We were so excited to work with the team at Eustralis Food & Wine. This was our first time working together and will hopefully not be the last! Coming from a personal referral, we were keen to ensure that they got the same expert service that all of our clients have come to know and expect from us here at AFI.
Eustralis Food & Wine is a European food wholesaler that carries a broad range of quality and innovative products. They supply ready-to-bake bakery products, essential ingredients for pastry chefs and cooks, catering food and supplies for food service businesses.
Where does AFI come in?
We were brought in to design, build and install the fire protection systems at the Eustralis’ Bassendean warehouse. This install was for fire detection, with their fire suppression coming from the local fire department.
The Job
We started this job essentially with a blank canvas. This can be challenging, but our expert team stepped up to the plate to get it done. Our expertise was relied upon tremendously throughout this process, as we essentially had to walk the walls of each room to determine the best course of action in terms of fire protection.
In this case, no drawings were provided, so we went into the project with the understanding that this job would likely be one that would need to be quite flexible. The initial design evolved continuously throughout the process and what we initially planned was quite different from the end installation.
We fit out the offices and the warehouse itself with a fire detection system that included fire panels, fire detectors and alarms. This job also included a direct brigade alarm which automatically alerts the fire department should a fire be detected at any time.
The job itself was scattered over time due to the many changes that we needed to work around, as well as the need to ensure that the warehouse experienced no downtime. In terms of work, the whole job was completed in approximately 3 weeks, scattered over a period of approximately 3 months.
Unique Challenges to the Job
There were a variety of unique challenges in this job. Initially, we knew it would be a challenge as some of the areas within the warehouse requiring fire protection were operating as freezers at an icy minus twenty degrees! This certainly posed an interesting challenge to our team when it came to finding the correct design and equipment to fit those environmental factors.
The job was also driven by an insurance requirement which would have resulted in the insurance premiums having skyrocketed. We managed to find a really cost-effective solution that will defend the assets in the future and keep the insurers satisfied.
Another challenge we faced was that all of the work we did needed to be achieved while the warehouse was fully operational. It was critical for us to ensure that the client experienced no downtime. While this was a challenge, it was one that we welcomed. Communication, collaboration and preparation were the names of the game when it came to overcoming this challenge as well as our team’s unique combination of skillsets and experience.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with the team at Eustralis and they were always available to give us a hand (or a lift on their forklift!) whenever we needed it. A true testament to teamwork between service provider and client!
