rest.
Have office storage or a repeat programme to quote?
Send your product list and specifications and our team will review them line by line.