Tambour, Lineal or Hinged? Choosing Office Cabinets, and How They're Made
Tambour, lineal filing or hinged door? How to choose the right office cabinet, and what goes into making it in Australia.
Most office storage questions come down to one choice: how do people get things in and out? Doors that recede, drawers that pull out, or doors that swing. Each suits a different job. Here's how to choose, and what goes into a cabinet built to last.
Three ways to store
- Tambour cabinets suit corridors and open-plan areas where a swinging door would block the way.
- Lineal filing cabinets suit hanging files and records.
- Hinged-door cabinets and bookcases suit general storage, libraries and staff rooms.
Tambour cabinets
A tambour door recedes smoothly into the cabinet carcass, leaving aisles and walkways unobstructed. Bosco makes two families.
The Squadron tambour is powder-coated steel, with adjustable shelving, levelling feet and one of the most flexible interior configurations in the range. It suits open-plan offices, reception areas, corridors and any space-constrained environment.
The Centurion tambour uses premium aluminium door slats in standard (25 mm) and wide (40 mm) powder-coated profiles, or 25 mm anodised. It offers a standard key lock, 3-point locking or electronic locks, and an extensive accessory range.
Lineal filing cabinets
The Squadron lineal matches the Squadron tambour range and comes with two, three or four drawers. Each drawer takes two rows of foolscap filing, front-to-back or left-to-right, so check how the client files before specifying.
Hinged-door cabinets and bookcases
The Squadron hinged-door cabinet has centre-closing lockable doors and adjustable shelves, in heights from 1200 to 2000 mm. The Squadron bookcase has slotted shelves for dividers and back stops, in 4, 5 or 6 shelf heights, and optional hinged doors.
How a Bosco cabinet is made
Bosco is part of OPIE Manufacturing Group, and its products are designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia. Designers use 3D modelling and rapid prototyping, so products are tested and evaluated before they reach the market. Production follows ISO 9001:2015 certified processes.
The group's Western Sydney facility handles laser cutting, folding, welding, powder coating and assembly under one roof. For buyers, keeping these steps in one place means fewer handovers between suppliers and one point of accountability.
What buyers should ask for
When cabinets are being compared in a tender or quote, ask every supplier for the same things:
- Warranty: Bosco provides a 5-year manufacturer's warranty on all products.
- Quality certification: ISO 9001:2015.
- Country of origin: a clear statement of where the product is designed and made.
- Configured specification: the OPIE configurator exports a PDF specification and quote.
- Lead time for your quantities and colours.
- Matching additions: whether you can add matching units later.
Matching cabinets across a floor
One advantage of a modular range is consistency. Squadron tambour, lineal, hinged-door, bookcase and planter modules are designed to work together, so a run of storage along a corridor can mix door types and still look like one piece of furniture.
That matters for buyers too. When a team grows, the next cabinets can be ordered to match, from the same Australian manufacturer, without hunting for a discontinued import.
Quick guide
| Need | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Narrow corridor or reception | Squadron or Centurion tambour |
| Hanging files and records | Squadron lineal (2, 3 or 4 drawers) |
| General cupboard storage | Squadron hinged door |
| Books, binders and display | Squadron bookcase |
| Classified documents | SCEC B or C Class security cabinet |
Frequently asked questions
Which cabinet is best for a narrow corridor? A tambour cabinet, because the doors recede into the carcass instead of swinging out.
Can cabinets be locked? Yes. Options vary by product, from key locks to 3-point and electronic locking on the Centurion.
Can I get a custom size? Bosco can customise most products. Talk to us about bespoke storage.
Choosing cabinets? Configure it and download the BIM file, or request a quote.
