University of Queensland Archaeology

School of Social Science laboratories

Students needed hands-on access to plant, bone, stone and artefact col­lec­tions without leaving those col­lec­tions exposed. Boscotek high-density cabinets were specified drawer by drawer with the lab­o­ra­to­ry tech­ni­cians.

Laboratory systemsHigh-density cabinets
University of Queensland Archaeology

From the laboratory

We bought the Boscotek cabinets because we wanted engineered, purpose built high density storage units to allow our archival collections to be more accessible, secure and also to maximise space within the different laboratories. Emilija Nicolosi, Archaeology Laboratory Technician, University of Queensland

We bought the Boscotek cabinets because we wanted engineered, purpose built high density storage units to allow our archival collections to be more accessible, secure and also to maximise space within the different laboratories.

Emilija Nicolosi, Archaeology Laboratory Technician, University of Queensland

The brief

UQ's ar­chae­ol­o­gy programme runs teaching and research lab­o­ra­to­ries with reference col­lec­tions that include human osteology and fossil casts, stone and ceramic artefacts, faunal material, Pacific shell, Poly­ne­sian adze quarry samples, and ar­chaeob­otan­i­cal specimens.

The existing store made those col­lec­tions hard to get to and harder to lock down. OFS Group worked with the tech­ni­cians to specify Boscotek high-density cabinets for each room. The cabinets were man­u­fac­tured in Australia by Wilson & Gilkes.

Open Boscotek drawer with archaeology artefacts

Artefact drawers

Grey Boscotek cabinet with a reference collection drawer open

Reference collections

Microscope bench in front of Boscotek cabinets

Microscopy laboratory

What was installed

Drawer heights and par­ti­tions were set to each col­lec­tion. Rails at 25 mm centres let the lab­o­ra­to­ries re­con­fig­ure as the col­lec­tions grow, without new cabinets.

Single-piece drawers on ball-bearing runners take 80 kg UDL on single extension and 150 to 200 kg UDL on full extension, depending on cabinet width. A true anti-tilt lock allows only one drawer open at a time.

A central rear locking system secures every drawer in the cabinet. That was the security re­quire­ment for col­lec­tions that students are expected to handle.

High-Density Cabinets

High-Density Cabinets

Drawer-planned storage for col­lec­tions that must stay ac­ces­si­ble and locked.

Combination Cabinets

Combination Cabinets

Mix drawers and cupboard space when the col­lec­tion is not all one size.

The outcome

The lab­o­ra­to­ries can put students in front of the reference col­lec­tions without leaving those col­lec­tions on open shelves. Space, access and security were specified as one system, not three separate purchases.

Australian manufacturing, then and now

These systems were designed and man­u­fac­tured in Australia by Wilson & Gilkes. Today, Boscotek continues that man­u­fac­tur­ing lineage as part of OPIE Man­u­fac­tur­ing Group, from 109 Russell Street, Emu Heights NSW 2750.

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Specify a laboratory store

The same high-density cabinet range is still built for teaching and research collections.

Contact Boscotek