Temperature Controlled Warehouses: The Future of Cold Chain Logistics

The demand for temperature-controlled warehouses has risen in recent years due to the increasing need to preserve goods at a specific temperature to prevent their degradation. A temperature-controlled warehouse is a facility that stores, prepares, and dispatches goods that require a specific temperature range. Such facilities can operate at ambient, cool, refrigerated, or frozen temperature ranges. In this article, we’ll explore the types of products that require temperature-controlled storage, the importance of an energy-efficient warehouse design, and the storage systems used in these facilities.

Types of products stored in temperature-controlled warehouses

Many industries require temperature-controlled warehouses to maintain the quality of their goods. The most common industries are:

Food and beverage 

Perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products need to be stored at a specific temperature to preserve their freshness, flavour, and nutritional value.

Pharmaceutical

Certain components used to manufacture medication require constant cooling to maintain their useful life and properties.

Chemical

Temperature control is essential in chemical warehousing for safety reasons.

Cosmetics

Cosmetic products can break down at high temperatures, making temperature-controlled storage essential.

The significance of an energy-efficient warehouse design

An energy-efficient design is essential in temperature-controlled warehouses as it reduces energy consumption and costs, which are the major expenses associated with daily operations. A well-designed temperature-controlled warehouse uses refrigeration equipment such as compressors, condensers, expansion valves, and evaporators, which are strategically placed based on square footage, temperature difference, and the duration of product storage. These warehouses also use high-density pallet rack systems that optimize storage space, resulting in significant energy savings. Additionally, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are implemented to minimize human intervention, reducing exposure to the cold for long periods of time.

Storage systems used in temperature-controlled warehouses

The choice of storage system depends on the type of product, the required movement flows, and space limitations. The main storage solutions used in temperature-controlled warehouses include:

Pallet racks

These are the most popular storage systems since they offer direct access to goods, facilitating storage and picking tasks. Selective pallet racks, drive-in/drive-thru pallet racks, pallet flow racks, and push-back racking systems are commonly used in temperature-controlled warehouses.

Shelving

Shelving is used for small or lightweight products and provides easy access to goods.

Bins

Bins are used for the storage of small, loose items such as screws, bolts, and nuts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, temperature-controlled warehouses are vital for many industries requiring goods to be stored at specific temperatures. An energy-efficient warehouse design that reduces energy consumption and costs is essential. The most commonly used storage systems in temperature-controlled warehouses are pallet racks, shelving, and bins. With the growing demand for temperature-controlled storage, businesses must invest in high-quality storage systems and energy-efficient warehouse designs to remain competitive.